On Sunday, Sept. 14, a fundraiser 5K walk and run was held at Stoney Creek Metropark in honor of Caty Gittner, a district teacher who most recently worked at Hart Middle School and Stoney Creek High School. Her passing at the end of May was devastating for family, friends, and the hundreds of people throughout our community who were privileged to know her. The proceeds of this fundraiser are going towards a scholarship created in her honor called the Caty Gittner Memorial Scholarship.
Jacki Gatt, a friend and neighbor of the Gittner family, who helped to organize the event, explained that “It’s a scholarship that’s going to be split between the three high schools. It’ll be in the scholarship section of the Rochester Community School’s page, and you will apply for it through an essay, and our board, who kind of put this together, will pick the people that get it from each school.” It’s been created to continue her legacy of changing students’ lives all across the district.
The 5K itself was an incredibly successful event! Collectively, about 500 people participated in the race or contributed to the scholarship, far exceeding the predicted turnout. Businesses from all over the community sponsored, donated materials, or showed support with their presence at the 5K. A week before the event itself, over $17,000 had been raised.
Participants queue near the starting line before the race begins.
Turnout and fundraising aside, this was also a meaningful chance for many to show their love for Caty and her legacy. “Today, as we walk, run, saunter, or strut together,” said her husband Mike Gittner during his opening remarks, “we not only honor her memory, but also carry her spirit forward.” Gatt summed it up nicely when she said, “This gathering, this unity, is a reflection of the love Caty poured into this community. We are all here because of her.”
Students and teachers from across the district showed up and supported – many members of the RHS swim team raced, and the Stoney Creek Cross Country team volunteered to help run the event. Sabine Costa, an RHS sophomore, said that “[The Gittner family has] done so much for the swim team – I wanna help repay that.” Many cited Caty’s daughters as their reasons for donating. AHS sophomore Charlotte Andrew kept it simple and to the point when she declared, “I’m here for Morgan!”
The 5K was a great success, with palpable love for the cause in the air on Sunday morning. In her opening remarks, Gatt said that “Caty’s resilience is something that will never leave us.” This weekend’s event was a beautiful example of a town coming together – all for a mother, teacher, wife, friend, volunteer and advocate that embodied the values she tried to instill in her students. As we eagerly wait for the next (annual!) event in support of the Memorial Scholarship, let’s all find opportunities to be a bit more like her – the type of person inspiring enough to spur an individual or an entire community into motion!
