The Hoyt Foundation January Newsletter |
From the Office of the President |
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2024 was an amazing year for Team Hoyt and the Hoyt Foundation. |
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There were more moments of success than we can possibly share, but I’d like to highlight a few: January 2024 we kicked off the year at the Boston Run Show, highlighted by the introduction of the extremely popular “YES YOU CAN” Jam & presenting YES YOU CAN – The story of Team Hoyt. |
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February 2024 we supported our Boston Marathon runners with a water stop at the Johnny Kelley Statue in Newton. |
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March 2024 we started the month in Owensboro Kentucky to present YES YOU CAN – The Story of Team Hoyt, back home together with the Metrowest YMCA we presented the Inspiration Award to Zdeno Chara and Team Unstoppable – Mike DiDonato & Kyle Brodeur, during this event we donated a statue of Dad & Rick which will be displayed at the new Team Hoyt Family YMCA in Ashland; we ended the month working with the Thomas E. Smith Foundation as we co-hosted a Boston Bruins Watch party with Zdeno Chara at Longboards in Salem, MA.
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April 2024 we started the month presenting YES YOU CAN – The Story of Team Hoyt at the Hajjar Elementary School in Billerica, during marathon weekend we recreated Dad & Rick’s last finish together at the 2014 Boston Marathon during the BAA 5K thanks to the dedication and support of the 2024 Team Hoyt charity runners; we hosted our charity team at the pasta dinner and celebrated their incredible Marathon runs at the 128th Boston Marathon.
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May 2024 we renamed the Dick Hoyt Memorial to the Team Hoyt Memorial to honor Dad & Rick’s memory with a 5 mile run & 2 Mile walk in their honor. |
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June 2024 in partnership with the Flutie Foundation we provided almost $50,000 in grant awards to support the inclusion of individuals with disabilities. |
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July 2024 we participated in the Hoyt Family Memorial Golf Tournament and donated $35,000 to the Center of Hope. |
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August 2024 we became the Sponsor the Duo Division for the Falmouth Road Race and were blessed with an incredible charity team running the race and raising funds to allow us to continue our mission; we also joined Becca Pizzi at her 5K race. |
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September 2024 we took part in Dave McGillivray’s Run Medford and then jumped on a plane and attended the most picturesque running event in the world, Boulderthon, and while in Colorado we met the team creating our newest chapter – Team Hoyt Denver.
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October 2024 we attended the Hockomock YMCA Legends Ball, Dad & Rick were the first non-Patriot player recipients of the award in 2012. |
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November 2024 found us in New York City for the NYC Marathon where we hosted our powerhouse charity team and then enjoyed watching their inspiring runs, we also got to celebrate literacy with our great friends from the Metrowest YMCA at their Dream Big Gala. |
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December 2024 we ended the year by ushering in the Holidays in Hopkinton at the Holiday Stroll where we got to welcome guests to the Start Line Brewery and promote the Team Hoyt Memorial YES YOU CAN Run Together. |
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The Hoyt Family, Team Hoyt and The Hoyt Foundation hope you can take time to appreciate all the great things that came last year and we are excited about what lies ahead in 2025. |
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Dick and Judy Inclusion Grant Application Opens Today! |
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The Dick & Judy Hoyt YES YOU CAN Inclusion Grant Program is open for applications today! |
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| Past recipients have been given grants to support: -
Swimming lessons along side non-disabled peers
- To compete in horseback riding against individuals without disabilities
- Competitive dance and modeling where the person with a disability enters pageants in the same categories as persons without disabilities
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Modified equipment to allow an individual with a disability to surf
- To participate in an inclusive Karate program
- The purchase of racing chairs to run as Duo partners the way Dick and Rick did
If you or someone you know needs support to be included in activities alongside non-disabled peers please use the link below to apply for our grant program: |
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The Hoyt Foundation received the following message just before Christmas:
We were so moved by the experience of our first marathon attendance, that we based our annual Christmas letter on the Marathon. The Hoyt family especially inspired us in ways we had never been inspired before.
Here is the letter accompanied by many emotions and hope for our country going forward.
Christmas came early for us this year. On Patriot’s Day, April 15, 2024 in Natick, MA at mile 10 of the 26.2 miles of the Boston Marathon, we experienced the true feeling of Christmas.
Although there were no decorated trees in sight, not a single wreath on any door, nor Santa Claus on any lawn, we kept thinking of Christmas. No chill wind, nor snow, nor presents wrapped in red and green, but we tell you, the spirit of Christmas surrounded us.
As we stood at the barriers along the crowded downtown Natick street, we saw the first runners go past. Although they were determined and ferocious in their desire to reach their goal, they were not exactly running. They were not even on their feet, but were pumping their legs or using their arms to go as fast as they could in their specially made wheelchairs.
As the crowd cheered them on, waved signs, hooted and hollered, we felt a special feeling, just like we do at Christmas——something that brings people together and inspires us to wish our family, friends, and neighbors the very best of the season. With all our hearts, we wished these great men and women success and joy.
We had tears in our eyes even before the elite runners flashed past. They were amazing in their athleticism, grace and determination. And mixed in with this elite group, a wheel chair athlete or several would appear——still pumping or rotating their arms. Sideline voices, shouts and whistles swelled in encouragement, sounding as heartfelt and meaningful as any fa la la or Merry Christmas song.
Then came more runners, not elite runners, but the ones who really knew the meaning, the spirit of the day, as they pushed friends, family, loved ones who could not pedal nor push themselves. The feeling of giving surrounded us. For many years on this day, Mr. Hoyt pushed his disabled son across the finish line. After the father died, others stepped up to give the gift of pushing. After the son died, the spirit of good will and Christmas Love live on in the many runners who wear the family name of “Hoyt” to commemorate this incredible family.
Then legions of qualifiers ran past, with an occasional wheel chair or pusher of a wheelchair going by. As the occasional blade runner loped along, the crowds continued joyful carols of encouragement.
As we left, people were still arriving and truly the sense of Christmas was in the air——-a feeling that this event was a day of good will toward all people and a realization that this Boston Marathon day, just like Christmas, was a day that mattered and would inspire us all through the coming year.
CHRISTMAS JOY
Mary and Joe |
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Team Hoyt Memorial Race 2025 |
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Last chance to get last year’s pricing! Price Increase goes into effect January 17, 2025. Sign up today!
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Welcome Team Hoyt Denver! |
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Introducing the newest Team Hoyt Chapter – Team Hoyt Denver Board of Directors: |
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Stacey is President of Team Hoyt Denver. Stacey founded the American Cancer Society’s annual gala in Denver and served as Chairwoman of their endurance athlete fundraising program for many years. Leveraging this experience, her work for Team Hoyt Denver includes fundraising, building partnerships, volunteer outreach, athlete recruitment and ensuring the mission is carried out effectively.
Stacey has a passion for fitness and running. She has completed 10 marathons, including a Boston Marathon qualifying time, and raced in hundreds of other races. She looks forward to bringing the transformative power of running to all athletes, regardless of ability. stacey.hicks@teamhoytdenver.com |
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Vice President Ali Bowling |
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Ali is the Vice President of Team Hoyt Denver. As Vice President, she oversees all aspects of the organization's activities and supervises the affairs of the chapter, Board of Directors, and its officers.
Raised in Denver and graduating from the University of Colorado Boulder, Ali is passionate about the active and healthy lifestyle Colorado promotes. She spends her weekends enjoying the outdoors with her husband and dog, exploring the various trails and parks in and around the Denver metro area. Her dedication to an active lifestyle stemmed her commitment to the Team Hoyt Denver mission of providing an inclusive environment for all to participate in running events.
Ali.Bowling@teamhoytdenver.com |
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Secretary Cara Frangipane |
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Cara is Secretary of Team Hoyt Denver. Cara is a passionate athlete who believes everyone should have the opportunity to be active outdoors. She finds the outdoors to be therapeutic and healing from the stresses of everyday life. The Hoyt brothers are cousins of hers and she spent many holidays and family gatherings with Rick, Russell and Robbie growing up. They have always inspired her to be kind, welcoming and to stay active. Over the years Cara has completed numerous half marathons and varying distances of road and trail races. You can also find her hitting the Colorado ski slopes in the winter and mountain biking in the summer. It's been a dream of hers to build a Team Hoyt Chapter in the front range of Colorado for years, and she's thrilled the opportunity is finally here!
Cara.Frangipane@teamhoytdenver.com |
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Treasurer Karen Keehan Odendahl |
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Karen Keehan Odendahl is the Treasurer of Team Hoyt Denver. With a love for all things outdoors, she jumped at the chance to help further the Team’s mission. Karen has participated in and led multiple Boards in her professional career and for her passion projects. With the rest of the team, she looks forward to growing the organization so that its impact can reach dozens of individuals who otherwise would never experience the joy we know as “runner’s high.” After having run races from 5k to marathon distances in multiple countries, nowadays you’re more likely to find her on a tennis court or on the trails with her husband and their two dogs: Loki and Baxter. Karen.Odendahl@teamhoytdenver.com |
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A message from the THD Board:
Team Hoyt Denver (THD) is officially live and kicking off the new year with some serious momentum! Check out their website here: www.teamhoytdenver.com. For the past several months the THD Board of Directors has been working extremely hard to get up and running. The Board is made up of a passionate group of women who have strong beliefs in equitable opportunities in sport and empowering people with disabilities through running. Stacey Hicks, the team's President, is a long-time competitive runner who has been following the Hoyt Foundation for many years and started asking the question, “why is there no Team Hoyt presence in Denver?” Denver, often known for repeatedly ending up on national lists of Top 10 Fittest Cities, seemed like a perfect fit. Ali Bowling, the team’s Vice President, was introduced to Team Hoyt through her sister who plays an active role with the Virginia Beach Chapter. Her sister raved about it so much that Ali was determined to create that same sense of community here in Denver. Cara Frangipane, the team’s Secretary, has a very personal connection to Team Hoyt, having grown up with the Hoyt brothers as they are all cousins. She spent many family gatherings and holidays with the Hoyts and has always been so inspired by all of their accomplishments and has long desired to start a local Denver chapter. Karen Keehan Odendahl, the team’s Treasurer, is also a long-time runner and has professionally run boards in the past; this seemed like another perfect fit.
THD hopes to bring the joy of running races to people with disabilities throughout the Denver metro area. They have big goals to participate in at least 5 races in 2025, so stay tuned to hear more about their events calendar! The team is actively seeking volunteers to fill the following roles: -
Marketing Manager
- Equipment Manager
- Runner and Rider Athlete Manager
- Race Manager
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Event Manager
Please help in spreading the good word, and if you know of anyone looking to get involved please send them to the team’s website or they can contact the board at info@teamhoytdenver.com. Fundraising is off to a good start, but anyone looking to help kickstart the new chapter can make a donation here: https://pay.teamhoytdenver.com/donate
THD is extremely grateful for the support of the Hoyt Foundation and the other Team Hoyt chapters. They are very excited about all the good things to come in 2025! |
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Congratulations to Big Z! |
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In 2023 and 2024 Zdeno Chara former captain of the Boston Bruins ran the Boston Marathon as part of the Team Hoyt Charity team. |
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Now this incredible athlete and even greater person has become such an accomplished runner he has run fast enough that he is participating in the Boston Marathon as a qualified runner!
Congrats Big Z! We love you and you will always be a part of Team Hoyt!! |
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Team Hoyt’s influence goes well beyond running.
Tim Noone plays baseball for Duke University in Durham North Carolina. Tim is dating one of the Team Hoyt charity runners on the 2025 Boston marathon team - Isabelle Fournier. |
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Tim shared this photo from the Duke baseball locker room that inspired Duke to the 2024 ACC Championship |
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