The Hoyt Foundation October Newsletter |
From the Office of the President |
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October is the month that I celebrate my birthday. Thinking about my birthday makes me a little nostalgic and allows me to remember some of things I did when I was younger that make me who I am. I was always curious. Sometimes this was a good thing as it has allowed me to be a lifelong learner. Sometimes it was tricky. Because one of the things I was curious about when I was very young was how other families were like mine. This was tricky because when we visited friends’ or relative’s houses, I would almost immediately sneak off when Mom or Dad were saying hello and being greeted by our hosts. It got to the point where our middle brother Rob would see me sneak off and say, “Mom, he’s doing it again.” Mom and Dad would apologize, and they would ask if it was okay to find out where I had snuck off to. They would usually find me opening doors and looking in rooms or closets. One time they found me in the basement of a friend’s house searching behind some shelves. When the friend asked what I was doing my brother Rob would say, “He’s looking for a wheelchair, he thinks everyone else in the world has a person with a wheelchair in their house too.”
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Ultimately, I would say that being curious is a good thing and I would encourage everyone to be curious but be respectful of how you search for what you want to know.
Team Hoyt, the Hoyt Family and The Hoyt Foundation wish one and all a Happy Halloween and a curious start to the Fall season. |
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| We're BACK for Boston 2026! |
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It feels like just yesterday we were on Boylston street cheering for our Team Hoyt athletes at the Boston Marathon finish line - but now it's time to kick off another season and we are proud to once again be part of the Bank of America Boston Marathon Official Charity Program. With Boston Marathon applications in full swing, we are preparing to welcome our newest Team Hoyt members - our 2026 Boston Marathon runners!
Each year, we read through dozens of applications, each with its own “WHY” - that is, the personal reason that an applicant chose to run for and champion the mission of Team Hoyt. With Dick and Rick’s decades-long racing career having inspired people around the world, many applicants recall seeing them on TV or hearing their incredible story for the first time. This year, we heard from Robert Kliskey of New Hampshire, who first met Dick and Rick while a college sophomore at Johnson & Wales. At the time, Robert was struggling with his weight. After hearing their story, he found the motivation to take significant steps to live a healthier life.
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"I was severely overweight, and after the story of Dick and Rick, that was a catalyst to lose weight and get in great shape. I started
by running, and now run and am around 150lb. Of course, a lot went into the journey, but the Hoyt family was the catalyst." Stories like Robert’s remind us how Team Hoyt’s message of “Yes You Can” continues to inspire - empowering not only individuals with disabilities, but by anyone facing obstacles or seemingly insurmountable challenges.
We’re proud to welcome Robert to Team Hoyt Boston 2026 - proof that the spirit of “Yes You Can” still runs strong.
If you're interested in joining Team Hoyt for the 2026 Boston Marathon, use the link below for more information and to apply! |
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Looking Back at Boston Marathon - Grand Marshall |
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Looking back at the Boston Marathon one great experience was the year Dad was the Grand Marshall. |
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Stan Goldberg shared this picture with us and explained that he started driving one of the lead cars in 1988. He was asked by Ed Jacobs of Interstate Rental to take two BU students who were filming the course to give footage to police to help them know where they needed more rope along course. A few years later we outfitted the car with weather equipment to measure wind along the course and call it in to the BAA.
A few years later he took over driving Grand Marshalls.
In 2013 he took a picture of Dad & Rick, and he brought the picture to be signed by Dad in 2015 when he was Grand Marshall. |
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Over the years Stan always brought Bagels from Perfecto Bagels in Peabody to Rick and Jen Macmillan’s House which was on the corner of Ash Street. Jen made many treats to go along with the Bagels. Stan drove for 35 years and in 2023 he trained a new driver and drove David Ortiz as Grand Marshall. Stan got an award from the BAA in 2016 for 29 years of continuous service. He shared that he always had a great time meeting wonderful people like the Hoyts. |
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Big Zee Number Being Retired |
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Big news for Big Zee! Zdeno Chara Boston Bruins captain defenseman and let’s just say it LEGEND is having his number retired. |
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What an amazing honor. He joins the other legends including Bobby Orr and Phil Esposito. Zdeno has also run the Boston Marathon for Team Hoyt in 2023 and 2024 |
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Zdeno Chara was inspired to run when he met Dick and Rick Hoyt and invited them to be part of an on-ice ceremony, during which Zdeno said, “Hey Dick, I think you should train me!” |
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The Hoyt Foundation is the Featured Charity at Opening Night of the Worcester Railers!
Join us as the Worcester Railers Hockey Club kicks off its 2025/26 season against the Maine Mariners — and help support Team Hoyt at the same time!
For every ticket purchased through our special link below, $5 goes directly back to The Hoyt Foundation, which means you can enjoy fast-paced action, high-energy crowds, and a night of fun for the whole family — all while supporting The Hoyt Foundation & Team Hoyt.
We’re thrilled to share this unique opportunity courtesy of our partnership with the Worcester Railers. Here's what's lined up for Opening Night:
Pre-Game Block Party (4–6 PM) Food, music, family fun, and pre-game giveaways Doors Open (5:05 PM)
Grab your seats and get ready for Opening Night energy Puck Drops (6:05 PM)
Watch the Railers and Mariners battle it out on the ice
Whether you're a true hockey fan, want something fun to do with the entire family, or simply want to support The Hoyt Foundation & Team Hoyt, this is a perfect way to combine community, entertainment, and impact.
Your support helps us to continue opening doors, creating opportunities, and building a stronger, more inclusive community for individuals with disabilities.
Let’s fill the stands for a night of fun and impact! We hope to see you at the rink on October 18th! |
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Team Hoyt headed west once again to beautiful Boulder, CO for the third annual Boulderthon! The event offers 5K, 10K, Half Marathon and Full Marathon, and is proving to be the marathon to check off your list, having been named among the Best Fall Marathons by Runner's World! |
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Since its inception in 2023, Boulderthon has grown rapidly, doubling in size each year, with this year's field welcoming 15,000 participants! We're thrilled to see such an expansion of participation of racers and proud to have such strong representation for the event! The Hoyt family was represented at multiple events, with Troy Hoyt doubling down and completing the full marathon event after his successful half marathon finish in 2024, and Amanda Hoyt, Troy's wife, crushing the 5k!
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Team Hoyt Denver, the newest Team Hoyt chapter, also showed up in full force! Last year, Team Hoyt Denver was in its infancy and just getting off the ground. This year, they conquered the course, showing up with nearly 20 participants, including seven duos across nearly all events! |
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"After reading the September newsletter, I just wanted to say that we (Morty Gove & myself - Tiffany - Marathon Team 2017 - 2021) were actually able to use one of the Hoyt chairs at Camp Jabberwocky this year at Family Camp over Labor Day weekend. |
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I think we were the first - we were able to take a hike with a small group to a little cove, something that would have been quite difficult with Morty's manual chair. |
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| Jabberwocky is one of our absolute favorite places - we've been going there since 2018, and having the chairs there is wonderful! Thanks so much to our Hoyt community from our Jabberwocky community!" |
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In Foxboro, on Saturday September 13, 2025, Team Hoyt Sponsored the Spier Family Kindness for Kids 5K. |
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Our partnership with the Hockomock YMCA is long standing and we remain in awe of their commitment to fitness in Foxboro and the surrounding communities. |
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While part of Team Hoyt was in Boulder CO (see Dave searching for us), other members of the team were supporting Dave McGillivray at Run Medford. |
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The Run Medford Celebrity Mile was a star-studded event. With Troy (last year’s Celebrity Mile Winner) in Colorado, it was up to his brother Ryan Hoyt to try and defend the title. But the field was too fast, and the race was won by Becca Pizzi, two-time world champion and record holder for the 7-7-7. That’s 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 different continents. Ryan did well finishing 3rd and was able to finish ahead of the event favorite former Boston Bruins Captain Zdeno Chara.
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Ryan and his girlfriend Amber Jackson also participated in the 5-mile run through the streets of downtown Medford. |
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Run Medford celebrates ALL runners while giving back to the community! In 2025, a donation will be made to every school PTO in the City of Medford through the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation. |
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Venture Community Services is a long-standing beneficiary of The Hoyt Foundation. On Thursday September 18, 2025, at the Publik House Inn in Sturbridge, MA they held their 19th annual Sip, Sample and Support fundraiser. The Hoyt Foundation was there to celebrate the event and Venture’s 50th Anniversary. |
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Rob, Zaida, Lisa and Russ Hoyt were joined by our new Program Director Amy Pepe and her fiancé Rich Gibble . |
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The funds provided by sponsors and raised through ticket sales, raffles ticket purchases, donations made that evening and bids on auction items help Venture to continue their incredible work to support inclusion for individuals with disabilities. Proceeds from the event will go toward funding community events like our Sensory-Friendly Halloween, inclusive dances, adaptive yoga, and programs that benefit the people in all of Ventures many service areas.
The most challenging game of the evening was the “Reaction Game”. Based on these pictures can you guess which Hoyt won? |
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