The Freed to Run Challenge, a two-day running event that debuted Nov. 17-18 at the Duval County Courthouse, raised $195,000 to benefit the Shelter for Elders program at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid.
The contribution supports an endowment that helps provide aid for older adults who have landlord/tenant and other housing-related legal issues but cannot afford to pay an attorney to represent them.
The donation, the entry fees and sponsorships each year will be partially matched by the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund through The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. This year’s match is $25,000.
“We are grateful to Delores Barr Weaver for providing matching funds to encourage others to support the important work JALA does to protect Northeast Florida seniors,” said JALA President and CEO Jim Kowalski.
“Her generous support and her example will be critical in our effort to fully fund our Shelter for Elders Endowment at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida.”
The endowment will allow JALA to address housing issues such as reverse mortgage foreclosures, door-to-door scams, wrongful evictions, substandard living conditions, discriminatory practices and other shelter-related challenges faced by vulnerable older adults.
“We hope the community steps forward to match Delores Barr Weaver’s generous challenge, because this important funding will provide support for JALA’s work to protect seniors in perpetuity,” The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida President Isaiah Oliver said.
Freed to Run started in 2016 as six 26-mile marathons in six days from Tallahassee to Jacksonville, county courthouse to county courthouse, with Mike Freed leading the way and relay teams covering the distance throughout each day.
For the next seven years, the event raised money to support pediatric patients and their families in navigating legal obstacles that often impede health outcomes with $2.25 million placed in an endowment to fund the North Florida Medical Legal Partnership at JALA.
This story has been updated to correct Isaiah Oliver's title.