Donut Dash Raises Funds For Community Agency

By Kendra Bobowick

Michael Porco, Jr, enjoyed his first “Great Donut Dash” in 2008 enough to schedule a second fund-raising run for this year.

On March 29, beginning at 9 am, Mr Porco will kick-off the second annual dash to benefit Newtown Youth & Family Services. Supporters should be at Andrea’s Bakery on Queen Street at 9 am for demonstrations, music, raffles and prizes. Two karate school members and two town police officers will run a race starting from Porco’s Karate Academy at 113 Church Hill Road, making their way to the bakery.

Can they eat a dozen donuts, then finish the more than two-mile race? Mr Porco, for one, is going to try. He also is seeking corporate sponsorship — with a twist. Aside from doughnuts from the bakery, other sponsors can choose their own surprise menu. “Anything they want us to eat,” Mr Porco said.

He also welcomes direct corporate sponsors and pledges, with a prize for the person who guesses Mr Porco’s run time. Buy a $5 square and guess the race times for prizes including a month free at the karate academy. Visit NewtownKarate.com for more details.

Executive Director of Newtown Youth & Family Services Beth Agen said, “Last year’s Great Donut Dash was a wonderful event.” The group that waited at Andrea’s Bakery for Mr Porco to arrive and eat his baker’s dozen was “festive and fun — both taunting and encouraging him!” she said.

Running from the academy to the bakery and eating 13 donuts is monumental to Ms Agen. “It’s a task as insurmountable as an Olympic triathlon,” she said. She loves his spirit, however.  “[Mr Porco] is a great role model for the community. The Donut Dash is an example of how a simple idea can make a huge difference,” she said.

Porco’s Karate Academy raised nearly $3,000 last year in sponsorship of the NYFS Newtown Road Race. Money collected through fundraising events helps Ms Agen’s agency continue to provide quality programs and services, to those in the community who have never had, or no longer have insurance for behavioral health services, she said. “It is because of committed community members like the Porco family that NYFS sees all clients regardless of ability to pay,” she added. Contact Michael Porco, Jr, at Newtownkarate.com to make a donation, or send contributions directly to NYFS, which can be reached at 270-4335, or visit NewtownYouthAndFamilyServices.org.