5k Turkey Trot – Thanksgiving Day

PRIZES AWARDED* FOR:
  • BEST COSTUME
  • MOST CREATIVE
  • BEST DRESSED FAMILY/GROUP

The Warwick Rotary Thanksgiving Day Turkey Trot will be held on Thursday, November 23, 2023.

8:00 AM – Race Day Registrations begin at 7:15 AM at the Warwick City Park Ball Fields, Steven O’Connor Blvd, Warwick, RI 02886

Run/Walk starts at 8 AM

To Benefit the Warwick Rotary Charity Fund

Thank you to the 2023 Sponsors!

PLATINUM Sponsors

GOLD Sponsors

INVITE YOUR FAMILY & FRIENDS TO JOIN YOU FOR A
THANKSGIVING DAY TRADITION!

Adults $25 | Students (ages 6-17) $15 | Child (age 5 & under) Free | Family (2 adults + 2 students) $50

To Benefit the Warwick Rotary Charity Fund

INTERESTED IN HAVING YOUR COMPANY HIGHLIGHTED AS A SPONSOR AND HELPING THE COMMUNITY?

Contact warwickrotaryturkeytrot@gmail.com  Platinum Sponsors $1,000, Gold Sponsors $500, Silver Sponsors only $100

Commemorative T-shirts*

This year’s T-shirt design and size will only be guaranteed for registrations received and paid for by November 1, 2023.  All  participants will receive a t-shirt.

Due to supply chain disruptions we can not guarantee all shirts will be available on the day of the Trot. If there are shortages we will arrange an alternate method to get shirts to all participants.

History

The Warwick Rotary Club held its first annual Thanksgiving Day 5K Turkey Trot in 2014 at Warwick City Park. Under the threat of an early Fall snow storm sixteen Rotary volunteers showed up at 6:30 AM to prepare for the 8:00 AM start of the Trot. Sixty participants ran or walked that first morning. Proceeds of $250 were distributed to Warwick’s three high schools for the purpose of doing charitable works for their school communities. One hundred twenty-five pounds of non-perishable food was collected and donated to the Westbay Marketplace food pantry.

Each succeeding year has seen the Trot grow in scope and participation. Boy Scouts from local troops have joined with several dozen Rotarians to set-up, do registration, monitor parking and traffic and to monitor runners and walkers throughout the Park. A creative costume competition was added in the second year. Best dressed participant, best dressed family and most creative participants have added to the spirit of the event. Attendance has grown to number in the hundreds and proceeds of thousands of dollars have been donated to local charitable groups. To see who The Trot is benefiting this year Click the Register Now Button. The Trot has become a family friendly Thanksgiving Day Tradition for many in our community.

2021 Turkey Trot Facts

363 walkers/runners

After a year off due to to Covid, it was a wonderful to get back to an in-person Trot for 2021. With terrific weather forecast for Thanksgiving morning the participants were spirited and ready to run. Not only was everyone excited to be back at the start of the race but there was an equally enthusiastic crowd at the finish line to cheer on friends and family members.

The Trot this year raised $9,000.00 from registration fees and corporate sponsors. Half that amount will be donated to The Rhode Island Medical Reserve Corp to help them in the mission to provide volunteer personnel to staff Covid related vaccination and testing clinics. The remaining funds will go to the Warwick Rotary Charity Fund to continue the work of helping Warwick residents and local non-profit organizations. Almost 600 pounds of non-perishable food was collected and donated to the Westbay Marketplace Food Pantry.

Weather: The temperature at the start of the race was 38 degrees, sunny with no wind.

18 and 4 non-Rotarians volunteered their time on Thanksgiving Day.

Gold Sponsors:

Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, Greenwood Credit Union, Bridgemark Addiction Recovery Services, Slocum | Real Estate & Insurance, Sweeney Real Estate & Appraisal, Warwick Physical Therapy Institute, Rhode Island Temps, PuroClean Disaster Restoration Services

Silver Sponsors:

41 Aviation, Southpointe Christian Church, All Saints Church, Warwick Beacon, RI Credit Union, Central Rhode Island Chamber, Scott Avedisian, Bill & Judy Palmisciano, Armeny Inc, Carole Ritarossi, In Memory of Don Morash – Abbott Properties, In Memory of Bob Haigh – Health Care Services, World Insurance

2021 Costume contest Winners

Best Costume: Melissa Kramer, Matt and Connor Cerny; Gift certificate to Sophia”s Tuscan Grill

Best Dressed Group: John and Coleen Chase, Katie Egge, Roger Sands; Gift Certificate to Tavalo’s Wine Bar and Grill

Most Creative: Michelle and Larry Nordin, Tami Becker; Gift certificate to Not Your Average Joe’s


Most Creative: Michelle and Larry Nordin, Tami Becker; Gift certificate to Not Your Average Joe’s

Best Dressed Group: John and Coleen Chase, Katie Egge, Roger Sands; Gift Certificate to Tavalo’s Wine Bar and Grill

Best Costume: Melissa Kramer, Matt and Connor Cerny; Gift certificate to Sophia”s Tuscan Grill

2020 Turkey Trot Facts

67 Virtual walker/runners

We were not able to collect food for the Food Pantry this year.

Covid 19 prevented us from having an in-person run this year. Though we know there were many disappointed runners, we still put together a Virtual Run. Participants were asked to walk or run a 5K during the week of Thanksgiving. Thank you to all who supported us. A special thanks has to go our to our sponsors this year who made it possible to raise the funds to support The RI Critical Incident Stress Management TEAM and Warwick Rotary Charity Fund. We raised $5,500 with half going to each group. The Stress Management TEAM provides mental health support to our medical providers and first responders.

Thank you so much for your support!

GOLD SPONSORS: Dave’s Fresh Marketplace, Greenwood Credit Union, PuroClean Restoration, Slocum Realty, Bridgemark Addiction Recovery Services, World Insurance Group LLC, Sweeney Real Estate & Appraisal

SILVER SPONSORS: Abbott Properties, SouthPoint Christian Church, Ocean State Urgent Care, Warwick Physical Therapy Institute, Warwick Beacon, Central Rhode Island Chamber of Commerce, Corner Office Financial LLC, Health Care Services, 41′ N Aviation, Scanlon Group LLC, Scott Avedisian, Frank Picozzi, Carole Ritarossi, Bill and Judi Palmisciano, Bernie and Brenda Rinn, Scott McLeod, Carol Batty, Steve and Patti Tilley

Our BEST DRESSED CONTEST was Virtual also. Walkers and Runners submitted pictures of themselves out doing their 5K. One group was selected as most enthusiastic.

This year’s MOST ENTHUSIASTIC GROUP was Katie Sands and her neighbors. They received a $120 gift certificate to Cantina Del Rio Restaurant in Warwick.

Congratulations Katie!


2019 Turkey Trot Facts

379 walkers/runners

619 pounds of food collected and donated to the Westbay Marketplace Food Pantry

This year the Trot earned $7500 from registration fees and corporate sponsorships. $3750 was donated to Kent County YMCA. The remaining $3750 went to Warwick Rotary Charity. During the past year Warwick Rotary Charity has supported Elizabeth Buffin Chase House, Bridgemark Addiction Recovery Services., Thrive Behavioral Health, Warwick Boys and Girls Clubs and college scholarships for graduating Warwick seniors, in addition to other local charities.

22 Rotary members and 2 non-Rotarians volunteered their time.

Weather: Light rain during set-up, but dry and clearing skies as the race progressed. Temperature was in the mid 30’s.

Winners of the Costume Contest

  • Best Dressed: Michelle Farrow Rudolph Reindeer, $50 gift certificate
  • Best Dressed Family or Group: Pilgrim Cross Country Team, $75 gift certificate
  • Most Creative: Janet from Greenwood Credit Union, G-Force, $50 gift certificate

2018 Turkey Trot Facts

225 walkers/runners
360 pounds of non-perishable food collected and donated to Westbay Marketplace Food Pantry Proceeds
$3360 was collected with $2000 donated Westbay Farm to purchase a tractor. The remaining funds were given to the Warwick Rotary Charity Fund.
18 Rotary members and 2 non-Rotarians volunteered their time.
Weather: Mostly sunny skies. Temperature at the start was 17 degrees with a wind chill of 3 degrees. The cold temperature and winds of 25-35 mph made this years Trot one of the most challenging in our history. Despite the cold, spirits were high and everyone enjoyed the run. There were no reports of injuries or frostbite reported.

Winners of the Costume Contest

Best Costume: Michelle Farrow ($75 gift certificate to Uno’s Restaurant)
Most Creative: Eric Egge ($75 gift certificate to Cassarino’s Restaurant)
Best Dressed Family or Group: Keaney Bayha and Marin Preste ($75 gift certificate to Jade Garden)


2017 Turkey Trot Facts

391 walkers/runners
648 pounds of non-perishable food collected and donated to Westbay Marketplace Food Pantry Proceeds
$3800 was divided equally between the Warwick Rotary Charity Fund and K.E.E.P. (Kent Employees Emergency Progam)
18 Rotary volunteers and two other volunteers.
Seasonable with sunny skies.

2017 Winners of the Costume Contest

Best Costume: Jessica and Madelynn Iozzi ($50 gift card to Not Your Average Joe’s)
Most Creative: The Lyman’s Terry and Jacqui Lyman, Linda Norman-Lyman, Nicholas Blackman, Sahara the dog ($50 gift card to Sophia’s Restuarant)
Best Dressed Family or Group: Mary, Kathryn and Stephen Quinn ($75 gift card to On the Border)


2016 Turkey Trot Facts

304 walkers/runners
461 pounds of non-perishable food collected and donated to Westbay Marketplace food pantry
Proceeds of $1,575.00 were donated to Warwick Rotary Charity Fund which was used to supplement other funds for 125 Christmas food baskets donated to Westbay Marketplace food pantry.
25 Rotary volunteers, 13 Boy Scouts and troop leaders from Troop 1 Gaspee
Weather: Seasonable with sunny skies.


2015 Turkey Trot Facts

237 Walkers/runners
393 pounds of non-perishable food collected and donated to Westbay Marketplace food pantry
Proceeds of $1,667.00 were donated to the Westbay Marketplace food pantry.
18 Rotary volunteers
Weather: Seasonally cool with bright skies.


2014 Turkey Trot Facts

60 walker/runners
125 pounds of non-perishable food collected and donated to Westbay Marketplace food pantry
Proceeds of $250 divided among Warwick Veterans, Pilgrim and Toll Gate High Schools to further charitable works within their respective school communities.
16 Rotary volunteers
Weather: Cold and overcast but no snow at the start. Sun shining at the finish.


*This year’s T-shirt design and size will only be guaranteed for registrations received and paid by November 1, 2023.  All other participants will receive T-shirts from last year’s Trot. Due to supply chain disruptions we can not guarantee all shirts will be available on the day of the Trot. If there are shortages we will arrange a predetermined time and location in Warwick, RI or participants can cover the cost of shipping and they will be dropped at your doorstep.