Hey friends, On November 7th, I’ll be running the NYC Marathon to raise money for Wellness in the Schools, an organization that’s been on the front lines fighting childhood obesity in our public schools. WITS integrates with the Department of Education to design nutritious, alternative menus for our city’s school children. They train cafeteria staff and teach kids to cook with healthy ingredients. Right before the pandemic, I had the chance to see firsthand the impact their programming is having on the kids of our city. And then, in April of 2020, when my team at Green Top Farms began serving food pantries across NYC where lines stretched around the block, WITS was there to support our work. They sent members of their brave staff to our commissary kitchen in Queens so we could keep up with feeding the growing numbers of food insecure people in NYC. New York is my home, and other than a short stint in Colorado, I’ve been here. My maternal grandparents met at a city pool in the Bronx and my paternal ones lived in Williamsburg until they married and moved to the country (Queens) and ultimately the sticks (Nassau County). Over the past 10 or so years of running in the city, I’ve logged thousands of miles, from the Westside Highway to the Ocean Parkway, through the streets where my family laid roots. But these past eighteen months have shown me a different side of NYC—the needs and inequities that exist in our communities and how a patchwork of people and community organizations can work together to support each other. My goal over these next couple of weeks, leading up to the race, is to raise a total of $3K for WITS. If you’re in a position to donate, your funds will go towards more nutrition education and more access to fresh, scratch-cooked meals in NYC’s public schools. Anything you’re able to contribute is incredibly appreciated and you can do so in a couple of clicks here. I’m excited to make my way through each borough on November 7th. I’ll be motivated by the New Yorkers that came before me and the spirit that defines this city that I love. I hope you’ll come out for the festivities on race day—one of the greatest days of the year to celebrate being a New Yorker! My love and thanks, Al