FAU Hosts Fifth Annual Emb(race) on February 22
Stand Among Friends (SAF), a Boca Raton-based non-profit organization will host the fifth annual “emb(race)®” at Florida Atlantic University’s Boca Raton campus.
The 5th annual emb(race)® is an all-inclusive run, walk, stroll and roll event being held Sunday, February 22 at Florida Atlantic University.
The event will feature a 5K, 10K, a one-mile family walk, and for the first time a half-marathon. People of all ages and abilities are invited to participate. Whether participants run, walk, stroll, roll, use a wheelchair or hand cycle, everyone is welcome to enter. There will be games for children, music, food, prizes, awards and many other fun activities. More than $135,000 was raised during the 2014 festivities in which 2,000 people attended.
“FAU is honored to once again host this terrific event,” said FAU President John Kelly. “The enthusiastic support the community has shown for this important cause inspires all of us. I encourage everyone to walk and run with us and celebrate people of all abilities.”
The ADA Legacy Tour, a traveling exhibit designed to raise awareness and build excitement about the 25th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act, will be present at this year’s event.
SAF was founded in 1997 to enhance the lives of people with disabilities by promoting opportunities for them to live without limits and experience the highest degree of independence and success in their communities. SAF helps people realize and achieve their career aspirations and widen their social opportunities so they may experience a meaningful life, both personally and professionally. In 2006, SAF opened The Disability Center, a designated Center of Excellence within the State of Florida university system, on FAU’s Boca Raton campus in the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing building.
Current SAF programs include Employment for People with Disabilities, Disability Sensitivity, Assistive Technology Center & Off-site Demonstrations, Vocational Evaluation and Social Security Benefits Planning Services. These programs help individuals transition to greater independence by teaching work, technology and social skills while emphasizing each person’s talents, interests and education.
Under a grant from the Able Trust, SAF works with FAU’s Office for Students with Disabilities to provide job placement services for graduating seniors who have disabilities by helping them prepare for, find and maintain employment. Through the CareerAbility program, SAF provides a full complement of employment and career services for students and adults with disabilities. The organization delivers direct services to more than 600 people annually, and in recent years has placed more than 700 people into productive employment commensurate with their education and experience.
For more information or to register for emb(race), call 561-297-4400, visit www.standamongfriends.org/embrace, or email events@standamongfriends.org.