December 9, 2015

Safe Passage’s 12th annual Hot Chocolate Run was a huge success!

Community Legal Aid would like to congratulate Safe Passage for raising $485,000 this past weekend during their 12th annual Hot Chocolate Run! Community Legal Aid has worked with Safe Passage for many years, and we are so happy we can join forces to help survivors of domestic violence. In fact, CLA Attorney Jennifer Dieringer who works out of Northampton was one of the founders of the Hot Chocolate Run back in 2004. She has done amazing work for her community through her work with Safe Passage and Community Legal Aid, and we are so lucky to have her!

Read on to learn more about the Hot Chocolate Run:

As appeared in MassLive

Seen@ Northampton’s 12th annual Hot Chocolate Run for Safe Passage

By The Republican Photo Desk 
on December 06, 2015 at 12:53 PM, updated December 06, 2015 at 12:55 PM

NORTHAMPTON — Around 6,000 people turned out on Sunday morning for the city’s 12th annual Hot Chocolate Run to benefit Safe Passage.

The agency, which provides shelter, counseling support and community education for victims of domestic violence and the public, has been around since 1977 and has been running the Hot Chocolate Run since 2004.

The event included a five-kilometer road race and a three-kilometer walk. In the end, everyone is offered a cup of homemade hot chocolate.

Safe Passage Executive Director Marianne Winters told staff writer Fred Contrada that the Hot Chocolate Run has had an impact on the lives of those affected by domestic violence, which one in three women experience.

Safe Passage raised $6,000 for the first run in 2004 and has seen a 10 percent increase every year since. Last year, the agency raised more than $375,000 through the Hot Chocolate Run.

To read more and see more photos, please click here.