We Honor Our Superstar Volunteers

As part of our celebration of Volunteer Appreciation Month this April, NYRR launched the NYRR Volunteer Hall of Fame and welcomed its inaugural class of 11 inductees.

Each of these extraordinary individuals has served as a volunteer at 40 or more New York City Marathons and/or has contributed at least 2,500 lifetime hours at NYRR events. In addition, all have demonstrated leadership, commitment, and dedication to volunteerism at NYRR.

During the induction ceremony, which took place virtually, inductees and guests were addressed by NYRR Interim CEO Kerin Hempel, Vice President of Event Development and Production and TCS New York City Marathon Race Director Ted Metellus, and others. Each of the inductees received a certificate of appreciation from New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio.

Check out the video below that we shared with our volunteers and their loved ones during the ceremony.

As NYRR's Senior Manager of Volunteer Operations, I am so thrilled that we're starting this new tradition. We thank our inaugural class and all our volunteers for their dedication, devotion, and hard work. We're excited to celebrate the value of NYRR's most dedicated volunteers and to kick off volunteer engagement as we move toward hosting large-scale events, including the 2021 TCS New York City Marathon on November 7.

Please join us in congratulating our 11 inaugural inductees and thanking them for their phenomenal dedication and service. Volunteers, we can't wait to see you again—and we couldn't do it without you!

Learn more about NYRR volunteering.

Maria Bright
Age: 62
Years volunteering with NYRR: 19

Maria (above, second from left) has volunteered at 19 New York City Marathons and can be found at all NYRR weekly races managing post-race amenities and bag check.

Mines Jackson
Age: 60
Years volunteering with NYRR: 40 

Mines, pictured above, is the TCS New York City Marathon mile 7 aid station volunteer captain. He watched the marathon as a teenager—it ran right past his home—and started volunteering as soon as he was old enough. As station captain, Mines arrives at 5:00 a.m. on Marathon Sunday to begin set-up and oversees about 250 volunteers throughout the day. For Mines, volunteering is a way to give back to his community and be a part of something bigger than himself.

Jeanie Jee
Age: 71
Years volunteering with NYRR: 40

Jeanie (pictured above, right) has volunteered in numerous roles at the New York City Marathon finish line, including scoring, timing chip removal, timing backup, and heat sheet distribution, which she now oversees. She enjoys training new volunteers—especially offering useful tips about staying hydrated and fueled throughout a long day on their feet. For Jeanie, nothing beats greeting tired, happy runners at the end of their 26.2 miles and putting a heat sheet on their shoulders.

Thomas Joyce
Age: 70
Years volunteering with NYRR: 44

Tom (pictured above, right) has been a New York City Marathon start volunteer since the first five-borough race, in 1976. He's worked as a bus greeter, in pro athlete security, and most recently has overseen the movement of tens of thousands of runners from the staging area to the start line. Tom's volunteering experience has taught him to dress in layers and wear hiking boots for his day on the go. He's run the marathon three times himself—each time after finishing his hours-long volunteer shift—and 18 other marathons around the world.

Harvey Klein
Age: 67
Years volunteering with NYRR: 45

Harvey, pictured above, has been a New York City Marathon ham (short for "amateur") radio operator volunteer since the race became a five-borough event, in 1976, making citywide on-the-ground communication essential. He estimates there were more than 400 "hams" in the early years; now about 200 are needed each year, serving as back-up to more advanced (but occasionally unreliable) technologies. Harvey got his ham radio license when he was 15 and later worked in the Morris Township Office of Emergency Management in New Jersey. He's volunteered at the marathon finish line in Central Park for the last 20 years.  

Barbara Rubenstein
Age: 90
Years volunteering with NYRR: 31

Barbara, pictured above, is a 31-year New York City Marathon volunteer at the expo and finish line, as well as the longest-serving volunteer at NYRR weekly races in Central Park. She got her start by responding to a volunteer recruitment flyer in the lobby of her apartment building. Runners often recognize Barbara and thank her for volunteering, and marathoners at the expo remember her from year to year and pose with her for selfies. Barbara turned 90 last year and she can't wait to volunteer at this year's TCS New York City Marathon.

Theresa Shider
Age: 64
Years volunteering with NYRR: 45

Theresa grew up in the Marcy Projects in Brooklyn's Bed-Stuy neighborhood as the second-youngest of nine siblings. One Sunday, her mom came home from shopping and told Theresa that a lot of runners were passing by and she should "go out and help." Theresa did, and 45 years later you can find her, along with sister Beverly, daughters, son, nephews, nieces, and god-daughter, all at the mile 10 fluid station in Williamsburg. For Theresa, Marathon Sunday is "like Christmas," and she "won't stop until the day I die."

Beverly Shider 
Age: 67
Years volunteering with NYRR: 41

Theresa's older sister Beverly Shider (pictured above, left) started volunteering with her siblings at the New York City Marathon over 40 years ago. She keeps coming back every year "because it's fun and a way to assist people" in a life-affirming event. "Giving them a cup of water seems like a little thing, but it can help them go that extra mile," she said. Some years, said Beverly, particularly if it's been a cold or windy, she tells herself she won't volunteer again the next year. "But then, the next year I'm back again," she said. "We all are."

George Stamatiades
Age: 79
Years volunteering with NYRR: 44

George has been the captain of the New York City Marathon's mile 15 aid station for 44 years. Not a runner himself, he sees the marathon as a way to watch the whole world pass by without a passport. George started volunteering when he was the president of the Dutch Kills Civic Association and thought it was a great way to participate in an exciting community event. His favorite thing about volunteering is cheering for runners over a PA system and seeing their delight as they pass by.

Lorraine Townsend
Age: 84
Years volunteering with NYRR: 41

Lorraine has been a part of the New York City Marathon mile 21 aid station volunteer crew for 41 years.

Eduardo Vazquez
Age: 66
Years volunteering with NYRR: 30

Eddie (pictured above, right) has been a volunteer with NYRR 30 years and now manages finish area volunteers at weekly races in addition to volunteering at food bag distribution at the TCS New York City Marathon.