By Southwester Staff
Mandarin Oriental, in Southwest DC, recently announced Serve Your City / Ward 6 Mutual
Aid as the beneficiary of the hotel’s tenth annual FANtastic 5K and Silent Auction.
On Saturday, October 30, hotel guests, colleagues, visitors, and DC residents are invited to lace up
their running shoes in support of advancing Southwest youth. Since its inception, the FANtastic
5K has raised over $302,000 for education and development efforts in Southwest DC.
The FANtastic 5K run/walk kicks off at 9:00 a.m. with registration beginning at 8:30 a.m. in
front of the hotel. Participants will follow a course leading through the National Mall and
concluding with a post-race breakfast and silent auction.
Andi Sullivan, captain of the Washington Spirit women’s professional soccer club, and member
of the U.S. Women’s National Team, will serve as Master of Ceremonies for the day’s activities.
Sullivan will lead participants through a Washington Spirit pre-game stretch, cheer on runners
and walkers, and meet with fans.
“As the brand ambassador for Mandarin Oriental, Washington D.C., I am excited to team up and
assist in raising funds for a commendable organization like Serve Your City. Providing
underprivileged youth in D.C. with life-changing experiences, many of which are offering access
to sports and costly equipment, is dear to my heart,” said Sullivan.
For more than a decade, Serve Your City, a non-profit organization, has provided life-changing
experiences and opportunities for at-risk DC students. Serve Your City seeks to offer Black and
brown youth in Ward 6 with inspiring experiences, tutoring, after-school enrichment, and
lifesaving support.
The fee to participate is $35 and includes snacks, a pre-run stretching session, a FANtastic 5K
commemorative t-shirt, a post-run buffet breakfast, admission to the Silent Auction, and awards.
Children 12 and under race for free. Runners and walkers of all levels are invited to join,
including dogs on a leash. Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC also welcomes the donations of
those who don’t wish to participate in the 5K. For more information, please visit the event’s
donation website at https://runsignup.com/Race/DC/Washington/10thAnnualFANtastic5K.