35 Pittsburgh Schools Receive Record $22,000 in Kids of Steel Grants to Inspire the Next Generation to Love Running

PITTSBURGH (April 17, 2019) – P3R (Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc.) has awarded a  record $22,000 in grants to 35 schools and organizations participating in the Kids of Steel program. This year, kids from 135 schools and nonprofit organizations in 12 counties in Pennsylvania are participating in the free youth program that motivates kids and families to get moving and make healthier food choices.

“P3R is providing more Kids of Steel grants than ever before to spread the love of running and reach more schools and communities,” said Leslie Turis, P3R Youth Program Manager. “We want to give every school – and thus, every child – the opportunity to participate in the program and show kids of all ages the benefits of physical activity.”

During the program, participants are challenged to complete the equivalent of 26.2 miles (the distance of a full marathon) of physical activity. This year alone, participants are expected to log more than 200,000 miles of running as part of their training, which is enough to circle the Earth seven times!

Kids will celebrate the completion of their training and log that final mile of their “marathon” during the 2019 DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon weekend of events by participating in the Sheetz Pittsburgh Toddler Trot (40 meters), Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon (one mile) or UPMC Health Plan/UPMC Sports Medicine Pittsburgh 5K Run (3.1 miles).

Kids of Steel sites will use the grants for busing students to and from the Chick-fil-A Pittsburgh Kids Marathon, purchasing physical education equipment or supporting middle school running clubs. Additionally, some sites received extra motivation in the form of new running shoes ― P3R donated a total of 60 pairs of running shoes to Kids of Steel participants this year.

“As a physical education teacher at the elementary level, I am ecstatic for our school to be a Kids of Steel grant winner,” said Michael Pelloni, a teacher at Seneca Valley School District. “The Kids of Steel program is my favorite program each school year, and the kids love being a part of it! The grant money will go toward buying equipment that I am not able to purchase within my budget, thus allowing the kids to have fun and enjoy exercise and activity for years to come.”

Grants are still available for middle school running clubs. If interested, email Leslie Turis, P3R Youth Program Manager, at Lesle.Turis@P3R.org. For more information about Kids of Steel, visit: www.kidsofsteel.org

About Kids of Steel

Kids of Steel is a free training program that motivates kids and families at more than 145 sites throughout 12 counties to get moving and make healthier food choices. During training, participants will complete 25 miles of physical activity at school, during a before or after school program or at home with their families. P3R celebrates the achievements of kids, coaches and families by bringing everyone together to finish the last mile at the Pittsburgh Kids Marathon on Saturday, May 4. Since the program’s inception in 2011, more than 35,000 children in the tri-state area have learned what it takes to be a Kid of STEEL. 

About P3R (Pittsburgh Three Rivers Marathon, Inc.)

P3R is a nonprofit organization that is passionate about promoting a love of running and enhancing community access to health & fitness education and activities. Best known for organizing the acclaimed annual DICK’S Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, we also manage a variety of other high-quality races, events, and health and fitness programs throughout the Pittsburgh region. While many of our races attract some of the nation’s highest-profile professional athletes, we offer activities for all ages and ability levels. The only criterion for participation is a desire to be happy, healthy and active!