Support the Child Advocacy Center during Matthews Walk-a-Thon
2021 participants of Matthews Auto Walk-a-Thon. This year’s event will be held from 9 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, October 7, and will support seven children's charities across New York State, including the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center. Registered participants can pledge miles and walk at Weiler Park in Norwich, the Rail Trail in Vestal or wherever they like. Matthews Auto will donate $10 per mile to the charity of their choice. (Submitted Photo)
NORWICH — It’s that time of year when Matthews Auto reaches out to community members to put on their trekking gear and join their 5th Annual Walk-A-Thon to support local charities.
The event takes place on October 7 and offers two different walking locations. Norwich walkers can meet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Weiler Park in Norwich or from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Vestal Rail Trail in Vestal. Virtual walkers are also invited in Syracuse, Rochester, Schenectady, and Scranton PA.
According to Matthews Auto website, they will donate $10 for every mile walked -up to $100,000. $25 donations or more will receive a $25 gift card and they will match cash donations up to $25,000 for a potential donation of $150,000. Special prizes will be awarded to trekkers who exceed 10, 25, and 50 miles on the day of the event.
Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Program Coordinator Joanne Smith said, “We're very excited to collaborate with Matthews Auto. Last year we partnered with them and did a virtual Walk-A-Thon but we decided this year to go big so the community could see us and physically join in.
“We're working with the City of Norwich and will meet at the park with a buzz of activities,” she said. “There will be two food trucks, corn hole, a petting zoo, basket raffle, free goodies, and a few radio stations will visit.”
Smith said there is no cost to register and on line pre-registration is requested. Click for the money to go to CAC and join the walkers at the park or she said you can walk from anywhere; at home, at the store, at a wedding, walk anywhere. Register at https://www.matthewsauto.com/walkathon.htm.
“It's not mandatory you go to the park and it's all based on the honor system. We will receive $10 for every mile walked that day,” she said. “The money donated and matched by Matthews will go directly to service children's basic needs such as items for personal hygiene, backpacks and gift certificates for clothing.
“The CAC noticed there are children that are mandated to go on parental visitations that are extremely stressful, so the backpacks are filled with tools to help the children manage stress,” said Smith. “We supply dolls, crafts, little airplanes; things that aren't noticeable as stress relief tools to anyone but the child. The Safe Harbor program allows an emergency cell phone with limited minutes for an older child's backpack.”
Matthews Event Coordinator Alicia Vesely said, “It's truly remarkable to see what CAC can do and how they could push that needle a little further and advocate for their own charity.”
“As of the 18th we had 532 registered walkers. Those not able to attend can do a virtual walk. Just pledge the miles you will walk and Matthews will match the pledge,” Vesely said. “Matthews Auto truly cares about the communities of Chenango County and surrounding areas and looks forward to this event every year.”
“The biggest piece that makes Matthews “Matthews” is the involvement in the community. The grassroots is in-bedded in continually supporting and giving back to the community to show our gratitude. As we're expanding into other markets that same sentiment is able to be held with them as well.”
This Year's Walk-A-Thon charities that will benefit include the following nonprofits: Chenango County Child Advocacy Center in Norwich and five Binghamton-based charities: GiGi's Playhouse, a Down Syndrome achievement center; Mom's House, providing child care and support to single parents; A Room to Heal, which creates dream bedrooms for children recovering from serious illnesses; Lourdes Camp Hope for Kids, a camp for children coping with the illness and loss of a loved one and Toys for Tots.
The Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse has also been selected as a recipient this year, along with the University of Rochester-Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, children's crisis intervention group; Things of my Very Own in Schenectady and Scranton, PA-based St. Joseph's Center, providing services for children with special needs.
All selected organizations focus on supporting children in some way. For the Chenango County area, Matthews Auto has selected the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), based in Norwich, as a recipient of this year's donations due to their efforts to support child victims of crime and abuse through forensic interviewing, referrals to medical and mental health care, and advocacy.
Matthews started the Annual Walk-A-Thon in 2019. The thought behind it was to incorporate the Team with a healthy challenge while benefiting local charities. The first year they had over 600 walkers and 4,500 miles pledged. Over the first three years, Matthews cut checks for local charities totaling over $125,000.
More information on the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center can be found at ChenangoChildAdvocacy.us and on the Chenango County Child Advocacy Facebook page.
The event takes place on October 7 and offers two different walking locations. Norwich walkers can meet from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Weiler Park in Norwich or from 7:30 a.m. to 6:30 p.m. at the Vestal Rail Trail in Vestal. Virtual walkers are also invited in Syracuse, Rochester, Schenectady, and Scranton PA.
According to Matthews Auto website, they will donate $10 for every mile walked -up to $100,000. $25 donations or more will receive a $25 gift card and they will match cash donations up to $25,000 for a potential donation of $150,000. Special prizes will be awarded to trekkers who exceed 10, 25, and 50 miles on the day of the event.
Child Advocacy Center (CAC) Program Coordinator Joanne Smith said, “We're very excited to collaborate with Matthews Auto. Last year we partnered with them and did a virtual Walk-A-Thon but we decided this year to go big so the community could see us and physically join in.
“We're working with the City of Norwich and will meet at the park with a buzz of activities,” she said. “There will be two food trucks, corn hole, a petting zoo, basket raffle, free goodies, and a few radio stations will visit.”
Smith said there is no cost to register and on line pre-registration is requested. Click for the money to go to CAC and join the walkers at the park or she said you can walk from anywhere; at home, at the store, at a wedding, walk anywhere. Register at https://www.matthewsauto.com/walkathon.htm.
“It's not mandatory you go to the park and it's all based on the honor system. We will receive $10 for every mile walked that day,” she said. “The money donated and matched by Matthews will go directly to service children's basic needs such as items for personal hygiene, backpacks and gift certificates for clothing.
“The CAC noticed there are children that are mandated to go on parental visitations that are extremely stressful, so the backpacks are filled with tools to help the children manage stress,” said Smith. “We supply dolls, crafts, little airplanes; things that aren't noticeable as stress relief tools to anyone but the child. The Safe Harbor program allows an emergency cell phone with limited minutes for an older child's backpack.”
Matthews Event Coordinator Alicia Vesely said, “It's truly remarkable to see what CAC can do and how they could push that needle a little further and advocate for their own charity.”
“As of the 18th we had 532 registered walkers. Those not able to attend can do a virtual walk. Just pledge the miles you will walk and Matthews will match the pledge,” Vesely said. “Matthews Auto truly cares about the communities of Chenango County and surrounding areas and looks forward to this event every year.”
“The biggest piece that makes Matthews “Matthews” is the involvement in the community. The grassroots is in-bedded in continually supporting and giving back to the community to show our gratitude. As we're expanding into other markets that same sentiment is able to be held with them as well.”
This Year's Walk-A-Thon charities that will benefit include the following nonprofits: Chenango County Child Advocacy Center in Norwich and five Binghamton-based charities: GiGi's Playhouse, a Down Syndrome achievement center; Mom's House, providing child care and support to single parents; A Room to Heal, which creates dream bedrooms for children recovering from serious illnesses; Lourdes Camp Hope for Kids, a camp for children coping with the illness and loss of a loved one and Toys for Tots.
The Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse has also been selected as a recipient this year, along with the University of Rochester-Golisano Children's Hospital in Rochester, children's crisis intervention group; Things of my Very Own in Schenectady and Scranton, PA-based St. Joseph's Center, providing services for children with special needs.
All selected organizations focus on supporting children in some way. For the Chenango County area, Matthews Auto has selected the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center (CAC), based in Norwich, as a recipient of this year's donations due to their efforts to support child victims of crime and abuse through forensic interviewing, referrals to medical and mental health care, and advocacy.
Matthews started the Annual Walk-A-Thon in 2019. The thought behind it was to incorporate the Team with a healthy challenge while benefiting local charities. The first year they had over 600 walkers and 4,500 miles pledged. Over the first three years, Matthews cut checks for local charities totaling over $125,000.
More information on the Chenango County Child Advocacy Center can be found at ChenangoChildAdvocacy.us and on the Chenango County Child Advocacy Facebook page.
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