United Counseling Service’s 8th annual Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash raises $3500 for Teens4Change program

United Counseling Service’s 8^th annual Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash raises $3500 for Teens4Change program:

United Counseling Service (UCS)’s 8^th annual Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash raised $3500 for the agency’s Teens4Change program, a youth-led program that brings young people in Bennington County together for community service opportunities, local events, weekly gatherings, and skill-building activities. Funds raised at the UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash will support the group’s weekly meetings and events throughout the year, including the annual UCS Bennington Youth Summit, a free opportunity open to Vermont teens.

“Teens for Change represents the best of what community investment can look like—empowering young people to lead, connect, and support one another,” says UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash Race Director Joel Stark.

The 2024 UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash raised $2500 for Teens4Change. UCS thanks Invincible level sponsor, Heritage Family Credit Union, for helping to make this special event possible and for presenting this year’s Kids’ Dash.

2025 event sponsors are Heritage Family Credit Union (Invincible Level), Bennington Banner and Manchester Journal (Caped Crusader Level), The Richards Group (Guardian Level), JK Adams (Guardian Level), Genoa Healthcare, (Aquaman Level), Bennington Rescue Squad (Aquaman Level), Janitronics Facility Services (Aquaman Level), GVH Studio (Defender Level), MSK Engineers (Defender Level), rkMiles (Defender Level), Turning Point Center of Bennington (Defender Level), Northeast Delta Dental (Defender Level), VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Region (Defender Level), Coggins Toyota of Bennington (Champion Level), SaVida Health (Champion Level), Taconic Music (Champion Level), and Hill & Thompson (Champion Level).

The 2026 UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash will take place on Saturday, November 7, and sponsorship opportunities are available at ucsvt.org/events. This year’s event will benefit Chickens for Change, a program of UCS that provides an opportunity for elementary through high school-age youth to raise, care for, and sell chickens and eggs in order to promote business, social, and life skills. Registration for the 2026 UCS Superhero 5K and Kids’ Dash opens May 1 at ucsvt.org/events.

“We are so excited for our 9^th annual race to be held on November 7,” says Heidi French, Director of Community Relations and Development for UCS. “Every year the race gets bigger and better. It is truly a community event that would not be possible without the continued support from the Town of Bennington, the Bennington Police Department, the Bennington Rescue Squad, and the Berkshire Family YMCA.”