PPTC presents Bishop Ford with $12,500 check

Prospect Park Track Club's Tom Meany presented Denise Catapano, Assistant Director of Athletics at Bishop Ford Central Catholic High School, with a check for $12,500. The check represents Bishop Ford's portion of the proceeds from last November's Turkey Trot. The popular Thanksgiving 5-mile event sold out of its 2,500 slots nearly two weeks early, cementing its place as the largest homegrown race in the city. It was sponsored by JackRabbit Sports and supported by New York Methodist Hospital.

"This was our 11th Turkey Trot in partnership with Bishop Ford," said Meany, president of the club, Brooklyn's oldest. "We have been growing upon each year's success. This past year was by far our best, and we could not hold this event without the partnership of Bishop Ford."

Before, during, and after the race, members of Bishop Ford's boys' and girls' track teams filled many of the behind-the-scenes roles needed for a seamless race experience. These jobs included filling water cups, keeping the course clear, and handing out medals at the finish.

The $12,500 will go directly to the track teams, and will be used to defray the cost of uniforms, meets, and transportation. Without these resources, the burden would be passed directly on to the parents of the athletes.

"Our original idea was to make a link with our adult runners and the student-athletes of Bishop Ford," said Meany. "This has proven to be a very successful collaboration."