Another Run for Fun and Knowledge

The 15th annual Run for Knowledge race begins in Wagner Park. Photo: Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib

Here they go again.

It was the 15th annual Run for Knowledge on Friday, Oct. 18, taking toddlers to middle schoolers—and their parents—from Wagner Park to Rockefeller Park for the sake of fun and funds for Battery Park City's two P.S./I.S. schools, 89 and 276.

Principals Ronnie Najjar, P.S. 89, and Terri Ruyter, 276, were waiting at the finish line with medals for everyone—their greetings and smiles just as big for the last ones in as the first. What makes them especially happy, of course, is what this fundraiser does for the schools.

"It's books, it's staff, it's professional development. It's a good chunk of money and it really helps," Ruyter said. "Whatever we make from this frees up money for half a teacher's salary, which is a lot. Our budgets are really tight."

At P.S. 89, Najjar said, the funds pay for dance and music groups to come into the school, "enriching the enrichment" programs.

"Run for Knowledge is a great benefit, and the community piece, I just love," she said. "Babies in strollers to anyone!"

Slide show photos by Carl Glassman/Tribeca Trib