‘Run for Cover’ Races Raise About $75,000 for the County’s Homeless

About 2,300 walkers and runners made their way Sunday around Fashion Island in the “Run for Cover” races, sponsored by HomeAid and the Hard Rock Cafe to help the homeless of Orange County.

Race organizers said the event raised about $75,000 for HomeAid, a 5-year-old nonprofit charity sponsored by Orange County builders. The event included three races: a 10K run, a 5K walk-run and a 1K run for children.

“We had about $30,000 in corporate sponsorships and about $45,000 in entry fees,” said Mike Schlesinger of Costa Mesa, the co-chairman of the event and an executive of Pacific Point Partners, a development company. “This event grows every year. Last year we had 1,800 runners and we had 500 more this year.”

The money will support Home-Aid’s various activities. Home-Aid, made up mostly of contractors and executives from the Building Industry Assn. of Orange County, has assisted more than 1,500 people in Orange County and just completed its 19th project in which it adopts and renovates existing homeless shelter programs, Schlesinger said.

“It’s a great marriage between the nonprofit care providers and the for-profit developers,” Schlesinger said. “It maximizes the strength of both parties.”

HomeAid will conduct its Project Playhouse on Saturday, an event where builders construct children’s playhouses and raffle them off, during Homeless Awareness Week, which is Saturday through Nov. 19.