YWCA Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate 2020

June 21 is Father’s Day.  Many of us would have gathered to walk or run the 21st annual Ricky Byrdsong Race Against Hate, and many would have sponsored those who did.  Like so many of our shared gatherings, this one will have to be virtual.  How can you help make this happen?  The YWCA has posted some opportunities and you can check those out at https://www.ywca-ens.org/rah/.  For the UCE REAL team, I suggest 2 ways to help support the YWCA in honor of Ricky Byrdsong:

1. Although the large gathering and race won’t happen on June 21, the YWCA has asked that, on June 1, those who have them, put on our Race Against Hate shirts and run or walk inside or outside in memory of our neighbor Ricky Byrdsong, who was killed by a white supremacist in 1999.
2. The Church has included in our budget a $500 contribution to the Evanston YWCA in honor of Ricky Byrdsong and the Race Against Hate, which will support the YWCA’s amazing work for racial justice and violence prevention.  We know many are struggling financially, so this ask is not for you.  But for those who would have paid the registration fee, or sponsored someone who did, if you still could, perhaps you could contribute to an effort to match the UCE contribution.  Then UCE could contribute $1,000 in honor of this deserving cause.  If you can, please contribute directly to the YWCA online (https://p2p.onecause.com/rah2020 ) or mail a check to YWCA (1215 Church St Evanston 60201).  Then email Dana Deane (dddeane@yahoo.com) and let me know how much you donated.  I’ll keep track and report on how well we did as a UCE Team!