Active Plus 2023 TCS New York City Marathon Runners Announced
NEWS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Active Plus Named Official Charity Partner of the 2023 TCS New York City Marathon
New York, NY - October 3, 2023
Active Plus, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth and disadvantaged community members through sports, fitness, and wellness programs, is proud to announce its selection as an official charity partner of the prestigious TCS New York City Marathon. This partnership underscores Active Plus's commitment to creating positive change in the lives of underserved individuals and aligns perfectly with the mission of the dedicated runners who have chosen to raise funds for this impactful cause.
The 2023 TCS New York City Marathon is one of the most iconic and renowned marathons globally, drawing thousands of participants from around the world. This year, a select group of runners, driven by their passion for fitness and their belief in Active Plus's mission, has chosen to run with purpose and make a significant difference in their community.
About Active Plus:
Active Plus has been a beacon of hope for youth and disadvantaged community members, harnessing the power of physical activity to instill confidence, inspire leadership, and promote a healthy lifestyle. Through a wide range of programs, Active Plus has transformed lives by providing opportunities for personal growth, community building, and social impact.
"We are honored and excited to be an official charity partner of the TCS New York City Marathon," said Tarik Kitson, Founder and Executive Director of Active Plus. "Our mission aligns perfectly with the dedication and commitment of our runners. Together, we are on a journey to create positive change, empower individuals, and strengthen our community."
The Power of Choice: Why Active Plus?
While dozens of nonprofits were vying for their support, our dedicated runners - Megan Kahn, Yung-Han Chen, Katherine Long, Antwaun Cook, Faith Wint, and Corey Toole - chose Active Plus for its proven track record of making a real impact in the lives of young people and disadvantaged community members. These runners are not just athletes; they are change-makers, using their participation in the NYC Marathon as a platform to raise awareness and vital funds for Active Plus's programs.
Upcoming Event: Active Plus Marathon Runners Meet and Greet
To kick off this incredible partnership, Active Plus is hosting a virtual "Active Plus Connects: Inspiring Fitness and Impact w/ NYC Marathon Runners" event on October 24th. This exclusive event will provide a unique opportunity for our runners to connect with the Active Plus community, share their stories, and inspire others to join in the mission of empowerment and change.
Runner Profiles:
Megan Kahn: Megan is a lawyer with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, where she handles appeals largely from uncounseled prisoners seeking habeas corpus relief, challenging their convictions and sentences, and protesting the conditions of their confinements. She also handles a variety of civil appeals, such as employment discrimination disputes, and immigration appeals. Megan is a proud undergraduate of the University of Michigan and law school graduate of the University of Cincinnati College of Law.
Yung-Han Chen: Yung-Han Chen hails from Queens, NY and graduated from Binghamton University with a Bachelor of Science in Psychobiology. He served one year in Americorps doing community service with City Year New Hampshire before earning his Doctor of Optometry from the Pennsylvania College of Optometry in 2012. He currently practices at 10/10 Optics located next to Madison Square Park specializing in Orthokeratology and Myopia Management.
Yung-Han found his love of running while being on his high school track and cross country team at The Bronx High School of Science. His passion for running continued after graduation by running the NYC Marathon in 2002 and in 2003. He is honored to represent Team Active Plus at this year's TCS New York City Marathon!
Katherine Long: Financial Services professional with 2 years of consulting experience, supporting financial services and asset management companies. My strengths lie in having a focused approach to risk management and building processes and automation that increase performance.
In addition to my professional experience, I have a strong passion for running, cycling, exploring other cultures, and supporting the development of youth, as it relates to involvement in the local community.
Antwaun Cook: Antwaun Cook is married and has three boys, Christian, Jackson and Dallas. He has dynamic sales experience that extends over 20 years and in multiple industries. His pharmaceutical sales career started at Lilly in the Neuroscience business unit before being promoted to Oncology. Antwaun graduated from East Carolina University in 2001 with a B.S.B.A and concentration in Decision Sciences. He was a four year letterman on the football team and 1999 initiate of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc. Antwaun joined Sanofi Rare Diseases in November of 2021 as a part of the lysosomal storage disorders team, covering Western NC, SC and parts of VA. In his spare time Antwaun is a Connections team leader for Elevation Church – Riverwalk in Rock Hill, SC, where he leads a group of 15 volunteers. He also finds time to volunteer with his fraternity as Chairman of the Social Action Committee, leading efforts in the community like donating time and relief materials to the homeless, leading voter registration at local high schools, and serving at food banks.
He spends a lot of his time supporting his oldest son Christian, who is a Freshman soccer player at Coastal Carolina University. When not running to and from with his boys, Antwaun enjoys traveling all over the world, working out, including rides on his Peloton, running local and out of town races, shopping, eating great food, and entertaining friends and family at his home in Charlotte, NC.
Corey Toole: Corey was born and raised in Durham, North Carolina. He grew up playing sports and has always enjoyed the outdoors. He excelled in track, running the 800m, 1600m, 4x800m, and 4x400m - but he always enjoyed playing football the most. Sports aside, he has always been a tinkerer, as he enjoys taking things apart, seeing how they work, and putting them back together. That curiosity has stayed with him into adulthood.
He currently works as a Brand Manager at Intercontinental Hotels Group, working mostly on brand strategy and post-acquisition support for new hotels. Additionally, his non-profit, South Atlanta Serves, focuses on giving back through various community service initiatives. He is a two-time HBCU graduate, with a B.S. in Marketing from Winston Salem State University and a Masters in Public Administration from North Carolina Central University.
In his free time, you can find Corey snowboarding, fishing, hiking, golfing, and a number of other outdoor activities with his dog, Prince. He prioritizes travel and new experiences, and he actively works to check things off of his bucket list. His favorite book is The Richest Man in Babylon and his favorite movie is Into the Wild.
Join Us in Making a Difference:
Active Plus invites the community, supporters, and partners to join in this extraordinary journey of empowerment and change. Together, we can make a lasting impact on the lives of young people and disadvantaged community members.
For more information about Active Plus and the upcoming meet and greet event, please visit https://www.activeplus-nyc.org.
To support our runners, please donate: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/teams/active-plus?partner=964ce23d312d4c2624c0
Media Contact:
Dwayne R. Norris
Board Member
Active Plus
drnorris@activeplus-nyc.org
646-339-1255
About Active Plus:
Active Plus is a nonprofit organization committed to empowering youth and disadvantaged community members through sports, fitness, and wellness programs. We provide health and fitness education to the children and teens who need it most. By harnessing the power of physical activity, Active Plus instills confidence, inspires leadership, and promotes a healthy lifestyle. Through a wide range of programs, Active Plus transforms lives, creating opportunities for personal growth, community building, and social impact. We strive to both improve immediate health outcomes and reduce structural inequalities that threaten long-term well-being.
