Stiletto Sprint 2020
7/16/2020
By Kellen Millard
BBBSNH Big Sister and YP4M member
It's time to dust off your high heels - the Stiletto Sprint is back!
This year's annual event in downtown Portsmouth will take place Saturday, Sept. 19 at 2 p.m. It is the eleventh year for this family-friendly fundraiser benefitting Big Brothers Big Sisters of New Hampshire, and the event's organizers, Young Philanthropists for Mentoring (YP4M), have set a goal of raising $40,000.
The event is great for adults, kids, and families of all ages. To participate, you can register to sprint or strut the 40-yards in heels, as an individual racer or part of a relay team. Either way, you can expect to see some incredible costumes, be cheered on by the amazing crowd, get your face painted, and even see a performance by the talented and beloved Portsmouth Thriller Dancers! All of the money raised will help kids in our community find mentors to inspire and empower them to reach their full potential.
YP4M would like to thank the Stiletto Sprint's Platinum Sponsor, CIT Group, as well as its Gold Heel Sponsors, Sprague Energy, Alliance Funding Group, Kennebunk Saving, and Bangor Savings Bank.
This event is held outdoors in downtown Portsmouth. Stiletto Sprint participants and audience members are asked to wear masks, and maintain six-feet distancing from others, per guidelines from the CDC. Social distancing measures will also be in place to keep runners/walkers safe during the race. Masks will be available for those who don't have one.
Group unites young professionals around a cause
As part of the larger Big Brother's Big Sister's community in the Seacoast, Young Philanthropists for Mentoring is made up of 12-15 members who come from different professional and personal backgrounds but all share a passion for raising awareness and support for children who are facing adversity, and a commitment to developing philanthropy in the future generations of young professionals. Below are just a few of the great things that YP4M members have to say about the Sprint as well as their participation in YP4M:
"Joining YP4M 5 years ago has been one of the best decisions I've made since graduating college! It's a great group of like-minded friends/young professionals who are connected to the community. One of the greatest benefits of being in YP4M which I was not anticipating, being part of the group has allowed me to meet more experienced and successful local professionals across tons of industries who are also involved with BBBS. The Stiletto Sprint has been such a blast to be involved with, and helping the kids of the seacoast and greater NH has been the best reward for me!" - Tate Hartmann
"I was lucky enough to join YP4M two years ago and from the get-go it was immediately rewarding. Being able to work and game plan alongside other young professionals who also want to help better those around them was a great opportunity for me. The Stiletto Sprint is always a great event to see our hard work come to life. Knowing that all money raised is going towards improving young lives and their futures in the seacoast area is more than I could ever ask for." - Joseph Ricci
"When I moved back to the States I knew I wanted to do something to reconnect to my community. As a former Big Sister I knew BBBSNH was the place to start and that's when I found YP4M! It allows me to stay connected to and support BBBS and the amazing work they do, while investing my time in my community and collaborating with like-minded local young people. This will be my first Stiletto Sprint as a YP4M member, and I'm excited to see it come together after witnessing the hard work that goes into putting it together!" - Rachel Harmon
Young Philanthropists for Mentoring Members 2020: Matthew Doubleday, Kellen Millard, Joseph Ricci, Robin Franks, Elizabeth Robinson, Tate Hartmann, Mitch Hartmann, Rachel Harmon, Rachel Ness, Joanna Kelley, Colby Athanas and Travis Smith.
For more information about getting involved with YP4M, email Special Events Coordinator Linda Carter at lcarter@bbbsnh.org.