Organizers of the 2nd Annual Daniel Barden Highland Mudfest made a $25,000 donation, August 21, to the Sandy Hook Promise (SHP) General and Community Funds. The donation will be split equally between these funds. 

The SHP General Fund’s mission is to help prevent gun violence by educating and empowering Americans to engage and organize in the sustained pursuit and implementation of sensible, holistic community-based mental wellness, connectedness, and gun safety programs. The SHP Community Fund’s mission is to provide immediate and long-term needs-based financial, in-kind and/or other assistance to individuals and families impacted by 12/14. The SHP Community Fund also provides grants to other nonprofit organizations who provide post 12/14 services. To date, SHP has distributed more than $700,000 to the community.

“We are extremely honored and grateful to the Daniel Barden Highland Mudfest for this very generous donation,” said Tim Makris, executive director at SHP. “This funding will help us continue our mission of preventing gun violence and support the needs of our community,” Mr Makris said.

The Daniel Barden Highland Mudfest is organized by Daniel and Melissa Williams of Deansboro, N.Y. Collaboratively with siblings David and Jessica Poyer of Deansboro and Frank and Karin LaBanca of Sandy Hook, the team created a 5K and 5-mile adventure-style mud run in upstate New York to bring the Newtown and New York communities together for a shared experience in nature. The course was specifically designed to require runners to work together to complete obstacles.

Approximately 3,000 New York and Connecticut runners, volunteers, and spectators participate in the Mudfest each spring. The Daniel Barden Highland Mudfest split the 2014 proceeds between Sandy Hook Promise and upstate New York’s Compeer Program’s Center for Family Life and Recovery.

The Mudfest is named in honor of Daniel Barden, one of 20 first graders killed in the shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School on December 14, 2014. The LaBancas’ daughter was a friend and neighbor to Daniel.]More information about the organizations can be found at BardenMudfest.org, SandyHookPromise.org.WhenTheresHelpTheresHope.com and