June 11, 2013
For immediate release

Sacramento Mayor plans to help event raise money for St. HOPE

Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson plans to return to his roots Saturday in the inaugural Freedom Mile.

Johnson, fresh from his success in keeping the Sacramento Kings in town, is scheduled to attend and participate in the race, which benefits St. HOPE Public Schools. Johnson, an Oak Park native and former NBA All-Star, founded St. HOPE.

The race, put on by the Sacramento Running Association, begins at 8 a.m. in William Land Park. The event is part of the annual Juneteenth Festival, a celebration of the Emancipation Proclamation signed in 1863 by President Abraham Lincoln declaring all those held as slaves to be freed.

“We are excited to have Mayor Johnson be a part of the inaugural Freedom Mile on Saturday,” SRA Executive Director Ellen Moore said. “The event is really a celebration for all Sacramentans and we are honored to have him participate. The real challenge is to see how fast he can run!”

The Juneteenth festival includes a parade, a talent show, two stages of live entertainment, a health/wellness pavilion, an educational theater, a golf tournament and food/ware vendors. The event begins on Friday with a Gospel Under the Stars concert at 7 p.m., runs from 8 a.m.-6 p.m. on Saturday and concludes with the golf tournament on Sunday.

All proceeds from the Freedom Mile are set to go to St. HOPE Public Schools, a public charter school system with a focus on students from low-income and minority backgrounds.

St. HOPE provides children with a high-quality, rigorous college preparatory education. Strict accountability, rigorous standards, high expectations, increased learning time and the active involvement of parents, students, teachers and staff are emphasized.

The entry fee for the Freedom Mile is $20, with kids 18 and under running for free thanks to Coldwell Banker. To register, visit www.runsra.org. On-line registration closes Thursday at 11:59 p.m.

Competition is set for 17 age groups, with the top three in each receiving an award. The start and finish are near Freeport Boulevard and 13th Avenue.
Spectators and participants are encouraged to park at Sacramento City College.

The Sacramento Running Association is a non-profit organization dedicated to finding ways to encourage people of all ages and abilities to run. The SRA is committed to developing new, quality running events that appeal to a broad variety of runners.

Other SRA events include the recent Gold Rush 100k, the Folsom Blues Breakout Half Marathon on Oct. 19, the California International Marathon on Dec. 8, the Super Bowl Sunday 10k Run on Feb. 2 and the Credit Union SACTOWN Ten-Mile Run on April 6.

SRA beneficiaries include the American River Parkway, youth fitness programs, local running venues and aspiring young runners.