Our Story

Foster Kids 5k is an organic, homegrown, Seattle/Eastside area event going on its 3rd year. This fundraising event was an original vision by working mother, Adrienne Oliphant who wanted to contribute to a “cause in need” after the national economic bust in 2007-09. While on a run, Adrienne had a vision of putting on a 5k fundraising event on the newly finished Marymoor Connector Trail in Redmond, WA. When Adrienne told her husband, David about the vision of the 5k, he decided he would come alongside her and see if they could make the vision a reality. But what about the cause?

It was brought to their attention through Eastridge Church located in Issaquah, WA that local 501(c)3 non-profit, Royal Family Kids Camp-Issaquah was in need of additional financial support for their 2009 summer camp. After learning about the core function of RFKC-Issaquah summer camp, they were sold! Their vision of hosting a 5k to help bring financial support and awareness to abused King County foster children soon became a very busy reality for the couple who have two young kids of their own. Knowing that the 5k would make an immediate impact to the foster kids, the event greatly rewards to the co-founders.

The first year required a lot of late nights for Adrienne and David learning how to secure a King County park permit, event insurance, sponsors, website, participants and most importantly how to put together all the details of race day. There were many late nights during the first-time event planning of 2009 which seemed intensely overwhelming, which is why Adrienne and David are thankful for the many friends that have joined alongside them offering their services to do things like set up the website, create the logos, volunteer on race day and provide race t-shirts and banners. The Oliphants could not do this event without so many others giving so selflessly.

We are very thankful for all of our sponsors, more specifically Revel Consulting who has helped plan the event since the beginning, Papé Material Handling for supplying race day equipment, Alaska Airlines for donating airline tickets and Blackrock, who have all been significant local contributors towards this grassroots cause. Eastridge Church has also been a very critical sponsor, providing many hours of volunteer help, race day and marketing supplies and financial contributions since the inception.

Thank you for visiting our web page. The best help that you can offer is to share this cause and event with friends who can participate, volunteer, donate or even sponsor the cause.

May every child feel respected and loved.

Adrienne & David