Patriotic Opening Ceremony will Honor 20th Anniversary of 9/11
ATC recently teamed up with the Northern Cincinnati Foundation as the presenting sponsor of the upcoming Shamrock Shuffle. This year the 5K race and community block party is being held on the 20th anniversary of 9/11 – Saturday, September 11th, 2021. It was previously postponed from St Patrick’s Day due to COVID. 9/11 represents “half-way to St. Patrick’s Day.”
The 5K race is a chip-timed event designed to be completed by participants of various skill levels in under one hour. With over 5,000 runners, joggers and walkers, the Shamrock Shuffle is not just a run, but also offers a large block party on The Square @ Union Centre in West Chester.
The Shamrock Shuffle brings together nonprofit organizations, corporations, runners, families, school groups, charities, and local businesses and restaurants. All joining together to raise money for a cause they care about. The 5K course is a modified loop route around Union Centre Boulevard that keeps runners near the Shamrock Shuffle Block Party festivities.
Each year 100 percent of proceeds are granted back to the community. Those proceeds benefit local nonprofits through grants from the Northern Cincinnati Foundation’s Community Grants Fund, as well as the many charity teams registered through the Shuffle Gives Back program (see below). Each year the Shamrock Shuffle raises more than $100,000 through the generosity of participants and event sponsors. The Shamrock Shuffle is a 15-year West Chester-Liberty tradition, bringing the community together for a common cause.
To learn more and sign up, visit www.theshamrockshuffle.com.
Skydive, Congressman Davidson, and Tribute to Hood All Part of Opening Ceremony
This year’s opening ceremonies will include a special 9/11 20th anniversary commemoration with an American flag demonstration skydive performed by Team Fastrax. Members of Team Fastrax have served the United States of America as part of the Armed Forces, many in combat. In addition, Congressman Warren Davidson will be speaking.
The US Army Golden Knights will be in attendance as well to honor the memory of Master Sergeant Corey Hood. Hood, a graduate of Lakota West, perished in a 2015 midair parachuting accident at the Chicago Air and Water Show. Hood served five tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 82nd & 101st Airborne and the 25th Infantry Division. Hood earned numerous awards, including two Bronze Stars. He was selected to The US Army Golden Knights, the US Army’s elite parachute team, in 2014. 10 percent of the proceeds from this year’s Shamrock Shuffle will be granted to The Hoody Memorial Fund.
The Shuffle Gives Back
The Shuffle Gives Back program allows participants to join Charity Teams and raise additional dollars for the causes they care about! More than $30,000 is granted each year through the Shuffle Gives Back, and at least 50% of Shamrock Shuffle participants register on a Charity Team.
Hoody Memorial Shufflers
One of the charity teams participating is the Hoody Memorial Shufflers. The Hoody Memorial was established in 2016 in memory of Master Sergeant Corey Hood, a close friend of ATC’s CTO, Nick Enger, and a cause that is near and dear to Nick. Since its inception, the fund has raised over $200,000 and has been fully endowed. This endowment within the Northern Cincinnati Foundation allows for Hoody Memorial Scholarships ($7,500) to continue to be awarded each year in MSG Corey Hood’s name, indefinitely. Two more funds have been established to include The Hoody Memorial Lakota Athletics Fund and The Hoody Memorial Veterans & Active Military Fund.
RACE DAY SCHEDULE
7:30 a.m. – On-site Registration & Packet Pick-Up at Midpointe Library
9:00 a.m. – 5K Runners
9:05 a.m. – 5K Walkers, Strollers, Dogs, etc.
9:30 a.m. – Block Party Begins on The Square and Continues Until Noon
10:30 a.m. – Leprechaun Lap Mini Race at the Start/Finish Line (ages 3-10)
About the Northern Cincinnati Foundation
In June 2021, the Community Foundation of West Chester-Liberty became the Northern Cincinnati Foundation to better reflect the communities and donors we serve. Our mission is to transform generosity into impact by encouraging, supporting, and facilitating philanthropy to create more vibrant communities throughout northern Cincinnati.
