The 19th Annual Katie Welling Run Demonstrates Deep Bronxville Bonds
By Helena McSherry
Dec. 3, 2025: Phenomenal turnout marked the 19th annual Katie Welling Memorial Run/Walk. This cherished Bronxville Thanksgiving tradition, honoring the memory of Katie Welling (Class of 2002), was held both in-person on Saturday, November 29, and offered a virtual option. The event, which benefits the Bronxville School Foundation, drew over 400 participants and donors.
With the help of fifty dedicated community volunteers, the event also honored Tom Welling, Katie's father, who passed away in March 2022. Tom led the planning for Katie’s Run/Walk for fifteen years since its inception in 2007 and was an invaluable friend and asset to the Bronxville community.
Despite the cold temperatures, the community—including Bronxville residents, school families, former staff, alumni, and friends—gathered to honor both Katie and Tom. Helen Welling, along with Kurt, Thomas, Jr., and their families, were in attendance.
Jim Agnello, a beloved retired guidance counselor at the school and longtime Welling family friend, warmly welcomed the crowd at the flagpole on Pondfield Road. Foundation Board Member Joe Burke also spoke, expressing gratitude for the continued support from staff, alumni, and town merchants. Burke stated, “Many generous merchants contributed to the event. We are grateful to Lange’s Deli, Park Place Bagels, Mrs. Morgan's Flower Shop, and LuluVere for donating refreshments and beautiful flowers, and to Bronxville’s Fleet Feet for lending their space for pre-event registration and bib pick-ups.”
With assistance from the Bronxville Police Department, Agnello invited participants to the street and sounded the bullhorn to kick off the race. Community volunteers, many with their children assisting, lined the route through the village. For the fourth year in a row, Jack Pasquale dressed up in a costume to greet runners and walkers passing by, along with his dad, David, and brother, Matthew. David Pasquale shared, “Katie’s Run is such an important part of the fabric of this town. We love supporting the event, and it’s always great to see so many people participating each year!”
The sun was brightly shining and warming Chambers Field as runners and walkers crossed the finish line, where alums and community members enjoyed refreshments and catching up. Thomas Welling, Jr. handed out medals to the winners, including Charlotte Rizzo and Julian Gonzalez, who finished with the best times overall.
The virtual option ensured friends from far and wide could participate, even if they couldn't be in Bronxville. Emily Liggitt, the Foundation’s Alumni Chair, noted, “Many friends come in person, while others submit photos of their virtual participation. Katie’s best friend, Jennifer Doyle-Kenney (Class of 2002), sent a photo of her family participating virtually from snowy Chicago!” People from Upstate New York, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, Illinois, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania supported the event, as well as global participants from Florence, Italy and Munich, Germany.
This year, the Foundation invited all Bronxville School clubs and teams to participate, awarding a prize to the group with the largest turnout. Runners from the Cross Country and Track teams, as well as the Girls’ Varsity Basketball team, strongly represented Bronxville’s athletic contingent. Amy Atkeson, the Foundation’s Chairperson, shared, “Foundation student ambassadors Katie Fezza, Abigail Fong, Charlotte Haller, Quinn Hershberg, Peyton Levine, Charlotte Murray, and Anton Schmidt also showed their support, some participating in-person and others virtually.”
The event was established by Katie Welling’s many friends and her family to commemorate her wonderful sense of humor, infectious laugh, and love of life. Katie died in an off-campus fire at Miami University in Ohio in 2005. She had just turned 21.
Thanks to the continued support of the Bronxville community, Katie’s Run/Walk has generated over $300,000 since its inception. Contributions allow the Foundation to fund grants for facilities improvements, equipment, faculty training, curriculum development, and specialized programs at the Bronxville School.
To access Katie’s Run/Walk 2025 race time results for the live event, CLICK HERE. To view this year’s photo album, CLICK HERE.
Special thanks to Carson Kochansky and Walker Liggitt for their wonderful photography.
Community Service Organizations Directory
HOME & GARDEN
Bronxville Beautification Council
Organized in 1982, the Bronxville Beautification Council (BBC) is a not-for-profit organization administered by a volunteer Board of Directors. The mission of the BBC is to enhance and maintain the natural and man-made beauty of the village of Bronxville, with an emphasis on the downtown business district.
Click here to learn more
Boulder Ledge Garden Club
Founded in 1966, the Boulder Ledge Garden Club is rooted in a mission to inspire a deeper appreciation and love for gardening and flower arranging. The club is dedicated to fostering and promoting interest and knowledge in gardening.
The Club maintains Bronxville’s Bicentennial Park and other civic gardens. In 2019–2020 the club raised $18,000 to replace trees in the village, reflecting its active role in community beautification. It also holds garden therapy projects and educational garden trips for members.
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Bronxville Giving Garden
The Bronxville Giving Garden is a community-centered garden that donates organic produce to Eastchester Community Action Partnership in Tuckahoe and Community Service Associates in Mount Vernon. The garden is also a gathering place where school children and volunteers can discover the joy of tending plants and growing food.
Contact: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Bronxville Green Committee
The Bronxville Green Committee is a volunteer organization that is part of the Village of Bronxville. It proposes and implements environmentally sustainable programs in our community.
You can contact them HERE.
SCOUTING
Bronxville Boy Scouts
The village of Bronxville has a long tradition of scouting. “The troops and packs of Bronxville have maintained the finest scouting organizations and have taught the boys of the Bronxville area to be leaders and outstanding members of the local, national and global communities.”
Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information
Bronxville Girls Scouts
The Girls Scouts is “the world’s preeminent organization dedicated solely to girls where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world.” In Girl Scouts, “girls discover the fun, friendship and power of girls together. Through the many enriching experiences provided by Girl Scouts, they can grow courageous and strong.”
Here is more information about girl scouts.
HISTORY
Bronxville Historical Conservancy
Inspired by the highly successful Bronxville Centennial Celebration in 1998, the Bronxville Historical Conservancy was founded to record and preserve Bronxville's history and life in the village today.
BRONXVILLE SCHOOL
Bronxville School Foundation
The Bronxville School Foundation, founded in 1991, is a non-profit organization independent from the school with the sole purpose of supporting the school.
The mission of the Bronxville School Foundation is to enhance the quality of public education in our community by engaging the support and energies of educators, citizens, parents, students and alumni.
The Foundation awards grants for projects
CLICK HERE to learn more.
LECTURES, EXHIBITS, CONCERTS
Bronxville Women's Club
The Bronxville Women’s Club offers lectures, exhibits and concerts. It also has a beautiful clubhouse which is available for rental for events.
135 Midland Avenue
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-3252
Concordia Conservatory
Concordia Conservatory, a preeminent center for music education in Westchester and Fairfield Counties, is a welcoming community where children and adults find lifelong inspiration and joy through learning, performing, listening to, and participating with others in music.
The Conservatory’s mission is to inspire, instruct, and enrich lives through music offering excellence in education and performance.
CLICK HERE for more information.
COUNSELING
Counseling Center
Founded in 1971, the mission of the Counseling Center “is to provide a wide range of psychotherapeutic and counseling services to individuals, couples and families by a staff of highly trained, experience and dedicated psychotherapists.
The Counseling Center
180 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-793-3388
www.counselingcenter.org
SERVICE & VOLUNTEERISM
Community Fund of Bronxville, Eastchester & Tuckahoe
The mission of the Community Fund is “to support broad social services in Bronxville 10708, Eastchester and Tuckahoe through grants and technical support to local agencies and community projects. All money raised here in our community stays here in our community.”
15 Park Place
Bronxville, New York 10708
914-337-8808
www.thecommunityfund.org
Junior League of Bronxville
The Junior League of Bronxville is “an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women and to improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.”
Rotary Club of Bronxville
The Rotary Club of Bronxville is part of a national network of 1.25 million problem-solvers. They see a world where people unite and take action to create lasting change – across the globe, in our communities, and in ourselves.
READING & LEARNING
Friends of the Bronxville Library
The Friends of the Bronxville Library is a not-for-profit membership association whose mission is to focus attention on the “Library’s services, facilities and needs” as well as sponsor projects and provide materials that are beyond the reach of the Library's regular budget and perform other services.
SENIORS
Gramatan Village
Gramatan Village is a unique community model offering programs, services and social connections that help members continue to live independently in their homes as they age. In addition, GV offers one-on-one consultations and counseling with our experienced staff to guide members through life’s transitions.
Senior Citizens of Bronxville
Senior Citizens of Bronxville is a not-for-profit organization that provides services and programs to seniors within the 10708 zip code area. “Programs cover a wide range of activities from educational seminars and cultural enrichment to community services, bridge classes and exercise.”
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