Running For Equality – University of Maryland Athletics

The Maryland men’s and women’s soccer programs came together Saturday, Feb. 10 to host the 4th annual Maryland Soccer/VOYCENOW Run for Equality in College Park

The event, a 5K run held at Ludwig Field, was held to bring awareness for a fundraiser as the programs attempt to raise $10,000 for youth programming throughout the DMV area. Donations to the fundraiser will support the children of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in the greater Washington D.C. area and Annapolis/Anne Arundel County, the Prince George’s County Boys and Girls Clubs and the Cherry Hill district of Baltimore.

Since the inception of the Run for Equality, Maryland Soccer and VOYCENOW have raised over $31,000 to support local students. 

VOYCENOW, founded by Maryland soccer alumni Zack Steffen and Alex Crognale, aims to provide underprivileged families and children both educational and athletic opportunities, regardless of one’s background or demographic. VOYCENOW has raised over $200,000 in its efforts to achieve its objective since the organization’s inception in 2020. 

Maryland men’s soccer head coach Sasho Cirovski conceptualized the event in 2020 following historic civil rights protests across the U.S. and globe. The Terps’ Hall of Fame head coach wanted his program to do more than just talk about institutional inequality, and instead take some type substantive action to help solve it. 

He found the perfect partners to help him in the form of his former charges, Steffen and Crognale, and their newly formed organization. 

The former Maryland roommates and teammates wanted to use their platforms as professional athletes for change after the controversy of George Floyd’s death, and subsequently started VOYCENOW, which has worked with athletes all over the world to combat inequality amongst youth in communities. The partnership with their former head coach was perfect. 

Cirovski was emotional when discussing the impact the initiative has had on his program.

“It means everything to be a part of this cause. When we came up with this idea, we wanted to do something more than a statement or a tweet. We wanted to make a real impact on our community. I’m so proud of the work we’ve done with Zack, Alex and VOYCENOW. To have this extend throughout our Maryland soccer family is truly amazing.”