CRIS 5K Sponsorship Details

Help us Celebrate 30 Years of Welcome: Sponsor the 2025 CRIS 5K

For three decades, CRIS has been at the heart of making Central Ohio a more welcoming place for refugees and immigrants. This year, as we celebrate our 30th anniversary, the CRIS 5K takes on even greater significance—not only as our largest annual friend-raising and fundraising event but as the culminating moment of a year-long kickstart to the CRIS Enduring Welcome Fund. This new fund will ensure that CRIS’ work remains strong and sustainable for the next 30 years.

At a time when our work and mission face unprecedented challenges, the CRIS 5K is an opportunity for our supporters to come together and take a stand. Sponsoring this event means making a clear statement: that Central Ohio remains a place of welcome, where refugees and immigrants can reach safety, build stability, and thrive.

Why Sponsor?

  • Align Your Business with a Meaningful Mission: Show your commitment to diversity, inclusion, and community support.

  • High-Visibility Promotion: Your sponsorship will be amplified across CRIS’ platforms, reaching ten of thousands across Central Ohio.

  • Race Day Engagement: The event will feature a 5K walk/run, kids' races, and an advocacy fair with speakers, music, and food from around the world. Sponsors are invited to take part in all of the festivities—complete with free registrations!

Our sponsorship tiers are named in honor of the transformative relationships that help refugees thrive—because just as individuals need support to rebuild their lives, CRIS’ work depends on the active partnership of businesses and community leaders like you.

Join us in ensuring that welcome endures for generations to come. Explore sponsorship opportunities below and become a part of this milestone year.

Event Details

Date: Saturday, October 4, 2025
Location: Genoa Park, Downtown Columbus
Race Options: 5K Walk/Run & Kids' Races
Additional Festivities: Advocacy Fair, Global Music & Food, Guest Speakers

Sponsor the CRIS 5K

Like previous races, the 2025 CRIS 5K celebrates the nations of the refugees and immigrants that call Central Ohio home. Each kilometer of the race will be dedicated to a different region of the world: East Asia + Pacific, Latin America, Europe, Near East/South Asia, and Africa.

Immigrant-Owned Businesses and Organizations

For any immigrant-owned or led business or organization that sponsors this year's event (at any level), they may choose a section of the course to sponsor and have their business highlighted on that section of the course with branded signage.

  • Neighbor ($500)

    • Logo or name on event t-shirt and sponsor banner

    • Logo on race website

    • Inclusion in thank-you message to 5K email list

    • 2 free race participant registrations with t-shirts

  • Friend ($1,000)

    • Inclusion in thank-you social media post from CRIS accounts

    • Logo on event t-shirt and sponsor banner

    • Logo and link on race website

    • Inclusion in thank-you message to 5K email list

    • 4 free race participant registrations with t-shirts

  • Partner ($2,500)

    • Recognition during the virtual race kick-off video

    • Inclusion in thank-you social media post from CRIS accounts

    • Logo on event t-shirt and sponsor banner

    • Logo and link on race website

    • Inclusion in thank-you message to 5K email list

    • 8 free race participant registrations with t-shirts

  • Advocate ($5,000)

    • Opportunity to include approved materials in the physical race packet

    • Recognition during in-person kick-off (which will also be live streamed on CRIS’ social media accounts)

    • Recognition during the virtual race kick-off video

    • Inclusion in thank-you social media post from CRIS accounts

    • Prominent logo on event t-shirt and sponsor banner

    • Logo and link on race website

    • Inclusion in thank-you message to 5K email list

    • 15 free race participant registrations with t-shirts

  • Sponsor ($10,000)

    • Opportunity to speak during the Saturday in-person event

    • Logo on race bibs if desired

    • Opportunity to record a pop-up audio message to play at mile 1 on the RaceJoy app

    • Opportunity to include approved materials in the physical race packet

    • Recognition during in-person kick-off (which will also be live streamed on CRIS’ social media accounts)

    • Recognition during the virtual race kick-off video

    • Standalone thank-you social media post from CRIS accounts

    • Large logo on event t-shirt and sponsor banner

    • Logo and link on race website

    • Standalone thank-you message to 5K email list

    • 20 free race participant registrations with t-shirts