Frequently Asked Questions

Have questions? We have answers! Please review our list of Frequently Asked Questions below. If you still want to know more, please feel free to call us at (646) 758-9693 or e-mail us at [email protected].

Who we are

What is Team for Kids?

Who benefits from the fundraising money?


Joining TFK

Do I have to be a member of New York Road Runners to join?

What are the benefits of joining Team for Kids?

How do I register for Team for Kids?

Can I join Team for Kids if I already have been accepted into the TCS New York City Marathon, another Abbott World Marathon Majors race, the United Airlines NYC Half Marathon, or the Popular Brooklyn Half?

Does Team for Kids pay for race entry fees?

Is there a deadline to register for Team for Kids?

How can I get my company involved with Team for Kids?


Fundraising

What is the fundraising pledge commitment?

What fundraising resources does Team for Kids provide to help me reach my fundraising goal?

Where do I mail checks given to me by donors?

Are corporate matching gifts counted toward my total?

Can I get a discount if I register with a group?


Training

I am a first-time marathoner/half marathoner. Will I be able to run?

Will Team for Kids provide an online training schedule that I can follow?

I live in the NYC metro area and I would like to participate in group runs. Are these available?

Do you have group training runs in other cities?


Technical

Will my credit card be charged if I have not raised the full amount?

What happens if I get injured and cannot run? Is there a cancellation policy?

I've forgotten my username/password.

Does Team for Kids provide travel and lodging?

Will Team for Kids pick up my race packet and bib for me?


Other

When will I get my singlet?

Are there volunteer opportunities?


Who we are

 

What is Team for Kids?
Team for Kids is a committed group of adult runners from around the world who add meaning to their miles by raising funds on behalf of New York Road Runners youth programs, and in return, receive guaranteed entry into premier endurance events. To learn more about Team for Kids, please click here.

Who benefits from the fundraising money?
The money raised by Team for Kids members goes toward Rising New York Road Runners, NYRR's youth program and events platform, built to develop movement skills in kids through a mix of running and fitness activities. The program is designed to help kids build their confidence, their motivation, and their desire to be physically active for life. Rising New York Road Runners' curriculum is based on the latest athletic research on the concepts of physical literacy and long-term athlete development. Any person can achieve physical literacy; it just takes the right environment to develop the confidence and motivation needed for long-term success. For more information on what your fundraising will support, please click here.


Joining TFK

 

Do I have to be a member of New York Road Runners to join?
No, NYRR membership is not required.   

What are the benefits of joining Team for Kids?
In addition to the joy that comes from helping to give youth a healthy, running start in life, TFK members receive expert coaching, fundraising support, and many other benefits, ensuring that they cross the finish line with a smile. For more information on available perks, please visit each event’s specific page. For a listing of all events, please click here.

How do I register for Team for Kids?
To join Team for Kids, please click here to begin the process. You will first create a Team for Kids profile and will then select which event you would like to participate in.   

Can I join Team for Kids if I already have been accepted into the TCS New York City Marathon, another Abbott World Marathon Majors race, the United Airlines NYC Half, or the Popular Brooklyn Half?
Yes, we welcome individuals who already have guaranteed entry into these events to run as ‘altruists’ with Team for Kids. If you have guaranteed entry prior to joining Team for Kids, you are entitled to a reduced pledge commitment. Please contact us at [email protected] for more details on how to run as an altruist.

Does Team for Kids pay for race entry fees?
Team for Kids does not pay race entry fees for the TCS New York City Marathon or events in the NYRR Five-Borough Series (United Airlines NYC Half, Popular Brooklyn Half, NYRR Queens 10K, New Balance Bronx 10 Mile, and Staten Island Half). All Team for Kids members are responsible for paying applicable race entry fees. Team for Kids covers race entry fees for our Abbott World Marathon Majors partner races.

Is there a deadline to register for Team for Kids?
While there is no official deadline to sign up with Team for Kids, there are a limited number of entries available per event. Once these entries are filled, we will be unable to take on additional members. Historically, Team for Kids events have filled several months before the event.

How can I get my company involved with Team for Kids?
Please contact us at [email protected] to get your company involved in an upcoming race.


Fundraising

 

What is the fundraising pledge commitment?
Fundraising commitments differ by event. For full details, please click here to visit each event's specific page.

What fundraising resources does Team for Kids provide to help me reach my fundraising goal?
Team for Kids offers substantial fundraising support to members. Each Team for Kids member is automatically set up with a personal, customizable online fundraising page.  Additionally, members have access to fundraising templates, webinars, clinics, and many tried and true tips and tricks. Visit our fundraising resources page to learn more. 

Where do I mail checks given to me by donors? 
Please make sure all check donations are made out to NYRR Team for Kids or New York Road Runners, Inc. Make sure your donor includes their email address so we can send them a tax receipt and make sure your name is included in the memo line of the check so we can attribute the donation to your fundraising campaign. Please mail all checks to the address below:
New York Road Runners, Inc.
YCS Donations
P.O. Box 22171
New York, NY 10087-2171

Are corporate matching gifts counted toward my total?
Yes! We encourage members to take advantage of their company’s matching gift program and to recommend that their personal donors do the same. All matching gifts will be counted toward the pledge commitment as long as they are received prior to the fundraising deadline. For additional questions about matching gifts, contact [email protected]

Can I get a discount if I register with a group?
Yes! Team for Kids is offering a reduced pledge commitment of $1,200 per runner for the United Airlines New York City Half for groups of five or more who register at the same time. For the TCS New York City Marathon, groups of ten or more who register will be eligible for a reduced fundraising commitment of $2,500 per runner. To be eligible, all team members must register for the event within two weeks of each other. Once everyone has registered, please e-mail [email protected] with the name of your team and all team members' names. Please note that all team members are responsible for individually reaching their respective fundraising commitments.


Training

 

I am a first-time marathoner/half marathoner. Will I be able to run?
Yes, runners of all abilities are welcome to join Team for Kids! Our training is geared toward individual fitness levels and finish-line goals. Many first-time runners successfully complete the marathon and/or half marathon with us each year.

Will Team for Kids provide an online training schedule that I can follow?
Yes! When you register with Team for Kids for the United Airlines NYC Half, Popular Brooklyn Half, TCS New York City Marathon, and other Abbott World Marathon Majors races, you will receive weekly training emails with training and fundraising tips and an exclusive Team for Kids training schedule.  Members for all of our events have access to coaches for any training questions. 

I live in the NYC metro area and I would like to participate in group runs. Are these available?
Team for Kids holds group training sessions for members who sign up for events including the United Airlines NYC Half, Popular Brooklyn Half, BMW Berlin Marathon, Bank of America Chicago Marathon, and TCS New York City Marathon. Details and schedules are provided for each group in the weekly training emails runners receive once they sign up.

Do you have group training runs in other cities?
While Team for Kids does not have official coached workouts in other cities, we have team members in cities throughout the world who often organize their own runs based off of the Team for Kids training plans.


Technical

 

Will my credit card be charged if I have not raised the full amount?
Each Team for Kids event has a fundraising deadline. When this date is reached, if there is any outstanding pledge amount, the credit card on file will be charged the balance due. If there is a problem charging the card or retrieving the balance in another form, the TFK member will not be permitted to participate in the event.

What happens if I get injured and cannot run? Is there a cancellation policy?
In the unfortunate circumstance that runners are injured, or otherwise unable to participate in TFK events, members can cancel their race entry and defer to the following year for the TCS New York City Marathon, United Airlines NYC Half and Popular Brooklyn Half only.  Members will still be responsible for fulfilling the fundraising pledge commitment by the original deadline. Fundraising commitments cannot be deferred to the following year; they must be completed in the year the commitment was made. To have your spot deferred to the following year, contact [email protected].

I've forgotten my username/password. 
If you have forgotten your password for the Team for Kids log-in page, click on the "forgot password" link to have your password sent to you.  If you have forgotten your username, contact us at [email protected].

Does Team for Kids provide travel and lodging?
Team for Kids does not provide travel and lodging, but members can take advantage of travel and lodging deals through the official travel partner of NYRR, Anthony Travel. For travel and lodging recommendations for the TCS New York City Marathon, visit the Travel and Lodging page.  

Will Team for Kids pick up my race packet and bib for me?
No. Participants are responsible for picking up their own race packet and bib. You should follow the instructions provided by each event's organizers for specific bib pick-up instruction. Please plan your travel accordingly.


Other

When will I get my singlet?
You will receive your TFK singlet once you reach the halfway point in your fundraising commitment. Once that target is reached, it may take up to 21 days for your singlet to arrive as we mail out singlets in batches every 2 weeks.

Are there volunteer opportunities available?
We welcome volunteers to get involved with our programs, as well as our events throughout the year. Volunteer opportunities are shared with our members and alumni through email and social media.