Purcellville, Virginia – September 20, 2024 – Tree of Life Ministries is excited to announce the inaugural “Race With a Cause” 5K, set for October 19^th at 8:00 AM at Patrick Henry College. The event aims to bring the community together to raise critical funds for Tree of Life’s Shelter Branch, including its transitional housing programs which address the growing housing crisis in Loudoun County. Funds raised from “Race With a Cause” will help Tree of Life continue its vital work, providing shelter and support for families, individuals with special needs, and single women seeking stability and hope amidst current housing challenges.

Since 2020, the population of Loudoun County has surged by 260,000 residents and Tony Howard stated, “new home construction has come nowhere near keeping pace.” Over the past year, both home and rent prices have soared, leaving many families and individuals unable to find affordable housing. Tree of Life Ministries has been pivotal in addressing this challenge, offering transitional housing and pairing residents with mentors for practical and spiritual support, helping them rebuild their lives with stability and hope.

In addition to housing, Tree of Life offers a comprehensive support system that includes mentorship, life skills training, and spiritual guidance to help residents achieve stability and self-sufficiency. This program plays a crucial role in addressing the immediate needs of those affected by the county’s housing crisis while helping them transition to long-term housing solutions. Since its founding in 2008, Tree of Life has made over 200,000 service impacts across Loudoun County and surrounding areas through its five branches: food, lifeskills, shelter, healthcare, and relief. In 2023 alone, over 32,000 of those service impacts were made, reflecting the increased need for support in the community. As housing affordability continues to challenge many, Tree of Life’s work has become more essential than ever.

Unity Power Services is the proud sponsor of this event. Brian Ducharme, the company’s founder, has long envisioned organizing a community 5K to benefit a local cause and decided to collaborate with Tree of Life because of its outstanding community impact. When asked about the race, Ducharme draws from the Bible, “My only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me—Acts 20:24.”

Unity Power Services, known for fostering team unity and community engagement, has generously donated towards the costs of the event which, with the help of other sponsors, will ensure that all proceeds go directly to Tree of Life’s housing program. Susannah Lee, CEO of Tree of Life Ministries, shared her enthusiasm about the partnership: “We have always wanted to host a race, and partnering with Unity Power has made that dream a reality. This event will make a significant difference for those we serve who are struggling with housing insecurity.”

For more information or to register for the race, visit #RACEWITHACAUSE – 5K for Shelter – Tree of Life (tolministries.org).

For media inquiries, please contact: jdelgrande@tolministries.org

Tree of Life was founded in 2008 to reach out to the poor and needy in our community with the love of Jesus Christ. At that time our service area covered only western Loudoun; we moved into N. 21st Street to house our food pantry in 2011. Over the course of the last 15 years, not only have we expanded to serve all of Loudoun County, with offices and food pantries in Leesburg and Sterling, but we have increased our transitional housing opportunities, opened two Gospel Enterprises, SimplyBe Coffee, and The Clothing Closet, and have the support of 40 churches across the county, as well as businesses, local government, and the wider community. Tree of Life has made over 200,000 service impacts across our five branches; food, lifeskills, shelter, healthcare, and relief, with more than 32,000 of those impacts occurring in 2023 – our highest ever.