A new 5K run hosted by the University of Connecticut Werth Institute will be taking place on Fairfield Way starting at 3:30 p.m. today to raise funds for the institute.
The director of leadership and development at the Werth Institute, Katie Britt, said the event was a product of the Werth Innovators program where student innovators are tasked with increasing student involvement, according to Werth’s website. Britt said the idea came from students on the Werth Innovators Leadership Board.
“We decided having an opportunity for students to have a personal activity tied to the crowdfunding would make it more exciting and meaningful for them,” Britt said about the student’s decision for a 5K. “It was an opportunity to think about how we approach UConn Gives every year.”
UConn Gives is a two-day event lineup of matches and challenges to help UConn find donors and amplify their impact, according to the 2026 campaign page. The 5K will be an annual fundraiser for Werth and give participants free T-shirts to students who commit to getting five donors, according to the Daily Digest.
T-shirts are in a limited quantity and will be given out on a first come-first served basis, Britt said, and the five donor criteria will be based on the honor system. She added that the $50 Amazon gift card awarded to the participant with the most donations will be announced after UConn Gives ends and the data is compiled.
Currently, over 50 participants have signed up for the 5K, Britt said, with the Werth institute expecting to pick up more attendees as people pass by student entrepreneurs who will set up tables during the event to speak about the Werth Innovators Program Application.
Britt said the students and her were contemplating a couple of different names but ultimately chose “Innovation in Motion” to combine the themes of the 5K and innovation with a play on words.
“Watching student innovators in motion at UConn was inspiring,” Britt said about the 5K planning process. “The innovation and motion name was the one that was unanimous because it kind of iterates the fact that innovation is constantly moving, changing and evolving.”
The 5K wasn’t the only idea the students on the Werth Innovators Leadership Board had. Britt said they were also contemplating doing an in-person fundraising event like Werth used to do before COVID-19, but the planners chose the 5K because it drew the most excitement.
Future fundraising plans for the Werth Institute may bring back the in-person fundraising event alongside the 5K, Britt said. She added how it wasn’t only the Werth Innovators Leadership Board involved in the 5K plans, but the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) as well.
The route map was planned in coordination with USG with the 5K lasting from 4-6:00 p.m. after participants complete their free check in on the 5K registration form, Britt said.
Volunteers will help direct those in the 5K, and no roads will be closed because the route is only planned for the sidewalks, Britt said. Either the current 5K or the annual ones in the future may decide to open the roads depending on how many people participate, Britt added.
Britt said that since it is the first 5K, they are still figuring out how to foster the best experience.
“We will definitely adapt in the moment if we need to and figure out how to make it safe for everybody,” Britt said.