All those turkeys you saw trotting downtown on Thanksgiving (aka all those Austinites you saw running through the streets in costumes, many of which were actual turkeys) have made a huge difference for the working poor and homeless of Austin. This week, the owners of ThunderCloud Subs presented the local nonprofit Caritas of Austin with a check for $330,000, reports a press release. Every bit of which was raised at the 26th annual ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot.
In the event’s 26-year history, 2016 marks the second largest donation that has come from the fundraiser (the largest came in 2014 at $335,000 — so close!). After those 26 years the cumulative total raised for Caritas comes to more than $3.1 million. WOW. Makes sense — the annual event is the largest five-mile run in Texas. Nearly 20,000 people participated this year.
“We are honored to receive the continued support of the Austin community for our event and for Caritas of Austin,” Mike Haggerty, co-owner of ThunderCloud Subs, run director for the Trot, and board member emeritus of Caritas said.
The funds raised from the Turkey Trot each year goes toward helping Caritas achieve its mission, and this year’s funds will specifically go toward helping end homelessness for more than 100 families, serving more than 85,000 meals in their in their community kitchen, or move 20 chronically homeless individuals off the streets and into permanent housing with support services for an entire year.
“These are just a few examples of the positive, tangible impact ThunderCloud Subs’ support has on the entire Austin community,” Executive Director of Caritas Jo Kathryn Quinn said. “Caritas of Austin is incredibly grateful for the continued support of ThunderCloud Subs for the past 26 years. The money raised at the ThunderCloud Subs Turkey Trot each year is critical to Caritas’ work helping thousands of individuals and families achieve self-sufficiency.”
