RUNNING THE NYC MARATHON–AND OTHER GLOBAL RACES–TO RAISE MILLIONS FOR HOLOCAUST SURVIVORS
For the 50th anniversary of the running of the NYC Marathon, The Blue Card, a national non-profit organization dedicated to aiding over 3,000 needy Holocaust survivors households is thrilled to be partnering with the race for the eleventh consecutive year. The TCS New York City Marathon is one of the largest marathons in the world, 26.2 miles, running through the five boroughs of NYC, and hosting runners from more than 100 countries.
“The New York City Marathon showcases the resilience and the fortitude of this great city,” states The Blue Card’s Executive Director, Masha Pearl. “We’re thrilled to have Team Blue Card running among athletes from around the world once again, and the ability to use this great gathering to raise much needed awareness and funds for holocaust survivors.”
The Blue Card has partnered with the NYC Marathon for this initiative since 2009 as ‘Team Blue Card.’ These 50 runners use their training, platform, and the event to raise funds and awareness for The Blue Card, aiding the organization’s mission of helping holocaust survivors in need. Historically, ‘Team Blue Card’ has raised a grand total of $2 Million through their combined efforts over the last 11 years, fundraising through social media, crowdfunding, employer gift matching, sponsorships, as well as through family and friends.
Team Blue Card’s efforts extend beyond the NYC Marathon. The Blue Card has been an Official Charity Partner of the Miami Half/Full Marathon since 2011, the TD 5 Borough Bike Tour in New York City since 2011, and team members have also participated in the NYC Panasonic Lifetime Triathlon as well as numerous other national and international events including Germany, Tel-Aviv and Jerusalem, Israel, and Italy. Our endurance team participants come from around the world, including Argentina, Austria, France, Israel, Italy, Mexico, and South Africa.
There is still opportunity to run with Team Blue Card—or to support from the sidelines. More details can be found here: https://bluecardfund.org/become-involved/team-blue-card/.
Funds raised go toward providing Holocaust survivors with the following services daily:
- Education & Outreach Programs:
- Person-Centered, Trauma-Informed (PCTI) training for dental and medical professionals working with Holocaust survivors
- The Blue Card-Lissner Hospital Visitation Program – Volunteer visits to hospitalized Holocaust survivors.
- Nutrition guidance
- Jewish Holiday – Provides financial support for the High Holidays, Hannukah, and for Passover, giving survivors the financial means for a better holiday season.
- Mazel Tov Birthday – Provides survivors with a card and a check on their birthday. This is particularly meaningful for holocaust survivors who lost their entire family during the war.
- FreeStyle Libre Glucose Monitoring: The Freestyle Libre 2 system continuously measures glucose data with customizable, optional real time alarms The unit gives people with diabetes excellent accuracy and actionable information to better manage their condition.
- Grant assistance for emergency needs, including:
- Housing and related costs to prevent eviction, homelessness, or utility shut-off
- Emergency relocation
- Food purchase
- Medical and dental care, including medical equipment not covered by insurance
- Emergency relocation
- Essential clothing and footwear
- Purchase and repair or essential major and minor appliance
- Aid to survivors battling cancer through the Siggi B. Wilzig Fighting Cancer Together program
- Emergency Prevention Programs, including
- Monthly stipend for poverty-stricken survivors
- Telephone emergency response system
The Blue Card, established in 1934 in Germany and organized in the U.S. in 1939, is the only organization whose sole mission is to provide critical financial aid for emergency medical, dental, housing and food needs to survivors of Nazi persecution. While the Holocaust seems like a long ago nightmare, for survivors it is a continuing one. Of the 75,000 Holocaust survivors in the U.S., one-third live at or below the federal poverty level. For many, the losses they experienced decades ago are compounded by their current struggles to subsist on meager incomes and threadbare or nonexistent support systems. Studies show that Holocaust survivors have higher incidences of mental illness, cancer, and other debilitating diseases.
You can donate to The Blue Card Fund here: https://bluecardfund.org/become-involved/donate/
About The Blue Card
Established in Germany in 1934 as a grassroots effort and re-established in the United States in 1939 to aid refugees resettling in America, The Blue Card continues today to provide direct financial assistance to needy Holocaust survivors who live at or near the poverty line. As this population ages, with many now living into their 80s and 90s, their needs have drastically increased and changed, giving rise to the need for funding of essential needs. Funds raised are used to finance many diverse programs including stipendiary, medical/dental, cancer, vitamin/nutrition and holiday as well as other initiatives for this frail and often neglected population.
The Blue Card has distributed over $46 million to date, with 100 percent of individual donations going directly to survivors. For more information on The Blue Card, please visit www.bluecardfund.org.
