Saturday, October 21st | 10am-3pm | Nomahegan Park, Cranford, NJ
Day(s)
:
Hour(s)
:
Minute(s)
:
Second(s)
Join us to celebrate 25 years of Red Ribbon Day!
For over 50 years, your friends at Prevention Links have been working hard to foster, empower & sustain safer & healthier communities. This year, we will be celebrating 25 consecutive years of Union County’s Red Ribbon Day 5k & Family Fun Festival. Each year, community members, businesses, and non-profits gather to raise awareness and funds to…
Prevent Addiction, Celebrate Recovery, Promote Mental Health, and Strengthen Families.
The Family Fun Fall Festival and Health Fair will be held after the 5k and ceremony, offering a wide range of free activities for children and families like carnival games, a petting zoo, arts & crafts, food trucks, pumpkin painting, resource tables, music, face painting, and more!
Tip: Scroll to the bottom of the page for FAQ’s
Getting Involved
Register to run the 5k marathon through the runner registration page and invite family, friends and coworkers to support you day-of. As a runner, you show your community that you’re a supporter of prevention & recovery efforts which smashes stigma and inspires others to get involved.
Create a personal walk team through our registration page that friends, family and coworkers can join at any point before the event. Walk teams can be used as a meaningful way to honor a loved one and/or represent your family, school, social circle or organization as a group that cares about preventing addiction and supporting recovery.
Fundraising as a walk team or individual for Red Ribbon Day helps support Prevention Links in providing our free community programs & services. Top fundraisers get a special spot on our Red Ribbon Leadership Board, and teams or individuals that raise $500 or more will be listed as a top supporter in our Annual Report (and get a special shoutout on our social media pages)! Start your fundraiser today and make sure to check out our Red Ribbon Fundraiser’s Guide for helpful tips, tricks, and resources!
Stigma kills. Raising awareness about drug prevention efforts and addiction recovery helps reduce stigma and could help save a life. Sharing facts about addiction prevention & recovery; prevention & recovery resources; and personal stories with the people you know makes a huge impact! Check out our social media pages for some content you could share on your own page.
Facebook | Instagram | LinkedIn
Sponsorship Opportunities
This event presents a special opportunity to advertise your corporation in a meaningful way. Red Ribbon Sponsors not only get to reach a greater audience with their branding, but also exhibit themselves as businesses dedicated to the health and wellness of their citizens.
For all sponsorship inquiries, kindly contact Madeline Desrosiers (she/her) at mdesrosiers@preventionlinks.org
Why Join Our Cause?
Everyone Knows Someone…Help Prevent the Next One.
“What’s My Anti-Drug?”
Poster Contest
As part of our 25th Annual Red Ribbon Day Drug festivities, we invite all Union County 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th grade school students to participate and creatively present their anti-drug through art. Our local contest is part of the National Youth Anti-Drug Media Campaign conducted by the Office of National Drug Control Policy in the United States. Union County Schools may register at the beginning of each school year and the winners are presented at our annual Red Ribbon Day event in October.
Students are asked to create a poster describing what they choose to do instead of drugs. This can include things such as sports, family, and hobbies. Posters will be judged strictly on originality and creativeness, not on artistic ability.
Three finalists from each grade level will be chosen to participate in an online voting contest that will help determine the winner(s) of each grade level. Poster Contest winners will then be announced at the in person 25th Annual Union County Red Ribbon Day on October 21st, 2023. Finalists will receive their gift card prize at the walk during the formal ceremony.
Stay tuned for submission and voting details!
Frequently Asked Questions
Where to my runner sponsorship/fundraiser funds go?
Great question! Funds raised individually or by your team go towards:
- Our 5K Runner Fund which pays for runner registrations for individuals without means to pay;
- Supply and entertainment costs for the FREE Family Fun Festival which follows the race;
- Leftover funds go towards supporting our free community programs.
Learn more about how leftovers funds are used by looking at our annual impact report!
Where do I park?
Free parking will be available across the street from the park entrance at Union College 1033 Springfield Ave, Cranford, NJ 07016
Do I have to pay for the Family Fun Festival?
The Family Fun Festival is 100% free thanks to our sponsors!
How does my nonprofit sign up to exhibit?
Non-profits can exhibit for free at the Family Fun Festival health fair! To sign up, contact Jessica Stuart (she/her) at jstuart@preventionlinks.org
Are there volunteer opportunities?
Yes! Please contact Kelley Ryan (she/her) at kryan@preventionlinks.org to learn about our Red Ribbon Day sponsorship opportunities
Are there 5k registration scholarships available?
Yes! If you do not have the financial means to run our 5k but want to help us raise awareness by participating, please contact Madeline Desrosiers (she/her) at mdesrosiers@preventionlinks.org
Are you accepting in-kind donations like food & other products?
Yes! If your company is interested in donating any food/beverage/gift cards/entertainment services/etc, please contact Madeline Desrosiers (she/her) at mdesrosiers@preventionlinks.org
Contact Info
Prevention Links
121-125 Chestnut Street Suite 301,
3rd Floor Roselle, New Jersey 07203
phone: 732-381-4100
TTY: 732.381.4192
Fax: 732.381.0140
info@preventionlinks.org