Oct 4, 2026
Friends of Montfort Walk-A-Thon 2026
Schools, families, and individuals are all welcome. Register first, then collect sponsorships and pledges from your community before walk day. Every dollar you raise supports deaf and deaf-blind children at Institut Montfort in Haiti.
Two organizations, one mission — giving Haiti's deaf children a voice.
"We are their voices."
Institut Montfort, founded in 1957, is Haiti's school for deaf and deaf-blind children. For nearly seven decades, generations of students have learned to read, sign, connect with one another, and build brighter futures there.
Friends of Montfort, founded in 1995, is the U.S. nonprofit that raises support for the institute, through fundraising events, donations, and community outreach. Now, you can help make a difference. Every walker and every pledge brings new opportunity to a child who deserves to be heard.
Institut Montfort · Educating deaf children since 1957
Friends of Montfort · Supporting the mission since 1995
Three steps to walk with purpose
Every participant follows the same path: register, collect sponsorships and pledges, then walk on Oct 4, 2026. This applies whether you are bringing a school, a family, or walking on your own.
Register
Sign up your school, gather a team, or register as an individual or family. Registration is $20 for children (10 to 17) and $40 for adults. Children under 10 walk free.
Collect pledges
After you register, collect pledges and sponsorships from family, friends, neighbors, and your community before walk day.
Walk together
Join us at Hempstead Lake State Park for the 5K. Every dollar raised by Friends of Montfort goes directly to Institut Montfort.
Everything you need for walk day
Sunday, October 4, 2026 · Hempstead Lake State Park, West Hempstead, NY
Day-of schedule
Check-in opens
Arrive early to check in your team, pick up materials, and warm up together.
Welcome & opening
A few words from Friends of Montfort and a group photo before we step off.
The 5K begins
Walk the course together around beautiful Hempstead Lake.
Celebrate
Cheer on every walker as they cross the finish and celebrate what we raised together.
Good to know
A few notes to help your team prepare for a great day.
- Wear comfortable shoes and dress for the weather.
- Bring water and your collected pledges.
- We encourage schools to organize group transportation.
- Family and friends are welcome to cheer you on.
Bring your school to the walk
Teachers and administrators can register a school group, coordinate pledge collection, and walk together on Oct 4, 2026.
How it works for schools
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1
Register your school
A teacher or administrator submits the school registration form below to sign up the group.
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2
Designate a coordinator
Choose a point person to communicate with organizers and manage your school's participation.
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3
Distribute pledge sheets
After registering, the coordinator receives pledge sheets and distributes them to participating students.
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4
Students collect sponsorships
Students ask family, friends, and community members to sponsor their walk before event day.
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5
Organize transportation
Plan group transportation to Hempstead Lake State Park so your whole team arrives together.
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6
Walk and bring pledges
On walk day, your school checks in, walks the 5K together, and turns in collected pledges.
What your school receives
- Pledge sheets for participating students
- Team resources and walk-day materials
- Follow-up from a walk-a-thon organizer with next steps
- 100% of funds raised support Institut Montfort
School & Team Registration
Tell us about your school or team and we will be in touch with everything you need.
Can't walk?
Help Institut Montfort now!
Every gift to Friends of Montfort goes directly to Institut Montfort — educational resources, communication tools, and opportunity for deaf and deaf-blind children in Haiti.
Your gift becomes a voice
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Educational resources
Books, classroom materials, and learning tools for students at Institut Montfort.
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Communication tools
The means for deaf and deaf-blind children to connect, sign, and be understood.
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Lasting opportunity
Brighter futures at Institut Montfort — built one student and one walk at a time since 1957.
Common questions
Registration is $20 for children ages 10 to 17 and $40 for adults. Children under 10 are free but must be accompanied by a registered adult. Participants then collect pledges and sponsorships for their walk ahead of the event.
All funds raised by Friends of Montfort go directly to Institut Montfort and its students in Haiti, providing educational resources, communication tools, and opportunities for deaf and deaf-blind children at the school, which has served the community since 1957.
Check-in begins at 8:30 AM and the 5K starts at 10:00 AM. We recommend arriving early so your team can check in and warm up together.
The walk takes place at Hempstead Lake State Park in West Hempstead, NY. Schools often organize group transportation. Individuals and families can drive or carpool using the map in Event Details.
Absolutely. Individuals and families are welcome. Use the individual registration page to sign up, or see the step-by-step guide on the How to Register page. Then collect pledges from your community and walk with us on Oct 4, 2026.
You can sponsor a walker or make a direct donation. Every gift supports Institut Montfort's students. Visit the Donate section above or friendsofmontfort.org.
Questions? Get in touch
To register or for more information about the walk-a-thon, email us anytime.
info@walkformontfort.org