Proceeds from the Run for Recovery directly benefit Alliance for Safe Kids (ASK) and our partners—Drug Crisis in Our Backyard, Search for Change, and Run 4 Recovery. Together, we work to promote substance misuse prevention, treatment, recovery, and mental health awareness throughout Westchester and Putnam Counties.

We are hoping for support at any level! The Run for Recovery is ASK's only annual fundraiser, and this year's support is more important than ever. On December 1, 2025, I was notified that ASK's funding from Westchester County would be reduced by 40% beginning in 2026. This significant reduction has had a major impact on our ability to sustain and expand programs that serve local youth and families.

Ironically, the very next day I received the results of recent Westchester County student surveys. The data showed that past 30-day use of alcohol and e-cigarettes among students in grades 8, 10, and 12 was slightly higher than national averages—and in some grades, the rates had doubled. Those findings reinforced what we already know: our work is still urgently needed. Every day, ASK connects young people, parents, and community members with education, prevention programs, mental health resources, and recovery support.