News

The Shamrock Shuffle finds a new home at EDGE Teen Center

After fifteen years, a local tradition is getting a new home. The Shamrock Shuffle, a charitable event featuring a 5k/10k Race and Community Block Party, will transition from the Northern Cincinnati Foundation to EDGE Teen Center over the next year, with the inaugural EDGE Shamrock Shuffle event to be held in March 2024.

“We are thrilled to pass The Shamrock Shuffle on to EDGE,” said Erin Clemons, Northern Cincinnati Foundation president & CEO. “The event has a long history in this area, and we are confident Sara and her team at EDGE will carry it forward with great success.”

The Shamrock Shuffle hosts 3000-5000 participants annually at The Square @ Union Centre in West Chester, raising upwards of $65,000 each year.

Since its inception, proceeds from The Shamrock Shuffle have helped fund the Foundation’s operations as well as grants to local nonprofits and participating Charity Teams.  Recent growth and a shift in focus has allowed the Northern Cincinnati Foundation to become self-sustaining and carry out their mission without the need for annual fundraising efforts, according to Clemons.

After a scaled-back Shuffle in September 2021, following a two-year pandemic hiatus, the Foundation made the decision to seek an alternative home for the event with a local non-profit organization.

“The Shamrock Shuffle has been a great event for us and the whole community, and we knew it could continue to make a positive impact going forward,” said Clemons. “We were seeking an organization with whom we’ve had a longstanding relationship, who was focused on sustainability, and who we knew would use the event to make tangible difference in the community. EDGE Teen Center was the perfect fit.”

While The Shamrock Shuffle won’t be back in 2023, planning efforts at EDGE are already underway for a bigger and better event in 2024. Participants can expect the event to run much the same way it has in recent years, including the popular Shuffle Gives Back Charity Team program that allows participants to create teams and raise funds for their own causes with a portion of each team member registration.

"Creating a spirit of volunteerism and community service is at the core of what we teach teens at EDGE,” said Sara Gabbard, EDGE Executive Director.  “We are excited to support so many of our non-profit partners through charity teams.  With an event like the Shamrock Shuffle, the whole community wins."

In addition to supporting the local nonprofit community with Shuffle Gives Back, proceeds from the event going forward will support EDGE Teen Center’s mission to empower local teens to impact the world, and will help fund existing programs as well as future growth.

More information about The Shamrock Shuffle 2024 will be available in the coming months, for both participants and those interested in sponsoring the event.

"We are so thankful for the opportunity to continue the tradition of The Shamrock Shuffle,” said Gabbard. “We are excitedly planning for 2024!”

To learn more about EDGE Teen Center, visit https://edgeteencenter.com/.