My Possibilities and FC Dallas Foundation in Search of 2,000 Santas for Annual Santa Run Texas

Plano-based non-profit to host annual premier holiday event presented by Dr Pepper Snapple Group

FRISCO, Texas – Dec. 2, 2017 –My Possibilities (MP), a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering adults with cognitive disabilities, along with the FC Dallas Foundation, will hold the eighth annual Santa Run Texas. This 5K race and one-mile fun walk is a family and pet-friendly event that encourages participants to dress up in a five-piece Santa suit (included with registration) and come to Toyota Stadium for the premier holiday festival of the season.

The first Santa-themed running event in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex, Santa Run Texas has become a holiday tradition for those interested in helping adults with special needs.  This community-based event is a great way to bring friends, families, businesses and social groups together to celebrate the season while helping raise money to provide advanced educational opportunities for special needs adults.  This year, My Possibilities, their clients, lovingly referred to as HIPsters (Hugely Important People) and the FC Dallas Foundation have set a goal to attract more than 2,000 Santa participants in the outdoor event.  All proceeds raised at Santa Run Texas will directly benefit the FC Dallas Foundation and My Possibilities.

Both the 5K race and one-mile fun walk are presented by Dr Pepper Snapple Group, and will be held on Saturday, Dec. 2 from 8 a.m. to noon at Toyota Stadium in Frisco.

Several sponsors have signed on to support Santa Run Texas. Sponsors include 105.3 The Fan, CineMark, Elite Care 24 Hour Emergency Room Plano, Papa John’s Pizza, Voom Group, Plano Profile, CycleBar, Athleta, Community Impact, Orange Theory Fitness, Pet Paradise Plano, Renegade Bootcamps, Dunkin Donuts, Dillas, Novoworks Color Imaging, Blue Goose Cantina, College Hunks Hauling Junk, ACrew Events, Mark Lane Entertainment, Power Crunch Protein Genius, Norma’s Café and the Observer. My Possibilities has also teamed up with Holiday Warehouse to deck out the entire event space in holiday decorations that will make “Vendor Village” a true winter wonderland. Complete with plenty of great places for holiday photos, for example in a life-sized snow globe.

Carrying on last year’s addition, nearly all DFW team mascots will join for an epic dance-off sponsored by Title Boxing Club. The Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Dallas Cowboys, Texas Legends, Frisco Roughriders, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group’s mascots will come together to participate.

“In 2016 Santa Run Texas raised upward of $83,000, which helped fund many of My Possibilities’ educational programs. More than 250,000 special needs adults live in North Texas, high-quality continuing education programs are almost non-existent,” said Charmaine Solomon, founder and Chairman of the Board at My Possibilities. “Proceeds from this fundraising event directly benefit the day-to-day programming and operations of My Possibilities so that we can continue to provide educational resources and job placement for this growing population.”

Santa Run Texas provides entertainment for people and pets of all ages. This year, the Limelight Band will provide live music, along with Cory Mageors and Kevin Hageland of 105.3 The Fan as the day's emcees. There will be a designated children’s area, “Santa’s Playground,” that will house plenty of amusements, including bounce houses.  An “official” Santa Claus is on hand to hear children’s wish lists.

Following the race and walk, a number of awards and prizes will be handed out, including Best-Dressed Pet, Best-Dressed Santa, Best Sleigh, and Most Spirited Team. Get creative, and start customizing holiday costumes and sleds of all kinds from red wagons or strollers to wheelchairs.

Santa Run Texas is not complete without complimentary food and refreshments. Food vendors will serve tasty favorites, and Dr Pepper Snapple Group will provide complimentary water and other cold drinks. Dunkin Donuts will keep everyone warm with free coffee and hot cocoa.

For those interested in attending, here are the details for the event:

When:             Saturday, Dec. 2

Where:            Toyota Stadium 
9200 World Cup Way, Frisco

 Time:             8 a.m. Festivities begin

                        8:20     Welcome remarks

                        8:30     5K run begins

                        8:45     One-mile fun walk begins 

                        10        Awards presentation

                        12 p.m. Santa Run Texas ends                                                                                          
                                      After-party
                                      Blue Goose Cantina
                                      9320 Dallas Pkwy, Frisco

For additional information on Santa Run Texas, visit santaruntexas.org or contact Courtney Echols, special events manager at events@mptx.org.

About My Possibilities:

My Possibilities is a Plano-based, non-profit 501(c)(3) that serves as a pioneering leader in vocational education for adults with intellectual and/or developmental disabilities throughout North Texas. To learn more, visit mypossibilities.org.

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