The Association of Marketing and Communications Professionals (AMCP), a national organization headquartered in Dallas, recently recognized the work of the Valley Forge Tourism & Convention Board (VFTCB) in its annual Communitas Awards program.

The ACMP honored the VFTCB in Community Service & Corporate Social Responsibility category for:

• The Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run (Rev Run)
• The Freedom from Hunger Food Drive

Rev Run

Since its inception in 2006, Rev Run has raised $550,000 for infrastructure improvement projects and programming to enhance visitor experience at Valley Forge National Historical Park. One hundred percent of proceeds raised the day of the event go to the park.

Contributions from last year’s donation of $35,000 will be used for bottle-filling stations around the park, and new wayside interpretation panels for the Patriots of African Descent Monument.

Additional projects funded by Rev Run proceeds have included:

• Design of informational midway kiosks
• Once Upon a Nation programming
• Storytelling benches
• Future maintenance needs of Sullivan’s Bridge
• The newly renovated Grand Parade Trail Steuben Plaza area
• Additional trail connections

The 17th annual Valley Forge Revolutionary 5-Mile Run returns in-person to Valley Forge National Historical Park on April 16. Registration for the in-person event is nearly sold out, but registration for the two-mile walk, as well as virtual five-mile run remains open.

Freedom from Hunger

The Valley Forge Freedom from Hunger Food Drive was created as a farewell “gift” to Pope Francis in 2015 when the Pontiff stayed in Montgomery County at the St. Charles Borromeo Seminary during the World Meeting of Families in Philadelphia. Now in its eighth year, the drive continues to support the community that the tourism board diligently promotes to visitors across the nation and around the world.

The organization’s fundraiser has contributed 100,000 pounds of food to those in need in Montgomery County over the lifetime of the drive.

The Communitas Awards

The ACMP Communitas Awards take their name from the Latin word communitas, meaning the congregation of individuals unselfishly uniting for the good of a community. The The AMCP bestows them on corporations, nonprofits, and solo professionals exhibiting excellence in spreading messages related to volunteerism, philanthropy, and ethical and sustainable business practices.

Communitas Awards recognizes exceptional businesses, organizations and individuals that are unselfishly giving of themselves and their resources, and those that are changing how they do business to benefit their communities.

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A video look at the eighth edition of the Freedom from Hunger food drive.