Twenty years ago, Running for Shelter ran the Hood to Coast Relay in Oregon to support nonprofit affordable housing developers. Since that first run, Running for Shelter has raised over $725,000 to support affordable housing development around the country. This year’s team included Jim Bowman (NAHT President and CEO), Michelle Norris (National Church Residences), Chris Hite (Sugar Creek Capital), Ed Simon (NEF), and Dan Mendelson (Housing Consultant).
The Running for Shelter team overcame almost 100 degree temperatures, travel logistics from over 6 different states around the country, and 6 first-time relay runners. The team finished in good spirits, healthy, and happy to have had completed the run while also making a difference.
The Hood to Coast Relay is a 199-mile race that starts at a tree line on the state’s highest mountain – Mt. Hood – and runs through downtown Portland and then out to the Pacific Ocean. Each team member takes a turn running with the baton through the night on their way to the finish line. In addition to raising money for National Church Residences, Running for Shelter was a designated charitable team of the relay and made a notable donation to the Providence Cancer Center. Running for Shelter provided a check to National Church Residences in the amount of $25,000 thanks to the fundraising achieved by the race.
Significant donors to this year’s event included NAHT, Ohio Capital, National Equity Fund (NEF), and Enterprise. Other donors included National Church Residences, Sugar Creek Capital, Red Capital, and Holland & Knight.