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tinleyjunction.com news
the Tinley Junction | June 6, 2019 | 7
Patrick Mizwicki Strive for 5 Foundation 5K supports education, community
Laurie Fanelli
Freelance Reporter
The more than 300 participants
who signed up
to run or walk the course
of the Patrick Mizwicki
Strive for 5 Foundation 5K
were surrounded by inspiration
as they gathered at
the starting line near Breidert
Green Park.
Proceeds from the Saturday,
June 1, event, which
benefited the Patrick Mizwicki
Strive for 5 Foundation,
provided $1,000
scholarships for four Lincoln-Way
East seniors who
all epitomize the five pillars
– determination, sportsmanship,
hard work, friend
to everyone, do your best
– of the foundation and its
namesake Patrick Mizicki.
Along with the scholarship
recipients, Mizwicki
– who was fatally struck
by a vehicle at the age of
14 while running with his
cross country team in 2011
– was a big source of inspiration
throughout the
morning as his memory
encouraged participants to
dig deep, do their best and
help each other, just as he
always did.
Mark Zelenika, the
foundation’s president and
Patrick’s Frankfort Eagles
baseball coach for seven
years, explained that he
sees Patrick’s hustle and
heart in the participants of
the annual 5K.
“This is a community
event. Patrick left an indelible
mark on not only his
classmates, but the entire
community because of the
kind of kid he was,” said
Zelenika. “He was one of
those kids who may not
have been the most talented
baseball player, but he exuded
confidence, excitement
and he had the will to
go do whatever you needed
him to do. He was just that
kind of kid. It’s such a loss
Lincoln-Way East alumni (left to right) Blake Winkler, Jon Claxton and Jake Aleck
smile as they approach the Patrick Mizwicki Strive for 5 Foundation 5K finish line.
Photos by Laurie Fanelli/22nd Century Media
for society that we lost Patrick
because I really do believe
he would have went
on to do something great.”
Patrick’s mother JoAnne
Mizwicki noted her son’s
drive and perseverance.
Despite not being selected
as a member of the Lincoln-Way
East baseball
team as an incoming freshman,
he kept a positive
attitude and switched his
focus to cross country.
“He loved running. He
loved the camaraderie of
the team,” said JoAnne
Mizwicki. “He was a real
go-getter and unified everybody.
He was a fun
person to be around so he
blended with those kids really
well.”
In the foundation’s eight
year existence, $60,000
has been awarded to Lincoln-Way
East students as
scholarships in Patrick’s
name. This year’s recipients
Tyler Keuch, Maggie
Alexa, Alexis Storen and
Gage Palmer were each selected
due to excellent applications
and compelling
essays detailing how they
exemplify the five pillars
of the foundation.
Palmer has plans to use
his scholarship toward an
11-week program to get
his commercial driver’s license.
He will then begin
the process to follow in his
father’s footsteps by applying
for Local 150’s apprenticeship
program.
Patrick Mizwicki Strive for 5 Foundation President Mark
Zelenika welcomes everyone to the 8th annual 5K held
Saturday, June 1.
“I think it’s awesome
how everything comes together
and how a job site
can start out as grass and
become a 30-story building,”
said Palmer. “I will
be applying for Local 150
in November. Hopefully,
I can get into the apprenticeship
program as fast as
I can.”
Hugs, high fives and
smiles were generously
exchanged from Strive
for 5 Foundation 5K participants
as the event felt
more like a gathering of
old friends than any kind
of competition. Mayor
Jim Holland was on hand
to welcome everyone and
countdown to the start of
the 5K and Kayley Smetana
– a previous scholarship
recipient – sang the
National Anthem.
After participants finished
the course, awards
were handed out to the top
three male and female finishers
– including the first
place finishers Ben Walczak
and Debbie Simental –
and, later, Zelenika hosted
a trivia contest with prizes
from local businesses.
“I want to give a big
thanks to all of our sponsors.
These are all Frankfort
area businesses and Frankfort
residents that have supported
us from day one,”
said Zelenika pointing to
the long list of sponsors on
the back of the 5K t-shirt.
“Family Hyundai of Tinley
Park, Bauer Buick and
Cadillac, CD & ME and so
many others. They’ve all
rallied behind us.”
JoAnne Mizwicki
echoed his appreciation
for the community at large.
“The people here have
been wonderful. The mayor
has been wonderful. We
get such a great amount
of volunteers coming out
each year,” she said. “The
people is what makes our
town so great. It’s heartwarming
that they’re still
here after eight years.”
More information about
supporting the Patrick
Mizwicki Strive for 5
Foundation can be found
at www.patrickmizwick
ifoundation.com.