Are you ready to be a Waymaker in 2023?
Registration is now open!
Our third annual virtual Waymakers Run/Walk/Roll will be held from Sept 15 to Oct 1.
Walk, jog, run or stroll a 1 Mile or 5K anywhere on any day, in support of the unaccompanied immigrant children we serve.
As children continue to be separated from their families at the border and children who arrive on their own are at risk of being deported to danger, we need Waymakers more than ever.
Join us to show your solidarity and support. Register as a participant or form a team. Chart your course, pick your date and fundraising goal. Ask your family and friends to join you.
The name for our Waymakers race was coined in honor of a girl we served from West Africa. When she was successfully released from custody, settled in, and enrolled in high school, she sent a letter to her Child Advocate, thanking her for being her Waymaker.
WITH SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS
Lead Sponsor
Gold Sponsor
Brian and Danielle Ruben
Silver Sponsor
With additional support from
HOW YOU CAN PARTICIPATE
Tap into your extended network to come together as a Waymaker Team. Use our toolkit to set up your local event and participate on social media.
Raise more funds by downloading the Strava App.
We are excited to announce that our sponsors at Prove will be donating $1 for every mile run, walked, or rolled over the entire two weeks, September 15 to October 1. Simply create your account on the Strava app (the free version is fine!), then register on Prove’s fundraiser page and click the Connect to Strava button to start logging your activity! More information here.
Join our local staff in their team races.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - Date: Thursday, September 28th
Time: 4:30 pm
Location: Battery Park EsplanadePost Gathering: Happy Hour @The Malt House FIDI
WASHINGTON, D.C.- Date: Thursday, September 28th
Time: 3PM - 5PM
Location: McPherson Square Park, 901 15th St NW STE 700, Washington, DC 20005 (Meeting at the northeast corner of the park on k and 15t)
Post Gathering: YC Office
HOUSTON, TX- Date: Saturday, September 30th
Time: 9 AM
Location: Memorial Park, 1500 E Memorial Loop Dr, Houston, TX 77007 (Meeting at: Memorial Tennis Center)
PHOENIX, AZ - Date: Saturday, September 30th
Time: Meet at 7:30 AM and starting walk at 8 AM
Location: SHORT LEASH HOTDOGS + DOUGHNUTS (4221 N. 7th Ave Phoenix AZ 85013) and walking to Steele Indian School Park (300 E Indian School Rd, Phoenix, AZ 85012)
Post Gathering: Joins us for beverages and treats at SHORT LEASH HOTDOGS + DOUGHNUTS This is a family and pet friendly event!
LOS ANGELES, CA- Date: Date: Sunday, October 1st
Time: 9 AM
Location: Griffith Park, 4730 Crystal Springs Dr, Los Angeles, CA 90027 (Meeting atMerry-Go-Round)
CHICAGO, IL- Date: Sunday October 1, 2023
Time: 11:30 AM
Location: Chevron Sculpture on the Diversey Harbor Lakefront Trail.
Post Gathering: Bacino’s Italian Grill (248 W. Diversey), noon - 2:30pm. This is family-friendly; we'll have pizza and games. $1 of each beverage purchased (beer or wine) will be donated to the Young Center!
Pick your distance (1K or 5K) and Prep your route
The Young Center has eight locations across the United States: Chicago, Harlingen, San Antonio, Houston, Phoenix, Washington D.C., New York City, and Los Angeles. Below are some routes throughout these cities. Please note that these routes are only suggestions; this is a virtual event so you can feel free to participate in any way that works for you.The routes below range from 1 to 5K. These routes were found through Strava, Trail Link, All Trails, Map My Route and other online resources.
Chicago Routes
The 606-5k Route
Run/walk/roll through the 606; This route brings together an elevated trial with a scenic landscape. Great for a mile or 5k route. The 606 is a 2.7-mile trail with multiple access points.
Lincoln Park Zoo-5k Route
Just off the beaten path of the Lakefront pathway, you will find Chicago runners zigzagging along the many winding trails through the Lincoln Park Zoo and surrounding park areas. Lincoln Park is a wonderful natural habitat tucked into the heart of a booming metropolis. The zoo is free and open to the public year-round so it creates a unique opportunity to see some interesting wildlife on your adventure. Great for a mile walk or 5k route.
Grant Park-5k Route
For 5k, you are able to do half of this route. The “front yard” of Chicago, Grant Park is the expansive green space nestled between towering skyscrapers and Lake Michigan. Grant Park is also home to the start and finish of the Chicago Marathon. The finely manicured gardens provide an attractive landscape set against the iconic skyline of Chicago. You’ll recognize the Willis Tower (formerly the Sears Tower), which at 1,451 feet tall is now the second tallest building in the U.S.
Harlingen Routes
Arroyo Route-5k Route
Arroyo Hike and Bike Trail is a 3.7 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Harlingen, Texas that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail offers a number of activity options and is accessible year-round. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on leash.
Hugh Ramsey Nature Park
One lap around Hugh Ramsey Nature Park is equivalent to 1-mile, in order to complete the 5k you will need to complete a little over three laps. This route is rated as easy.
Palm Valley-5k/10k Route
Palm Valley is a 3-mile route located near Harlingen, Texas, USA. To complete a 5k on this route, you will need to trek 3.1 miles. This route has an elevation gain of about 0 ft and is rated as easy. To complete the 10k (6.2 miles), you will need to take a little over two laps around Palm Valley Park.
Phoenix Routes
Kiwanis Park-5K Route
Kiwanis Park offers a number of activity options and is best used from September until May. Dogs are also able to use this trail but must be kept on a leash. Bring your furry friend along to complete your adventure!
Arizona Falls-5k Route
This 3.1 mile route has a mixed terrain and has an incline of 200 feet.
New York Routes
Prospect Park-5k Route
Prospect Park is the crown jewel of Brooklyn. Some might even say it’s a better experience than Central Park due to the lack of traffic lights and swarms of tourists. A popular place to meet friends for a walk is Grand Army Plaza, the main entrance to the park. Here you will see New York’s answer to the Arc de Triomphe - the massive Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Arch, a tribute to Civil War veterans. Inside the park you will find a lush landscape with rolling terrain.
Van Cortland Park-5k Route
Most people don’t associate trail running with New York City but those people have never been to Van Cortlandt Park (VCP). An easy ride up the 1 train will take you to this treasure tucked away in the Bronx. Here you will find a runner’s haven complete with a running track, a legendary cross-country course, and wooded trails that extend for miles north of the Bronx.
Houston Routes
Memorial Park
Memorial Park is one of the largest urban parks in the United States. It is the heart of Houston’s running community, offering great routes with wonderful views of the Houston Skyline.
Hermann Park
Hermann Park is a great place to come and stretch your legs. Joggers love following the 2-mile Marvin Taylor Trail under the shade of the Park's historic live oaks. Check out a bike at the B-Cycle Station near Lake Plaza and ride over the Bill Coats Bridge to the Park's Urban Forest at Bayou Parkland. For a longer adventure, (5+ miles) cross Main Street at west side of the Hermann Park and combine with the Rice University loop (above) with Hermann Park trails.
Buffalo Bayou
The Buffalo Bayou Trail, also referred to as the Sandy Reed Memorial Trail, cuts across Houston and meanders through the many parks that line the waterway, as well as the historical Glenwood Cemetery. It stretches 15 miles and is fully paved, offering a pleasant outdoor escape in an urban setting.
Los Angeles Routes
LA State Historic Park
The LA State Historic Park is a great running route in Los Angeles. It features an elevation gain of 54ft over 3.15mi. Los Angeles State Historic Park provides an extraordinary opportunity to walk and learn about Los Angeles. Adjacent to Chinatown (and close to the Metro Gold Line), park visitors can wander pathways and enjoy views of downtown, as well as discover the natural and cultural heritage of Los Angeles and enjoy art pieces.
Dodgers-5k Route
Dodgers 5k is a running route in Los Angeles. It features an elevation gain of 165ft over 3.56mi. Notable roads/trails that you'll be traveling on: Solano Avenue and Stadium Way.
San Antonio Routes
San Antonio-5K
This route features an elevation gain of 38ft over 3.11mi. Notable roads/trails that you'll be traveling on: East Houston Street, Pereida Street, Alamo Plaza, King William Street, and South Saint Mary's Street.
Witte-5K
Witte 5k is a running route in San Antonio. It features an elevation gain of 31ft over 3.16mi. Notable roads/trails that you'll be traveling on: Red Oak Road, Brackenridge Road, Tuleta Drive, and Wilderness Road.
Washington, D.C. Routes
National Mall–5k
All runners should clock some miles on the National Mall. Not only is jogging past grand monuments, memorials and museums a truly unique DC experience, there are other benefits: The Mall is mostly car-free and the paths and monuments are illuminated at night.
Capital Crescent Trail-5k
If you plan to run or walk to the end, Georgetown has several cafes for grabbing a post-run coffee or breakfast. There are also a few running shops if you need anything running-related. Like the other trails in the busy and car-heavy D.C. Metro area, the Capital Crescent Trail gives people an option of getting out and enjoying the beautiful weather and scenery without a vehicle.
National Arboretum-5K
The entrance off of R Street NE is the most pedestrian-friendly access point, though the 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. hours can be an impediment to runners on weekdays who work standard schedules. Once you get there, you have about six miles of road, mostly bereft of cars despite nearly half a million visitors annually.