SAN FRANCISCO — Nihonmachi Little Friends (NLF) will hold its second “Big Steps for Little Friends” 5K run and walkathon on Sunday, Oct. 12, at Lindley Meadows in Golden Gate Park.
Proceeds from this fundraising event will benefit NLF’s Plant A Seed Campaign (PASC).
NLF is a non-profit, community-based organization providing bilingual and multicultural preschool and K-5th grade after-school programs to over 200 children annually in the heart of San Francisco’s Japantown since 1975.
The PASC is overseeing the capital funding for the construction of the new NLF building addition, which will consist of an entry-level lower floor, a full first floor for the preschool program, and a rooftop playground with children’s garden.
Registration for the event can be accessed through NLF’s website at www.nlfchildcare.org with a choice of online registration or downloading of a paper form.
On the day of the event, the 5K run will start at 9 a.m. with check-in beginning at 8 a.m. Walkers will start at 9:30 a.m., with check-in beginning at 8:30 a.m., and will conclude by 11 a.m.
Special guest artist Melody Takata and members of GenRyu Arts will send off the runners and walkers with uplifting taiko drumming at 9 a.m. at the Polo Fields’ track.
From 11:30 a.m. to 12 noon, participants who have finished the run or walk, and other supporters who are in attendance, can join Corrine Nagata of NAGATA Dance for stretching and movement activities in Lindley Meadows. NAGATA Dance has a studio in Japantown’s Buchanan Mall offering children’s ballet, hip-hop, jazz and adult yoga.
Each participant will receive a lunch and will be entered into a drawing for an iPad Mini. Prizes will be awarded to the top three runners with the fastest times and the top three walkers with the most collected donations.
A partial list of sponsors for the event: Paragon Real Estate; Sanrio; Mike Thompson Framing; Mary and Ken Mizono; the Hirose family in loving memory of Bill Hirose; Eugene Tomine, Attorney; Carion & Doty LLP; and Sports Authority.
Contributions to the Plant A Seed Campaign can be made online through NLF’s website, or mailed directly to NLF at 1830 Sutter St., San Francisco, CA 94115. Your donation is tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law.
For more information, contact NLF at (415) 922-8898 or nlfchildcare@gmail.com.