Our Story

Community Strong Festival Fundraising Campaign

After a successful first year event, we are pleased to announce the second annual Community Strong Race Weekend will take place on June 24 & 25th.  This event is designed to raise desperately needed funds and bring awareness to physical and mental health issues.

 In the summer of 2010, Sonny Spina, Gail Provenzano and the Provenzano family met when Gail’s son, 15-year-old Brett lost his life after a brief struggle with his own mental health. Sonny, one of the responding police officers at the time, became instantly and forever connected with Gail and the Provenzano family.

Sonny and Gail both instantly recognized the need to help children and families in our community struggling with mental health issues. Sonny, went on to become the chair of the Algoma Family Services (AFS) Foundation dedicating his time to finding ways to directly support youth mental health services in Sault Ste. Marie. Seeing the same needs, Gail went on to help youth by sharing her story, engaging families and finding support for herself through Sault Ste. Marie’s running community.

Sonny and Gail have always remained connected and just over 10 years later, Gail reached out to Sonny. She shared how running has provided her support and the mental health break she needed to help deal with the loss of Brett. Gail wanted to find a way to celebrate Brett’s life, give back to the community and reach other kids who may be struggling to let them know where and how to find help. Knowing the direct link between mental health and physical health, the two worked together to create a marathon event in the memory of Brett.

With the help of the Sault running community, the very first Sault Ste. Marie Marathon in memory of Brett Provenzano was held in the summer of 2021. This was a small intimate event held on June 26th. The event helped the Provenzano family turn a sad day that reminded them of the loss of Brett, into a day that instead celebrates his life and helps to support other youth and families to find the help they need when they are struggling.

Early in 2022, Gail, Sonny and the AFS Foundation joined with the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA to bring our city the Sault Ste. Marie the Community Strong Race Weekend. An event not only to celebrate the lives of those lost, but to engage our community, link the benefits of physical and mental health and raise much-needed funds to help those still struggling. The first Community Strong Festival was held on June 25 & 26th, 2022.  All monies collected remain local and are shared equally between the AFS Foundation and the Sault Ste. Marie YMCA.

Research has proven that early intervention and treatment are critical to providing a hopeful and healthy future for all of our community's children. Every year in Sault Ste. Marie and the Algoma district there are thousands of children who struggle with their mental health and can't access basic recreation.

On behalf of our infants, children, youth, adults, and families who will be touched by your generosity, thank you for your time, attention and consideration of this request. With your support, we can continue to inspire hope and wellness and build strong communities. We hope you will join us on this journey.