Buffalo City Comptroller Mark Schroeder, South District Representative on the Buffalo Common Council Mickey Kearns, Erie County Legislator District 7 Pat Burke, Honoree Barb Fitzgerald '78, Honoree John Glose Jr., Honoree Jeff Conrad and Co-organizer of MMA5K Erik Bohen

On Friday, June 13, 2014, Mount Mercy Academy will hold its annual MMA5K to raise money for the Alumnae Scholarship Fund. The race starts promptly at 6:30pm in Cazenovia Park before the bridge, by the soccer field. Students receive a reduced entry fee of only $16 (until 12th grade) and adults can register for $18 or $20 on the day of the race.

After the 5K, Mount Mercy Academy opens the Grotto behind the school to the racers and additional supporters. Entry to this party is included in the race registration fee. Non-racers are invited for only $10. Connors Hotdogs will be grilling and music by The Stonebridge Band.

The Honorees for the 2014 MMA5K are Jeff Conrad, Barb Fitzgerald '78 and John Glose Jr.

Jeff Conrad
Jeffrey M. Conrad is a lifelong resident of Buffalo and first became involved in community service at the age of 19 when he joined the Connors-Kait-Harrity Race Committee. His work brought him to help start the Jack's 5K, which was named after legendary Mount Mercy Academy coach Jack Donohue. Jeff would eventually Chair the Jack's 5k until 2008 and coach both cross county and track for Mercy until 2012. Jeff has been a committee member of the MMA 5K since it's inception in 2009.

In 2008 Jeff was awarded the Tom Sands Community Service Award and the Goin' South Civic Pride Award for his work with Mercy, Bishop Timon and his on numerous other community events. He is currently the Western New York Regional Director for the Center for Employment Opportunities, which assists individuals on parole and probation find employment, and the Chair of the Erie County Legislature's Safe Neighborhood Committee. Jeff holds a bachelors degree in Business Management from SUNY Empire State College and will graduate with his Master's in Public Administration in Spring 2015 from Buffalo State College. He is married to Lisa (Nasca) Conrad, and they have two children Jeffrey and Giada.

Barb Fitzgerald '78
A proud member of the Mercy class of 1978, Barb Kelleher Fitzgerald resides in South Buffalo with her husband Barry. Her greatest accomplishments in life are her three children Barry Jr., Kevin, and Mary Kate '14.

Barb has been a teacher for over 30 years . She began her career at St. Thomas Aquinas school. For the past 22 years she has been employed by Buffalo Public Schools as a Pre-K and Kindergarten teacher at Hamlin Park School#74. She was awarded the Educator of the Year Award from the Hamlin Park Taxpayers Association for her dedicated commitment to the children she serves.

As a trustee for St. Thomas Aquinas Parish, Barb and Barry were awarded the St. Joseph the Worker Award for outstanding service to the parish community. Barb was a past president of the St. Thomas Aquinas Home School Association, Bishop Timon-St. Jude Parent Guild, Mount Mercy Academy Parent Guild and an active member of the Notre Dame Academy Parent Guild and Sports Committee. She has volunteered as a coach for St. Thomas Aquinas and Notre Dame Academy as well as South Buffalo Soccer Association. In addition she served on the Mount Mercy Academy Alumnae Board and was a past president of Mercy League of Mercy Hospital. Barb is a founding member of the Women's Conclave, a discussion group, designed to empower women to handle the challenges of life. In her spare time Barb volunteers at many community events and enjoys the company of her family and friends.

Barb credits her commitment to community service to the example of her parents, Patrick and Barb Massett Kelleher '51 and her late aunt Sister Mary Annunciata Kelleher RSM '43.

John Glose Jr.
John is a Physical Education and Health teacher for Erie II BOCES Baker Road Alternative High School and Head Coach of the varsity soccer, basketball and tennis teams at Mount Mercy Academy. For the last two years, while coaching basketball at Mount Mercy, John implemented the Wounded Warrior Game to raise awareness of the sacrifices of members of the armed forces and has raised over $5,000 for the Wounded Warrior Project Foundation. John is a committed volunteer coach as well. He coaches a travel soccer team for the South Buffalo Soccer Club and coaches Mercy basketball teams in multiple summer leagues every year. For the last three years John has run the Councilman Chris Scanlon Summer Basketball and Soccer Camps as a community outreach program for South Buffalo boys and girls ages 8-15. He also coaches AAU girl's basketball for the Buffalo Titans, which gives basketball players at Mercy an opportunity to play against the best competition in Western New York and gain exposure to college coaches.

Five years ago John founded the Goodwill Transition Basketball League that gives the students at his alternative high school and other alternative high schools a chance to play on a school basketball team and learn the life lessons that team sports can teach them.

John has been a sports enthusiast ever since his years at Our Lady of Sacred Heart grammar school where he was recognized for his excellence and many athletic accomplishments by being inducted into their Sports Hall of Fame in 2010. John continued his athletic achievements at Bishop Timon-St. Jude high school where he was a five sport athlete earning 1st Team All Catholic Honors in soccer, volleyball, and track. After graduating from Timon in 2000 John attended SUNY at Brockport and played soccer for two years. John went on to Canisius College and obtained a Bachelor's Degree in 2005 and a Masters degree in 2010 in Physical Education and Health Education. John continues to be very active playing in basketball, soccer, kickball, football, and volleyball leagues. He also is an avid runner and participates in many road races across WNY.

 He is totally dedicated to helping students and athletes develop their full potential in sports, in academics and in life. He promotes excellence in all aspects of life, expecting sportsmanship, a strong work ethic, community service and a commitment to education from his team members. John is especially proud of the accomplishments of the 2014 Mercy Basketball Team who won the Monsignor Martin Basketball Championship and the New York State Catholic Championship.

Pick-up your race packet on Thursday, June 12, 6:30pm - 8:00pm or Friday, June 13, 5:00pm - 6:15pm at Mount Mercy Academy at Door #6 by the parking lot on Red Jacket Parkway. If you have any questions please contact Leanne Maloney '05, Special Events Manager at (716) 825-8796 ext. 306 or email her at lmaloney@mtmercy.org.

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