Congrats to Our 2025 NYRR Volunteer Hall of Fame Inductees

Volunteers are the heartbeat of strong communities, and during April we celebrated and thanked those who volunteer their time and talents to all that we do.

We’re especially grateful to our 2025 Volunteer Hall of Fame inductees, who were honored at a ceremony on April 30. These individuals embody a spirit of service and have demonstrated leadership, commitment, and passion for NYRR’s vision to build healthier lives and stronger communities through the transformative power of running.

Check out photos from the event.

Larry Sillen
Years Volunteering: 45 
Marathon and Open Run Volunteer

Two weeks before the 1979 New York City Marathon, Lary Sillen got plantar fasciitis. The injury meant he couldn’t run the race as planned, but he still wanted to be a part of the event. So, he volunteered at the Expo, and on the big day, he handed out water near 90th Street and Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

“I had to go out to get the water from the hydrants—that was out in the street—and then pull it back and watch out for the runners so that I didn’t get in their way,” he said. “So, it was kind of hard, you know?”

While Larry got his start volunteering at NYRR’s biggest event, he’s since gravitated toward NYRR Open Run, a program that provides free walks and runs in community parks across the five boroughs. Over the last half-decade, he’s served as course marshal at Brooklyn Bridge Park, Canarsie Park, and Marine Park, where he grew up in the ’50s. Now 80 years old, he’s volunteered at more than 90 sessions, and he’s still going strong.

“I love Open Run because it gives me a chance to run like three days a week with friends,” he said. “And I like to volunteer because sometimes I’m not feeling good. My feet hurt or something like that. I want to get my body to rest, which is always a good idea ...  And volunteering helps me still get out there and participate somehow.”

As a course marshal, Larry gets to ring his bell and cheer on the runners as they go by. It’s a great way to spend a morning.

“I appreciate the opportunity to be able to help out,” he said. “I wish I could do more.”

David Csillan
Years Volunteering: 35 
Marathon Medical Volunteer

In 1989, athletic trainer David Csillan was working for an orthopedic group, and one of his colleagues happened to spot an NYRR call for medical volunteers at the New York City Marathon, and everyone in David’s office decided to register together. This wound up being a life-changing decision.

“It was a blast,” David remembered. “Just looking at the elite runners and seeing their performance—and the grit from the recreational runners and the excitement from the spectators—I just got hooked.”

He’s been back every year since. For about three decades, David assisted runners at the Mile 25 marker, but five or six years ago, he shifted to the finish line tent. No matter where he’s stationed, the routine is pretty much the same.

“Race morning, it’s very quiet—you go over all of the what-ifs in your head and how you’re going to respond to that,” he said. “And then when that wave of runners starts coming for the next four hours, it’s just continuous motion. It’s taking care of a runner, [you] switch gears, take care of another runner, switch gears, assist a colleague, switch gears ... It’s not really until the end of the day that you do this mental check on yourself, and you realize, ‘You know what? It’s a job well done.’”

Through his volunteering, David has made some great friends, and he has lots of stories to tell. His favorite story involves the time in 2006 that he was assigned to follow Kenyan elite runner, NYRR Hall of Fame inductee, and winner of NYRR’s Abebe Bikila Award in 2010 Olympic medalist Paul Tergat, after the race. Tergat was incredibly friendly, and at one point, he asked David if he’d like a photo.

“I told him, ‘No, the rules are I can’t request a photo with you,’” David said. “And he said, ‘Well, how about if I request a photo with you? There's no rule against that.’ So, he called over one of the security people from the room and handed them my camera, and Paul said to them, ‘I’d like to take a photo with my friend Dave.’”  

Nancy Chiu
Years Volunteering: 9
Open Run Volunteer Captain

Nancy on the far left with her Open Run team.

After participating in the Run as One 4M Presented by JPMorgan Chase in April 2016, Nancy Chiu felt great. She’d never really run before, but she loved the experience, and she wanted to keep going in some capacity. Fortunately, NYRR Open Run was about to launch in Cunningham Park in Queens, and Nancy jumped at the opportunity to get involved. “The timing was perfect,” Nancy said. “I wasn’t really a runner—more a jog-walk person. I was nervous to join to run with other runners. So instead, I chose to volunteer.”

Nancy then became volunteer captain at Cunningham Park, and she found it incredibly rewarding. Over the last nine years, she’s logged more than 300 hours volunteering with Open Run.

“It made me happy seeing this group of people every Sunday, learning their running stories,” Nancy said.

The Cunningham Park community was so active that one run per week wasn’t enough for some regular participants. They began organizing additional runs, and Nancy joined in. In 2017, Nancy worked with NYRR to establish this collective as an official running club, known as The CunningHammers. In addition to running together, the club often volunteers at NYRR events.

Nancy’s volunteer efforts were especially meaningful during the pandemic, as runners in Cunningham Park—and across the city—found solace in Open Run.

“I think Open Run is the best place to introduce someone to running or walking,” Nancy said. “Especially during the pandemic—people were afraid to do any kind of activity indoors. Open Run is outside, and it’s the best place to meet up and stay connected.”

Some have called Nancy “the glue” of Cunningham Park’s Open Run community, and while she’s too humble to take full credit, it’s clear she’s made a huge impact on those around her.

“Nancy is super warm and very friendly,” said Lauren Cervi, NYRR specialist for Open Run. “I think you can really see that reflected in all of the relationships she’s made with her fellow volunteers at Open Run at her park and other parks as well.”

“We say at Open Run, we operate 52 weeks out of the year, rain or shine,” added Shelly Licorish, director of Open Run. “And [Nancy] is one of those people that are out there rain or shine.”

Kent Handlowitch
Years Volunteering: 39 
Marathon Volunteer

There are a lot of ways to describe the TCS New York City Marathon. It’s the world’s biggest marathon and NYC’s largest block party, and to Kent Handlowitch, longtime volunteer lead of the Mile 3B water station, it’s “controlled chaos”—in the best way possible.

“It’s an entire day that ebbs and flows,” Kent said. “One minute, you have a wave of people coming, and you’re handing out water as fast as you can, and then the wave stops, and you think you could take a breath. But you really can’t, because you’ve got to start filling the water back up for the next wave.”

Kent began volunteering at the marathon back in 1986. At the time, he was involved with a local Boy Scout troop in Brooklyn, and a group known as the Golden Greeks, which at the time ran the 3B water station, invited the youngsters to help out. At some point, the Greeks passed the baton to the Boy Scouts, and Kent kept on coming back.

“It’s become part of who I am,” he said. “At first, it was just the excitement and the fun of doing it. But then after a while, you get some real fulfillment from it. And you understand that you’re an [integral] part, and you understand that without you, the race can’t go on.”

Over the years, Kent has made some great friends at the water station, and they’ve created a tradition of going out for lunch after the race is done.

“The marathon is officially over when I can have a beer and a giant burger,” Kent said.

You may also like: 

Set the Pace Podcast: Cheers to NYRR Volunteers Who Give Back at the Marathon and in the Community

What It’s Like Being a Medical Volunteer at the TCS New York City Marathon