Agape Ranch “Leave a Legacy 5K” Helping Foster Children and Parents
by Jane Kathleen Gregorio
Need a way to ramp up your New Year’s health goals while helping a good cause? Enjoy fitness and fun for the whole family while raising support for foster children at this year’s Leave a Legacy 5K/10K Walk or Run, Saturday, February 12 at Texas A&M University Corpus Christi.
Proceeds benefit Agape Ranch, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization supporting foster families and vulnerable foster children throughout the Coastal Bend (Nueces, San Patricio, Aransas, and Kleberg Counties) since 2016.
The event also includes a 1K Fun Run for children, vendor tables, and a variety of children’s activities. Awards will be given to all age categories in the 5K and 10K event and all children in the 1K event will receive a prize. Registration is now open online until February 10, with in-person late registration available through race day for an extra fee.
“The Leave a Legacy 5K/10K allows Agape Ranch to raise awareness and support foster families, vulnerable children, and aged-out youth in the Coastal Bend,” said Shannon Murphy, Community Relations Coordinator. “Our goal is to raise $35,000 so we can continue supporting foster families and vulnerable and foster children through our programs. We hope our Coastal Bend neighbors will learn more about Agape Ranch and how we support local vulnerable and foster children.”
General Registration runs from now until February 10, with the following fees:
Adults 5K: $30;
Adults 10K: $45
Students (K-12): 5K – $15;
Childrens 1K – $10.
On February 11, all registration fees increase by $10 per race and on Race Day February 12 – $15 extra per race.
Race day packet pickup is Friday, February 11, 2022 from 12:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. at 5151 Flynn Parkway, Suite 106, Corpus Christi, TX 78411 and/or on race day from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. Race day registration is also available at that time.
According to Murphy, this is the fourth year Agape Ranch will be conducting the Leave a Legacy 5K/10K.
“This fundraiser began as an opportunity to allow several different age groups to be involved; ranging from school running clubs, college students, adults, businesses, community organizations and more,” Murphy said.
“There are a variety of roles for anyone to participate, either as a volunteer, sponsor, walker or runner. We are excited about the venue this year at the Texas A&M Corpus Christi campus and hope we have an amazing crowd!”
Agape Ranch became a non-profit in 2016 when foster parents Susan and Tim Klaus saw firsthand the lack of support that sometimes causes foster families to burn out and leave the foster care system. As a result, the couple started facilitating respite care training to increase the number of respite care providers in the Coastal Bend. Today, Agape Ranch has seven different programs that support foster families and children, as well as youth aging out of the foster care system.
“The lack of foster homes in South Texas often results in over 60% of the children
in the Coastal Bend being placed outside of our area, and siblings are split up and sent to other communities,” Murphy said.
While there are many opportunities throughout the year to support Agape Ranch, the two biggest fundraisers each year are the Leave a Legacy 5k/10k and the Legacy Gala, the proceeds of which support the building of ‘The Ranch,’ a neighborhood that intends to help keep sibling groups together and create a community where foster families can support each other.
The Ranch neighborhood is being built in Corpus Christi off of FM 43 and CR 33. The plan will have 24 homes, along with playgrounds, walking paths, and a community center.
“The home for our first foster family is almost complete and we will break ground for the second home in late Spring 2022,” Murphy said.
“It is a blessing to go out in the community and share what Agape Ranch is doing. Everyone can do something to support foster families and foster children. Through the simple acts of providing a meal, mowing a yard, or helping to set up a foster child’s bedroom, people who become certified respite care providers are a lifeline for foster parents to get a much-needed break. Foster parents who take in a sibling group of three, in addition to caring for their own children, are a bright light in our world. The construction of The Ranch neighborhood will mean more foster siblings will have a chance to stay together. “
For more information about the Leave a Legacy 5K/10K Walk or Run event, contact phone 361-742-6330 or visit https://www.agaperanch.org/5k.
