The Hoyt Foundation November Newsletter

From the Office of the President

When I have the opportunity to talk to people about inclusion I will often ask, “What does inclusion look like?”  Most of the time I get answers like: 

• Seeing people with disabilities doing the same activities that people without disabilities are doing. 
• People getting what they need to be able to participate. 
• Spaces that allow everyone to have the same experience at an event. 

When I hear these answers, I feel like the work of Team Hoyt and The Hoyt Foundation is making a difference.  These are the answers I hope we will continue to inspire and promote.  However, one answer has moved us to keep working and keep fostering a deeper understanding of inclusion.  One young woman said to me, “I don’t know what it looks like, but, I know it when I see it.” 

In the picture above Rick and Dad had finished a race and Rick wanted to watch as the final runners were coming in.  The crowd with still three rows thick and from his chair Rick couldn’t see.  He asked me to put him on my shoulders so he could see above the crowd.  When I did, I heard someone standing near by say, “Wow, Rick loves racing so much he wants to see everyone finish.”  To me that is what inclusion looks like and sounds like. 

That ability to show people what inclusion looks like is the bedrock that The Hoyt Foundation was built on.  The foundation is thankful that Dick, Judy and Rick have created such an incredible legacy for us to continue to grow and honor.  We all hope you all have something to be just as thankful for as we do. 

Thank You Sue

Susan Hurley Founder of CharityTeams and champion of every runner passed quietly with her family by her side on November 1st.  Susan and the Hoyt family have been close since the 1980s.  In fact, we shared time with her when she was on her honeymoon as she completed the Hawaiian Ironman Triathlon at the same time as Dad and Rick.

We have shared many experiences over the years and were always close.  But our relationship was renewed and strengthened when Dad passed.  Sue reached out us and helped us revitalize Team Hoyt and The Hoyt Foundation.

When Rick passed, she was there again picking us up and redoubling her commitment.  Even when she first received her diagnosis of ovarian cancer (the same disease that took our mother Judy) Sue did not stop or slow down.  She was helping us become better able to make sure that the YES YOU CAN message was heard loud and clear.  Sue helped so many charities, charity runners and the people who benefit from the work those charities do.  Team Hoyt, The Hoyt Foundation and the Hoyt Family want the world to know we love Susan and everything she stood for and YES SHE DID!

Team Hoyt NYC Marathon Impact

Start spreading the news.... Team Hoyt Conquered NYC! 

What a weekend it was in the Big Apple for Team Hoyt! On Sunday, November 2, ten incredible athletes laced up their sneakers and took to the streets of NYC — from Staten Island to Central Park — proudly representing The Hoyt Foundation and Team Hoyt at the TCS NYC Marathon! Each stride represented the spirit of “Yes You Can” — the same spirit that Dick and Rick Hoyt carried through countless races.  Watching from the grandstands, we witnessed so many moments of triumph — the unbridled joy of crossing the finish line, the emotion, the relief, and the pride that comes with achieving something extraordinary. 

Together, they didn’t just conquer 26.2 miles (not to mention, some difficult bridges!), they raised more than $61,000 to support The Hoyt Foundation’s mission of removing barriers and expanding opportunities for individuals with disabilities. 

To each of our runners, to every donor, and to all of our cheer supporters — THANK YOU! Your commitment keeps the work of Dick, Judy, and Rick alive and continues to challenge the idea of what’s possible for individuals with disabilities. We’re reminded that the real finish line isn’t just marked on the road — it’s reflected in the smiles and joy of those who feel seen, supported, and celebrated. That’s what Team Hoyt stands for, and it’s what keeps us moving forward together toward a more inclusive world. 

Next stop: Boston 2026 training season — and we’re bringing the same Team Hoyt energy with us! 

Legends Ball

Wrentham, MA October 21, 2025 

Every year the Hockomock YMCA celebrates inclusion at their Legends Ball.  One of the coolest things they do at the event is have New England Sports heroes sit at tables with guests at the event.   We were lucky enough to spend the evening with New England Patriots running back Jon Williams.  Jon was drafted by the Patriots in 1984 out of Penn State where he was part of an NCAA National Championship team in 1982.  Jon and our own President & CEO Russ Hoyt learned they were both wrestlers in high school and spent the evening talking more about wrestling than football. 

As this year was the 20th Anniversary of the event it was unique that there was not a specific honoree.  Rather the event celebrated all of the sports legends and community champions that had been honored over the past 20 years.  Dick and Rick were the first ever non-Patriots football player to receive the honor.  They were the 2012 Legend’s Ball Honorees. 

We were a proud Inclusion Sponsor of the event.  Representing the Hoyt Family, Team Hoyt and the Hoyt Foundation were Amanda, Troy, Russ, Cam, Zoe, Lisa, Sarah and Jason Hoyt. 

Camp Jabberwocky

Back in August Team Hoyt and Hoyt Running Chairs worked together to donate a chair and lend a chair to Camp Jabberwocky.  We shared several stories following the event and the positive stories keep coming in.   

Patty Duffy sent us this note and picture -

“Thanks for all you do for our adaptive athletes!  Carol had a blast at the race.  She even ran into a friend of hers from dance … Mary Macdonald.  Enclosing a few moments of joy for your enjoyment!” 

Erica Harlow – Continuing a Father's Legacy

Team Hoyt is thrilled to have filled its Boston Marathon 2026 roster with so many passionate ambassadors for inclusion! Among them is Erica Harlow, a New Hampshire resident whose appreciation of inclusion began at a young age — inspired by her father, Paul Miethner, a certified animal therapist who worked for many years supporting individuals with cerebral palsy. 

Through his animal-assisted therapy program at the United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) Center in Westchester, NY, Paul introduced participants to an array of therapy animals — from ferrets to chinchillas, turtles to boa constrictors — each helping to foster confidence, connection, and joy. 

The most beloved of them all was Ros who served as a loyal therapy dog and constant companion, and was the only animal in Paul’s menagerie that went home with him! 

Now, Erica is proudly channelling that same compassion as part of Team Hoyt Boston 2026. Following in her father’s footsteps, she’s running to help create a world where individuals with disabilities can live more fully, independently, and inclusively. 

Says Erica’s dad,

“I am sure that my daughter Erica's empathy, acceptance and sensitivity toward people with disabilities was a natural offshoot of the time she spent with me at UCP. When Erica told me she was going to be running to benefit The Hoyt Foundation, it made me proud to see this deep connection continue into the next generation.”

AdaptX and Perkins School for The Blind

This October, Team Hoyt hit the road visiting partners and innovators advancing inclusion across New England. 

Our first visit took us to Southbridge, where we spent time with our friends at the Center of Hope — one of the Foundation’s longest-standing partners. Over the years, The Hoyt Foundation has proudly supported the Center’s work through grant funding that continues to expand opportunities and services for individuals with disabilities across Central Massachusetts. 

We then visited Perkins School for the Blind, where Christa Delcamp welcomed us for a tour of the campus. Most exciting was the Howe Innovation Center — an inspiring hub where accessibility meets technology. We met one of their innovators-in-residence, who designed and developed a robotic hand to help members of the deafblind community communicate and live more independently. (Russ is pictured with both the invention and its creator!) 

During our visit, many students and administrators fondly recalled when Rick and Russ visited Perkins just a few years ago — and expressed how much it meant to them. We hope to have Team Hoyt return again soon for another visit and talk. 

Our final stop took us to the Rick Hoyt Research Lab, founded by Team Hoyt runner and Boston Marathon alum Brendan Aylward. Brendan continues to champion inclusion through his growing Unified 5K race series — expanding accessible running opportunities for athletes of all abilities. 

Charter House Maritime Museum

Friday November 7, 2025 – Our President & CEO was the guest lecturer at Charter House Maritime Museum (CHMM).  The CHMM was delighted to hear from Russ Hoyt for an uplifting presentation. He shared the story of his brother and father Rick and Dick Hoyt who are almost universally known and became synonymous with triumphing over adversity. Russ shared "Empowering Together YES YOU CAN!" telling the story of how a family's love has changed the world so that everyone has a place in it. The audience was riveted while learning how a disability cannot stop you if willing to say three simple yet powerful words - YES YOU CAN.

Following the presentation Russ and The Hoyt Foundation presented a check for $10,000 to the museum in order to support the museum to become more accessible and to support the inclusive programming already in place.  In 2026, the museum will say "YES WE CAN" and will install an accessibility lift to its Discovery Center, along with refurbishing the bathrooms to make them accessible too.

During the lecture there was not a dry eye in the house, including family members that attended the event – Russ’s Aunt Susan Gillo and her husband Rich, Russ’s cousins Chris and Nick Resca, and his wife Lisa.

Team Hoyt Expands in 2026!

2026 is already shaping up to be a pretty exciting year for Team Hoyt!  We’re thrilled to announce that we’ve expanded our race calendar to include both the Chicago Marathon and the Sydney Marathon, bringing our YES YOU CAN spirit to new cities and continents! 

With these additions, Team Hoyt athletes will now be represented in four of the seven World Major Marathons — a remarkable milestone for our growing community of inclusion advocates. 

Bibs are limited for each team, so if you’re ready to go the distance, you're encouraged to apply early! 

Team Hoyt is Lighting Up the Boston Skyline

Anyone who’s ever visited Boston knows the Prudential Center skyscraper — affectionately known as “the Pru”; it’s one of the city’s most recognizable landmarks and a beacon of light in the Back Bay skyline. For our Boston Marathon runners, it’s more than just a building; it’s the towering symbol of the finish line to come.  

Often lit in colors that celebrate Boston’s spirit — green for the Celtics, red for the Sox — the Pru will shine blue, red, and white for Team Hoyt on December 1 as part of the 31 Nights of Light program. 

Launched in 2009, 31 Nights of Light honors local Boston-area nonprofits each December, putting a figurative spotlight on the great work they do in Boston and beyond. The Hoyt Foundation is honored to have been chosen and can’t wait to see our colors glowing above Boston — and over the finish line of Rick’s favorite race.  

If you’re in Boston on December 1, be sure to look UP and join us in celebrating the power of community, compassion, and inclusion lighting up the Boston sky. 

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