“On your marks… Get set… Go!”
Over 200 people turned out for Bournelyf Special Camp’s Hand-to-Hand 5K on May 5, racing through the streets of West Chester and raising over $25,000 for the West Chester non-profit organization.
And so they did, with over 220 runners and walkers making their way through the streets of West Chester – and raising over $25,000 along the way for Bournelyf Special Camp.
The non-profit organization, which was founded in 1980 on South New Street in West Chester, provides a summer camp experience for individuals with mild to moderate intellectual and developmental disabilities. Its annual spring fundraiser, the Hand-to-Hand 5K Run and 2 Mile Walk, went virtual the past two years due to the pandemic, but was back in full force with hundreds racing through the Borough of West Chester on May 5.
In addition to the race participants, many community businesses helped contribute to the success of the Hand-to-Hand 5K as sponsors, including: Team Toyota in Glen Mills, Bentley Systems, Meridian Bank, Lexus of Chester Springs, Wrong Crowd Brewery in West Chester, Wegmans, Trellist, Inc., McLoughlin Plumbing, Heating and Cooling, and Spina & Adams Collision Services.
“We are incredibly grateful to everyone who helped make this event a success,” said Richard Curth, executive director of Camp Bournelyf. “The support from the entire community – race participants, volunteers, and local businesses – will help us continue to strengthen and grow the mission of Bournelyf.”
In addition to the $25,000 raised at the Hand-to-Hand fundraiser, Bournelyf is happy to announce that it was also the recent recipient of a $10,000 grant from the Elizabeth Ciunci Foundation in Malvern. The foundation is named in honor of Elizabeth Ciunici, who lost her life in 1999 to a drunk driver, and its mission is to elevate community awareness, especially among high school students, of the dangers associated with drinking and driving, and to support other community organizations which share Elizabeth’s interest and passion in helping others in need. Elizabeth once worked as a counselor and volunteer at Bournelyf, making the $10,000 grant especially fitting.
“Our Foundation is how we’re able to give our philanthropic support in memory of Elizabeth,” said Jacqueline Ciunci, mother of Elizabeth and president of the Foundation. “We’re able to address some of the needs of our community and support organizations like Bournelyf Special Camp, which has a mission that compliments the Foundation’s mission. When we look at Bournelyf and what they’re doing to provide for special-needs individuals, this is the kind of organization we seek to support. Bournelyf provides their campers with a safe place, a home away from home, where they make friends, develop their abilities by instilling confidence, improve their social and communication skills, thereby helping them become more physically fit through programs & activities that are challenging and achievable.”
With the success of the Hand-to-Hand fundraiser and receipt of the Elizabeth Ciunci Foundation grant, Bournelyf is excited to embark on its 2022 summer camp season. To learn more about the camp, please visit bscwc.org.
