Canceled, Then Revived, UVA’s Community Bridges 5K Nets Record Haul for Charities

University News

Canceled, Then Revived, UVA’s Community Bridges 5K Nets Record Haul for Charities

September 28, 2023 • By Mike Mather, mike.mather@virginia.edu Mike Mather, mike.mather@virginia.edu

President Jim RYan runs with community members

UVA President Jim Ryan leads the way on a special “Run With Jim” on Thursday morning to make up for the rained-out Community Bridges 5K. The charity event netted a record $51,000. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

The University of Virginia’s Community Bridges 5K run, washed out by heavy rains and high winds last weekend, caught its second wind Thursday when University of Virginia President Jim Ryan gathered some of the event participants for a special “Run With Jim.”

Even accounting for the soggy delay, the event raised a record $51,000 that will be distributed among three Charlottesville-area nonprofits.

The Community Bridges 5K was planned as part of UVA’s “Great and Good” mission, which includes ensuring the University is a valued neighbor to residents in Charlottesville, Albemarle County and greater Central Virginia. But the soaking remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia, which wreaked havoc with weekend events from Virginia’s coast to the Piedmont, led to a cancelation for the safety of the participants.

Although a little smaller in scope, the Run With Jim (Community Bridges Version) leaned on the same theme of building bridges between UVA and its neighbors.

The event’s fundraising benefitted the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Cultivate Charlottesville and the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. Here are some photos of Thursday’s special Run With Jim:

Community members joined Ryan for a Community Bridges version of Run With Jim. Although a little smaller in scope, the run focused on the same theme of building bridges between UVA and community neighbors. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

On the run through Grounds: The funds raised through the Community Bridges events will benefit the Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, Cultivate Charlottesville and the Rivanna Conservation Alliance. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

Ryan’s morning run came about after the remnants of Tropical Storm Ophelia led to a cancelation for the safety of the participants on Saturday. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

Mark Lorenzoni of the Charlottesville Track Club and Alyssa Wittenborn of the Rivanna Conservation Society join with UVA President Jim Ryan to hold the oversized check representing the society’s share of the funds. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

Alyssa Wittenborn, Rivanna Conservation Society; Aleen Carey and Jordan Johnson, Cultivate Charlottesville; and Andrea Douglas, Jefferson School African American Heritage Center, represent the nonprofits that benefited from the run. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)

Cultivate Charlottesville’s Jordan Johnson and Aleen Cary show off the Community Bridges 5K shirt. (Photo by Sanjay Suchak, University Communications)