Wal-Mart donates $2,500 to Heroes Run/Walk
WAYNESBURG, PA – Representatives from Wal-Mart, the major sponsor of the 2011 Heroes Run/Walk, recently presented the families of two Greene County servicemen killed in Iraq with a check for $2,500. The donation, along with all other sponsorships and race proceeds, will benefit memorial scholarship funds established in the men’s honor.
The fifth annual Heroes Run/Walk, held Sept. 17 along the Greene River Trail, raised approximately $14,000 for memorial funds established in the names of Army Spc. Gregory Cox of Carmichaels and Marine Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips of Spraggs, both of whom were killed in Humvee accidents in Iraq. Cox, 21, died in September 2004, and Phillips, 27, died in February 2006. More than 300 runners and walkers turned out for the event.
“It’s a worthwhile cause, and we are honored to continue to recognize the sacrifices that those young men made,” said Greene County Commissioner Pam Snyder, chair of the Board of Commissioners, about Cox and Phillips. “This race is just one small way that we can keep their memories alive.”
Presenting the check from Wal-Mart — which has been a major sponsor every year since the race started — were Marcy Park, Wal-Mart district manager, and Steve Beres, store manager of the Waynesburg Wal-Mart.
“On behalf of Wal-Mart, it’s a great honor to present this check, and we’re committed to giving this sponsorship as long as we can give it,” Park said. “You’ve done a wonderful job with this event, and we are glad to support that.”
The Spc. Gregory A. Cox Memorial Scholarship Fund assists Greene County high school graduates entering the Army Reserve Officers’ Training Corps or the fields of public safety or public service. The Lance Cpl. Steven Phillips Memorial Fund provides support for the computer-aided drafting program at the Greene County Career and Technology Center. Both funds are being handled by the Community Foundation of Greene County.
Race proceeds also help fund the cost of transportation for Greene County veterans receiving treatment at the Veterans Affairs Pittsburgh Healthcare System clinic in Pittsburgh. The Greene County Department of Recreation coordinates the race with the Cox and Phillips families.
The sixth annual Heroes Run/Walk is scheduled for Sept. 15, 2012, along the Greene River Trail. For more information, call the Department of Recreation at 724-852-5323.