The 2024 CRIS 5K + Advocacy Fair: A Preview

The People

Without question, the people who attend the CRIS 5K make it truly special. This is one event at which past and present CRIS volunteers, Welcome/Arrival Team members, staff, board members, and clients come together to celebrate the diversity of our community and the strength and resilience of our refugee and immigrant neighbors.

It’s community members like Kathy Inamura who inspire us in the work we do. She is not only a long-time CRIS volunteer, Arrival Team leader, and supporter, but she is also a multi-year CRIS 5K fundraising champion. This will be her seventh time participating in the CRIS 5K, and she is poised to take home yet another “top fundraiser” award during the event. She explains, I married a Japanese man and our family lived in Japan for a year. Thus, I have had first-hand exposure to the challenges of being an immigrant. Over the years I have been saddened to learn of the difficulties that refugees often experience. I was attracted to CRIS's goal of assisting refugees in multiple ways to integrate into life in the Columbus area. I want refugees to know that they are seen as people with needs and desires similar to mine and that they are welcome here. “

The Food

One of the highlights of each CRIS 5K is FOOD. Each year, we invite local refugee- and immigrant-owned restaurants to bring some of their fantastic fare to share on race day. This year we’re excited to welcome food from Oaxaca, Mexico (The Taco Shop), Ukraine (Creme de la Creme Bakery), Ethiopia (Addis Restaurant), and Haiti (Daychee Tropical Restaurant). 

Joining us for the first time this year is Daychee Tropical Restaurant, owned by Haitian Columbus resident Dynn. He opened Daychee in the fall of 2021, with a desire to share Caribbean cuisine–specifically Haitian food–with the greater Columbus area. In his words, “Our food speaks for us–this is how we share our culture.” Dynn’s restaurant is a family affair, with his mother as the head chef and several family members working in the kitchen and service. Among the dishes he will be sharing at the 2024 CRIS 5K, Dynn looks forward to offering samples of a Haitian staple–black rice–named for its seasoning akin to jerk chicken. 

The Sponsors

In addition to our restaurant “food sponsors,” sixteen local businesses and organizations have signed on as event sponsors for the 2024 CRIS 5K. More than just a logo on a shirt or an event supporter—our 5K sponsors are vital partners in our mission throughout the year, each with their own story to tell in their commitment to welcoming refugees and immigrants to Central Ohio. Whether it's through providing employment opportunities, resources, or their continuous support, they help us create a more welcoming community for all.

For one of our new sponsors this year, supporting the CRIS 5K is like a full-circle experience. Shams Zaland was resettled in Columbus by CRIS in 2018. In 2019, he began the process of starting his own tailoring business–Zaland Custom Tailoring. He now owns a storefront location in the Powell area, where he designs and makes custom clothing. He is excited to give back to the organization that helped him begin to rebuild his life here in Central Ohio.

The Cause

Thanks to our amazing 2024 CRIS 5K sponsors, 100% of registrations and donations to the race directly support CRIS’ mission: to help refugees and immigrants reach safety and stability, maintain self-sufficiency, and achieve successful integration into the Central Ohio community. The money raised through 5K registrations and donations provides unrestricted funds for CRIS. Unlike restricted funds, which are earmarked for specific programs or projects, unrestricted funds allow CRIS to allocate resources where they are most needed, ensuring smooth operations and the ability to innovate or pivot as challenges arise. Unrestricted funds are crucial for CRIS because they provide flexibility to cover essential operational costs, respond to urgent needs, and invest in long-term sustainability.