NYRR Team for Kids - Connor "Money Bags (Charitable)" Shea

Howdy! [cowboy emoji]

As many of you know, I am physically incapable of not telling people that I will be running the New York City Marathon this November. As a kind of amuse bouche (French for "little piece of food that's barely an appetizer") to that, I'll be running the Brooklyn Half Marathon this May, which I have been assured is precisely half the length of the full thing.

In the spirit of all this, I am also embarking on what I assume will be a lifelong commitment to philanthropy and raising money through Team for Kids for New York Road Runners youth programs. Team for Kids is a great cause that puts on the whole kit and caboodle of programs for the youths of this fine city. Who doesn't love and generally support kids? You!? Are you anti-kid? Not a great look, my guy. Personally, "I believe the children are our future" (Houston, W. 1986), and Team for Kids seems to agree. As I've always said, if you want to get people hooked on addictive habits like mildly intensive cardiovascular exercise that will dramatically improve their quality of life and longevity, ya gotta start 'em early. "The first race is free", as they say. Except the first race is NOT free. As it turns out, there are costs associated with putting on these programs, hence the fundraising.

In all seriousness, TFK is a wonderful organization that does so much for kids all across NYC and your donation goes a long way to make that possible. To paraphrase their marketing materials, Rising New York Road Runners - NYRR’s youth program and events platform - serves more than 240,000 students locally and nationally through free NYRR youth running programs, events, and resources in schools and community centers nationwide.

If you can give even $20, it'll help me reach my committed goal of $500. Your donation is fully tax deductible and you will receive an email letter of acknowledgment for your tax records.

I'll also personally be matching your donations for the first $250. That's right, folks, I'm putting my money where my mouth is. Figuratively, not literally. Money is filthy, literally...and also sometimes figuratively.

This will also all serve as an amuse bouche (defined above) to my (hopefully, significantly) larger fundraising effort for the full Marathon, likely for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society or comparable anti-cancer charitable organization. Why not get in on the ground floor now so you can brag about having been involved in the first fundraising efforts of one of New York's most successful* philanthropists*.

Thank you very much you beautiful people, whether you donate a lil bit or just read through this page and did that thing where you kind of exhale through your nose but don't really fully laugh. Peace and love, folks.

EDIT: I moved my own donation over to the TFK page so it counted toward my own personal fundraising deadline :)