On November 1st, a diverse team of 42 runners represented Sanctuary in the 2009 ING NYC Marathon.  Collectively they raised over $100,000 for Sanctuary while raising awareness about domestic violence. 

Each of our runners has a unique story about why he or she chose to run the iconic New York City Marathon this year with Sanctuary for Families.  Here are a few of their stories:

Name
Susan Puder

Hometown
Chappaqua, New York

Relationship to Sanctuary
Susan initially became involved as a pro bono lawyer a few years after Sanctuary’s founding while she was working as an associate at Davis, Polk & Wardwell LLP.  Through the years she stayed active as a volunteer, and in 2003 she joined Sanctuary’s Board of Directors.  

What makes Sanctuary for Families unique?
“Ever since I first worked as a volunteer, I have connected with the staff in a very special way.  From the holistic approach Sanctuary takes, to the way we treat our clients, to the use of our funds and Board involvement, I have never found another non-profit that has all these factors in the way that Sanctuary does.” - Susan

Name
Rachel Goldsmith

Hometown
New York, New York

Relationship to Sanctuary
Rachel is a Supervising Social Worker in Sanctuary’s Clinical Program.  She was initially introduced to Sanctuary five years ago, when she interned at our Bronx office while pursuing her Masters in Social Work degree.   She has since provided expert counseling services to hundreds of survivors of domestic violence. 

How the team is helping her stay focused:
“It is a great motivation knowing that there is a whole team of people that are going through the same process as you.   I don’t know too many people who actually get excited about waking up on a Saturday morning and running 12, 15, 20 miles, but when you finish you know you have just done something amazing.  It has been the perfect time to challenge myself while continuing to raise awareness about domestic violence and specifically Sanctuary.” –Rachel

Name
Josefine Infante

Hometown
New York, New York

Relationship to Sanctuary
Josefine applied to join Sanctuary’s Marathon Team after browsing the list of participating charities on the official marathon website.   She was inspired to run her first marathon for a cause she believed in and her sister had volunteered at Sanctuary events in the past.

Motivation for running the ING New York City Marathon
“It’s true that one person can make a difference in one person’s life.  Knowing I’ve been able to do just a little to help has made this experience worth it.  It is unbelievable what one can do when you set your mind to accomplishing a goal.”   - Josefine

Name
Hannah Pennington

Hometown
New York, New York

Relationship to Sanctuary
Hannah is a long-time supporter of Sanctuary in countless ways.  Her involvement began when she volunteered for the Courtroom Advocates Project over 10 years ago.  In recent years, she co-founded the Sanctuary Associates Committee, became a member of the Legal Advisory Council, and as a probono lawyer at Debevoise & Plimpton, took on one of the most challenging custody cases in the history of the Legal Center.  Most recently, we are privileged that Hannah has joined Sanctuary’s staff as the Legal Director of the Bronx Community Office. 

Motivation for joining Sanctuary’s Marathon Team
“When I found out that Sanctuary organized a Marathon Team, I hadn’t been thinking about running a marathon.   I had run half marathons in the past but never ran a whole one.  It was Sanctuary’s involvement that pushed me to sign up and start training.  It is inspiring to know that this organization is relying on you and it has given me motivation while I train.”
 – Hannah