Alumni Association and Rose Brucia Educational Foundation Hold 5K

March 27, 2012

PATCHOGUE, NY March 28, 2012 The St. Josephs College Alumni Association and The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation will be co-sponsoring their annual Walkathon/5K Run on Sunday, April 29 on the Long Island Campus of St. Josephs College.

Since its inception five years ago, proceeds from the event have totaled more than $100,000 for the Thomas J. Wendt Scholarship and The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation. With those proceeds, the Scholarship was endowed and awarded to three St. Josephs College students, and the Foundation was able to launch and distribute a nationwide, educational DVD program that is now available for download on the internet.

The Thomas J. Wendt Scholarship is named after a former student leader and employee dedicated to volunteerism and charitable causes. Tom Wendt 88 was active in various student organizations during his tenure at the College, including the Student Government Association, Circle K Club and Campus Ministry. After his passing in 2004, St. Josephs College established a memorial scholarship in his name to benefit students who actively participate in activities at the College and in its surrounding community.

The Rose Brucia Educational Foundation was founded in 2004 by alumnus, Matthew J. Barbis 94, after the abduction and murder of his 11-year-old cousin, Carlie Brucia, in Sarasota, FL. The Foundations goal is to reduce the number of child abductions in the U.S. by educating and empowering young minds with the knowledge necessary to avoid abduction. Utilizing puppets and a formalized educational curriculum, the Foundation provides elementary-aged children with the Stranger Safety Awareness Program free of charge.

Registration for the 5K Run/Walkathon will begin at 8:30 a.m. in the John A. Danzi Athletic Center on the Long Island Campus of St. Josephs College, located at 155 West Roe Boulevard, Patchogue, New York. The 3.1 mile course will go through the Village of Patchogue and end back at the College. For more information or to register, please call Matthew Colson in the Office of Alumni Relations at 631.687.2653, visit www.sjny.edu/alumni or www.rosebrucia.org.