MSHEF expands marathon fundraising to Philadelphia, returns to New York City

The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation is a charity partner for the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for a third straight year and will join Philadelphia Marathon Weekend for the first time. The campaign will fund Holocaust education nationwide, with first-time marathoner Jared Fiske running in honor of his family’s history.

Why it matters: - MSHEF is using two major marathon weekends to raise money for Holocaust education in schools nationwide. - The foundation says the funding helps fill gaps in states where Holocaust education is required but not fully funded. - Team MSHEF’s effort also ties fundraising to personal family history, which can deepen public engagement with the cause.

What happened: - The Mark Schonwetter Holocaust Education Foundation announced it will be an official charity partner of the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon for the third consecutive year. - MSHEF will also be a charity partner for the 2026 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend for the first time. - The foundation said Team MSHEF will include 17 runners across the two events. - First-time marathoner Jared Fiske, a Tribe NIL All-American and Scholar All-American Athlete, is running for Team MSHEF. - Fiske is the grandson of Holocaust survivor Mark Schonwetter, whose story helped inspire the foundation.

The details: - MSHEF says runners and supporters will raise funds to expand access to Holocaust education nationwide. - Ann Arnold, MSHEF co-founder, said the marathon partnerships are transformational for the foundation. - Arnold said each Team MSHEF runner advances the foundation’s mission of honoring Holocaust survivors and teaching students empathy, courage, and opposition to hate. - Fiske said running his first marathon for MSHEF feels like a full-circle moment for his family. - Fiske’s great-grandfather, Israel, was murdered by the Nazis on August 12, 1942. - Fiske was born on August 12, 2004, exactly 62 years later. - Since launching its Holocaust Education Grant Program in 2020, MSHEF says it has funded educators in 42 states and reached more than 253,000 students. - MSHEF says Holocaust education is not legally mandated in every state, and funding is often unavailable even where mandates exist. - The foundation says applications for Holocaust education grants are up 800% since 2020. - MSHEF’s grants support educator funding, field trips to Holocaust museums, classroom materials, and guest presentations by Holocaust survivors.

Between the lines: - The expansion from one marathon market to two suggests MSHEF is broadening both its fundraising base and its public visibility. - Fiske’s personal connection gives the campaign a human narrative that could help the foundation stand out in a crowded charity-racing field. - The surge in grant applications signals stronger demand for Holocaust education support at a time of continued concern about hate and misinformation.

What's next: - Team MSHEF runners will compete at the 2026 TCS New York City Marathon and the 2026 Philadelphia Marathon Weekend. - Supporters can follow and back the team as fundraising continues for Holocaust education programs. - More information is available at MSHEF’s website.

The bottom line: - MSHEF is turning marathon season into a national fundraising push for Holocaust education, with a first-time runner and survivor family story at the center of the campaign.