10th Annual Foster5K Race + Kids Dash: A Decade of Running for Hope

San Jose, CA - Child Advocates of Silicon Valley (CASV) is proud to announce the 10th Annual Foster5K Race + Kids Dash presented by Rubrik, taking place on Sunday, May 17, 2026, at Martial Cottle Park in San Jose. The 5k begins at 9:00 AM, with the Kids Dash at 10:00 AM. All proceeds benefit the Child Advocates Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Program, which provides a dedicated, trained volunteer advocate for every child in Santa Clara County's foster care system.

Foster5K has grown from a small community gathering into one of Silicon Valley's most meaningful annual events - bringing together runners, walkers, families and corporate teams united by a single mission: ensuring no foster child faces life alone.

"Ten years ago we started Foster5k with a dream - to raise awareness about children in foster care and for our community to show up for them in a real, tangible way. What we've built together is something I'm incredibly proud of. This 10th anniversary isn't just a milestone - it's proof that Silicon Valley cares deeply about its most vulnerable children." - Debbie Crouse, Foster5K Founder

Event Highlights
• Date: Sunday, May 17, 2026
• Location: Martial Cottle Park, 5283 Snell Ave, San Jose, CA 95136
• 5k Start: 9:00 AM | Kids Dash Start: 10:00 AM
• Perks: Race shirt, medal, top finisher prizes, raffle ticket, goody bags for all Kids Dasher, and an after-party for all ages
• Register: foster5k.org

A Decade of Impact
For a decade, the Foster5K has raised critical funds to recruit and support CASA Volunteers - often the one stable adult in a foster child's life.

"The Foster5K represents the power of community action. Each step taken directly supports our mission tobe there for every foster child in Silicon Valley who has experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment. A decade in, that mission has never been more urgent." - Frederick J. Ferrer, CEO, Child Advocates of Silicon Valley

The Kids Dash: Fun for Every Age
The Kids Dash continues to be a fan favorite. The 800 meter Big Kids Dash is open to youth ages 6-10, while the 250 meter Little Kids Dash welcomes children 5 and under - free this year.

Volunteers Needed: Be Part of Race Day
Foster5K runs on heart and volunteers. From race-morning setup to cheering runners across the finish line, our volunteers are the backbone of what makes this event so special.

"Volunteering at Foster5K is an easy way to show up for foster youth in our community. You don't need to run a single step - you just need to show up with energy and heart. We have roles for everyone, and the race day energy is absolutely electric. We'd love to have you join us." - Rebecca Sayed, Volunteer Lead, Foster5K

Interested in volunteering? Email info@foster5k.org to get involved.

Event Leadership & Community Partnerships
This year's event is co-chaired by Tony Rangel, Board Officer at Child Advocates and Senior Market Development Director at Celestica, and Ehi Oiyemhonlan, Board Member at Child Advocates, Product Development Engineer at Intel and an active CASA Volunteer. Together they bring both strategic leadership and personal commitment to the cause.

"Our mission goes beyond organizing a race - it's about creating lasting impact in the lives of foster youth. And as a CASA Volunteer myself, I know firsthand the difference one dedicated adult can make in a child's life. Ten years of this community showing up proves that real change happens when we decide to act together." Tony Rangel & Ehi Oiyemhonlan, Co-Chairs, Foster5K Race + Kids Dash

Special thanks to our presenting sponsor Rubrik, and all returning partners including BMC Software, Moss Adams-Baker Tilly, and several other Bay Area businesses and families, whose continued support amplifies our community impact year after year.

About Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is an independent nonprofit 501(c) 3 organization created in 1986. We serve children aged birth to 21 years old who are placed in the Santa Clara County Dependency Court System for having experienced trauma in the form of abuse, neglect and/or abandonment. We are responsible for operating the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) Program in Santa Clara County, which entails recruiting, training and supporting CASA Volunteers according to the National CASA Association standards. To learn more, please visit ChildAdvocatesSV.org.

For media inquiries, interviews, or additional information, contact the committee at info@foster5k.org

Register, volunteer, or donate at foster5k.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE CONTACT: Vik Ghai | info@foster5k.org

Child Advocates of Silicon Valley
1800 Hamilton Ave, Suite #200
San Jose, CA 95125

Right now, over 1,000 children in Santa Clara County are in the foster care system - every one of them has experienced abuse, neglect, or abandonment - and not all of them have a dedicated CASA advocate in their corner. The Foster5K exists to change that.

This release was published on openPR.