Thirty-one local nonprofits will benefit from the 14th annual Citizens Pell Bridge Run when thousands of participants cross the Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge at sunrise Oct. 19.
The 4-mile run and walk from Jamestown to Newport marks the only day each year pedestrians are allowed on the bridge. One hundred percent of proceeds will be donated to the selected organizations through the Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Foundation.
Since its inception, the event has generated more than $1 million in charitable giving, according to organizers.
“The Citizens Pell Bridge Run is about more than just the miles we cover — it’s about giving back to our community and supporting the organizations that make Rhode Island stronger,” said Matt Gray, president of Gray Matter Marketing, which produces the event.
The race begins at 7:15 a.m., with participants shuttled to Jamestown starting at 5:30 a.m. Runners and walkers are organized in waves by pace and will take in views of Narragansett Bay, Newport Harbor and fall foliage as the sun rises. The course concludes at the Newport Visitors Center on America’s Cup Avenue.
Among this year’s beneficiaries is Girls on the Run Rhode Island, which helps girls discover confidence through running programs.
“The funds raised will make it possible for even more girls to join our programs, gain confidence, and build skills that last well beyond the finish line,” said Kasha Hanflik, executive director of Girls on the Run Rhode Island.
The Women’s Resource Center, another beneficiary, provides free and confidential programs for individuals and families impacted by domestic violence in the East Bay.
“The Citizens Pell Bridge Run is truly about giving back to the community, and we are honored to be invited to participate,” said Jessica Walsh, executive director of the Women’s Resource Center.
The Rhode Island Turnpike and Bridge Foundation selects charitable partners annually through an open application process. Volunteers from beneficiary organizations line the course on race day.
Registration is open at pellbridgerun.com.
2025 beneficiaries include: A Wish Come True, Boys and Girls Club of Newport County, Clagett Sailing, Day One, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Center, Fanconi Cancer Foundation, Girls on the Run, James L. Maher Center, Jamestown Boy Scouts Troop 1, Jamestown Cub Scouts Pack 1, Jewish Alliance of Greater Rhode Island, John Clarke Senior Living, Looking Upwards, Meeting Street, Middletown Cub Scouts Pack 77, Museum of Newport Irish History, Nathans Angels, Newport In Bloom, Newport Public Education Foundation, Newport Public Schools-Pell PTO, Newport St. Patrick’s Day Parade Committee, Newport/Fall River Star Kids Scholarship Program, Providence Children’s Museum, Rhode Island Center for the Book, Sail To Prevail, Saint Vincent De Paul Society St. Joseph Newport, Samaritans, Sojourner House, The Herren Project, Thompson Middle School and Women’s Resource Center.