October 25, 2025

Brooklyn, NY: This morning, Council Member Shahana Hanif hosted the 17th Annual Brooklyn PTA Fun Run in Prospect Park to raise funds for Title I schools. The event raised $24,079 for schools in which over 60% of students qualify for free or reduced lunch. 

This intergenerational event drawing over 1,000 registrants fostered a powerful sense of community, uniting public school families in a shared mission. Participants ranged from infants to seniors and included runners, walkers, wheelchair users, and stroller-pushers. Funds raised will be allocated based on participation rates to Title I schools and Parent Teacher Associations that lack fundraising capacity, ensuring that resources are directed to those who need it the most. 

The Office of Comptroller Brad Lander co-hosted the event and contributed over $4,000. This contribution covered the operational costs of the event, ensuring that all of the registration fees will go directly to schools. Lander founded the Fun Run in 2009, when he served as the Council Member in Council District 39. Assembly Member Robert Carroll was also in attendance. 

Organizational co-sponsors included Prospect Park Alliance, NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital, The Duck Island Café, The LeFrak Center at Lakeside, Mural Justice Project, and the District 15 President’s Council. NewYork-Presbyterian Brooklyn Methodist Hospital generously contributed $3,000. The Duck Island Café, new to Prospect Park, contributed a portion of their sales to the event.

Photos from the event can be found here and attributed to Angelyn Love. Performances were by a local teen rock band from Kids Rock for Kids.

“Today, we are here for more than a race; it’s about education equity and fair budgets for every NYC school,” said Council Member Shahana Hanif. “This Fun Run is one of the few fundraisers that redistributes funds across PTAs, ensuring all students, regardless of zip code, have access to arts, tech, and after-school programs.”

“The LeFrak Center at Lakeside is proud to host the 17th Annual Brooklyn PTA Fun Run for Schools, marking the official start of our ice skating season,” said Kristi Tortorella, District Manager, LeFrak Center at Lakeside. “We are honored to support this longstanding community tradition that celebrates and strengthens Brooklyn’s public schools while bringing families together.”

“I’ve been volunteering for the Fun Run for several years,” said Kim Berney-Brooke, event volunteer. “It’s a great community building event for schools and our community. It’s been great watching it grow and evolve.”

“It’s such a fun way to share resources across the borough,” said Adrianna Dufay, event volunteer. “It’s the only event of its kind all year. I love to see all the schools participating.”