Press Releases

Race raises college funds for former foster children

State Treasurer John Perdue’s office and Mission West Virginia will once again make the futures of former foster children brighter after a third annual SMART5.29K run/walk.

About 60 runners and walkers participated Saturday, May 20, winding along Charleston’s Piedmont Road and to the Capitol and back. The race is exactly 5.29 kilometers – to draw attention to the IRS tax code that makes such plans possible and in reference to May 29, designated each year as National College Savings Day.

Mission West Virginia and its adoption arm, Frameworks, will use the money raised from sponsorships and race fees to award families and their adopted children. Frameworks uses a selection process tailored only to families who have adopted a child out of foster care.

Last year, 12 children received $1,200 each. This year’s awards look to be in the same range.

“Once again I can’t tell you how glad I am to help lead this effort,” Treasurer Perdue said. “I know what foster children go through in the harrowing effort to merely grow up, much less go to college. I certainly hope what we do helps.”

Caitie McKinney won her 13- to 19-year-old age group and finished ninth overall with a time of 27:38.

 

Runners enjoyed a cool morning, dodging rain that hopped in and out of the weekend. WOWK Channel 13 provided excellent media sponsorship, with several of its employees participating.

The overall winner was Brent Garrett, 34, with a time of 20:13, good for a 6:10 three-mile pace. Taking the women’s overall crown was Carol Haid, 42, with a 26:17 time, good for sixth place overall.

Second was Eric Halperin, 23, at 23:17, which was also good for first place in the 20- to 29-year-old male group.

Third place overall went to 70-year-old Don Marco, who mocked Father Time and ran a blistering 24:31.6, followed closely in fourth by WOWK’s own Patrick Simon, 52, who turned in a 24:48 time. Both Marco and Simon won their 50- to 59 and 70- to-79 age groups, respectively. 

Joe Camp, 51, logged in at fifth with a 25:46 time, missing the age group win by the misfortune of running in the same group as Simon.

The rest of the top 10:
6. Carol Haid, 42, 26:17
7. Maggie Bonecutter, 45, 26:42
8. Kyle Apple, 40, 26:48.
9. Catie McKinney, 15, 27:38.
10. Adam Marco, 37, 28:05.

The full medal awards list, excluding the overall male and female winners:

Female
13 to 19
Caitie McKinney, 15, 27:38
Reilly Stowers, 19, 56:08

20 to 29
Janie Reynolds, 27, 35:13
Crystal Evans, 28, 35:52
Alex Morgan, 29. 43:12

30 to 39
Abigail Fiorelli, 35, 28:51
Kristen Atkins, 37, 33:38
Courtney Mitchell, 35, 37:29

40 to 49
Maggie Bonecutter, 45, 26:42
Evita Saffer, 41, 40:21
Kimberly McFall, 41, 56:10

50 to 59
Olga Ekberg, 52, 35:11
Lynette Childress, 50, 38:16
Sissy Laing, 58, 38:43

60 to 98
Kate Owen, 69, 37:29
Henrietta Pryor, 61, 46:17
Jill Wells, 63, 55:22

Male
20 to 29
Eric Halperin, 23, 23:17
Erik Taylor, 26, 29:00
Joshua Pryor, 27, 46:13

30 to 39
Adam Marco, 37, 28:05
Patrick Kerr, 38, 31:49
Eric Parker, 37, 52:21

40 to 49
Kyle Apple, 40, 26:48
Charles Waselchalk, 47, 28:28
Dean Campbell, 46, 30:04

50 to 59
Patrick Simon, 52, 24:48
Joe Camp, 51, 25:46

60 to 98
Don Marco, 70, 24:31
John Owen, 69, 29:11
Dave Thomas, 65, 31:55

The Treasury does not collect state taxes. Visit the The West Virginia State Tax Department for assistance.

West Virginia State Treasurer's Office
1900 Kanawha Boulevard
Capitol Complex Building #1, Room E-145
Charleston, West Virginia 25305
304-558-5000 Toll Free: 800-422-7498
Hours: 8:30am-4:30pm (ET)

Copyright 2024 by West Virginia State Treasury Privacy Statement