New course, same mission for Kresser Memorial 5K
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STEUBENVILLE -- An event that has become a staple on the area running calendar will have a new location this year, but its goals will remain the same.
The sixth annual Suzanne Kresser Memorial 5K Walk and Run will be held Sept. 19. It will begin and end at the office of the United Way of Jefferson County, 511 N. Fourth St.
In addition to offering a flat course through downtown Steubenville, the race will raise money for and awareness of the help offered through the United Way -- and celebrate the memory and work of Kresser, who served as the executive director of the organization and was heavily involved in the community before her death at age 51 on June 23, 2021.
“This is in memory of Suzanne -- she did a lot for the community,” Marci Snyder Crawford, United Way executive director, said. “She was amazing at what she did, and this is just a way of honoring her.”
Registration for the event is underway and can be made by clicking the link on the United Way of Jefferson County’s website. The cost is $25 to participate in either the walk or the run. Check-in and race-day registration will begin at 7:30 a.m. Sept. 19, with the start set for 8:30 a.m. Tuesday is the deadline to receive a T-shirt with registration.
Registration also is available at RunSignUp.
Among those helping to organize this year’s run is Linda Slowikowski, Kresser’s mother and a longtime United Way volunteer.
“We are so humbled and grateful by them honoring Suzanne with this race in her memory,” said Slowikowski, who was recognized by the organization at this year’s Day of Action.
A graduate of Toronto High School, Ohio University and the Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science, Kresser served as executive director of the United Way for seven years and was named to the organization’s Jefferson Society Hall of Fame. She also served as a board member on the Eastern Gateway Community College and Trinity Health System foundations. Kresser was a member of the OSU Extension Advisory Committee; a lifetime member of ABATE of Ohio, Region 1; a longtime member and former president of the Steubenville Rotary Club, earning multiple Paul Harris Fellowships; a member of the Steubenville Nutcracker Village planning committee; a member of the committee that launched the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce Herald-Star Speaker Series; and received the Community Service Humanitarian Award from Quinn Memorial AME Church.
After leaving the United Way, she joined Tri-State Financial Services.
The previous five races have been run at Jim Wood Park in the city’s West End. The new location will eliminate the hills on the course and direct runners past many of the agencies that are supported by the United Way.
“That’s exciting -- you can see where some of these agencies are and what they do,” Crawford said. “We’re hoping to have a bigger turnout than we had last year.”
There will be a festival atmosphere surrounding this year’s event, Crawford said. Fourth Street Standard and Fresh Twist will be selling breakfast, there will be a 50-50 drawing and many of the agencies will be on hand with information about the work they do. There also will be vendor tables.
Local Boy Scouts will present the colors and members of the Steubenville High School choir will sing the national anthem.
After the race, participants will be able to stay in the downtown area and enjoy shopping at the Market in Downtown Steubenville, which is held beginning at 10 a.m. on the third Saturday of each month in the 100 block of North Fourth Street, as well as at other downtown businesses, Crawford added.
Members of area high school cross country teams, including Steubenville Big Red, are expected to participate.
As an incentive to attract younger participants, those 18 and younger will be entered into a drawing for a $100 prize.
Crawford said sponsorship for United Way events has increased, adding that she has been seeing a lot of new faces at events such as last week’s Day of Action -- both of which are good for the organization.
“We’re trying to be more visible,” she explained. “Maybe people are seeing more of what we are doing.
“I think the cool thing about it is that the way we do most of our events brings the community together. It’s bringing awareness to area agencies, and the need in our area. Doing events like this is huge for the community and helps bring us together as one.”
Plans this year call for the United Way to add to the number of its member agencies, continue to offer programs like Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library, launch the United for Alice program and work to find answers for some of the county’s problems, such as lack of transportation for residents in rural areas.
The United Way’s biggest fundraiser of the year, the annual Taste of the County, will be held Oct. 14 at the St. Florian Event Center, Crawford said.
“Suzanne was the director of the United Way,” Slowikowski explained. “Now we have Marci, who’s been doing a fantastic job and is taking us in new directions. Just like Sue, she is very dedicated to her community and enjoys her job.”
Sponsors for the 5K include Apollo Pro Cleaning and Restoration; Valley Converting; Taylor Insurance and Financial Services; Interstate Waste Services; the Jefferson County Joint Vocational School; Toni Moreland State Farm Insurance; Linda and Frank Slowikowski; Sherri, Jeff, Hanna, Blake and Kyla Wilson; Youngstown State University; RSQP Print and Design; Legal Hair and Day Spa; Cindy and Jim Sninchak; Foster Funeral Homes; Tucker’s Tavern; Northwest Title; Wintersville Mayor Mike Petrella; Mosti Funeral Home; Pro-X Pressure Washing Services LLC; Studio Eleven Eleven; WesBanco; Baby-Boyz BBQ; TreVida Healthcare; Tri B’s Coffee Shop; Squid’s Brewery; and Jarvis Law Office.