Join Triston McKenzie at June 24 Race for Kids

Cleveland Guardians pitcher Triston McKenzie, who has been an active supporter of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Ohio since he was playing for the Minor League Akron RubberDucks, will once again be the official ambassador for the June 24 Race for Kids at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo.

The event includes a 5K run, a 1-mile walk, kids activities and all-day zoo admission. All runners and walkers receive an official race T-shirt. Early Bird registration pricing runs through May 30. Cost is $25 for the 5K run, $20 for the 1-mile walk and $20 for the virtual 5K or walk.

To register, go to www.bgcneo.org.

Third Federal, Bridgestone/Credit First National Association, Cleveland Cliffs, netWorth Partners, Sherwin-Williams, Grant Thornton and Heinen’s have already signed on as sponsors, with additional sponsorship opportunities available. Contact Grace Marras at for sponsorship information.

McKenzie’s relationship with the Clubs dates to 2018, when he was pitching for Akron. He visited the Broadway Club in Cleveland, reading to younger children and chatting with teens, and later hosted a group of Club kids at a RubberDucks game at Canal Park. The right-hander has since done several question-and-answer sessions with Club kids and during the pandemic helped promote BGCNEO’s efforts to help youth who were in virtual learning situations.

McKenzie said he has “seen first-hand the benefits kids get from going to Boys & Girls Clubs.”