Employees Race to Make a Difference as Florida Crystals Proudly Sponsors Annual Bridge the Gap 5K

Employees Race to Make a Difference as Florida Crystals Proudly Sponsors Annual Bridge the Gap 5K

Blog Article02/25/2025

We had an amazing turnout as more than 70 employees laced up their running shoes and joined us at the Bridge the Gap 5K in Riviera Beach, Florida. As the presenting sponsor, Florida Crystals continued our commitment to education with proceeds going to fund full college scholarships for low-income and at-risk students from Take Stock in Children (TSIC) of Palm Beach County.

Through our longstanding partnership with TSIC, we have helped fund mentoring and full college scholarships for hundreds of students from the Glades communities, offering them a pathway to academic success and bright futures.

For many participants, the event was about more than just crossing the finish line. It was an opportunity to connect with colleagues, give back and inspire future generations.

"After finishing the 5K last year, I spoke with the TSIC team and signed up as a mentor,” said Zvonko Cindrich Varas, Packaging Engineer at the Okeelanta Distribution Center. “It’s been a very rewarding experience in which I’ve been able to support a sophomore student in Palm Beach Central High School by helping him build confidence and guiding him through goal setting towards academic and personal accomplishments."

Beyond supporting a great cause, the event also sparked friendly competition among employees.

"I believe this is the fifth one I have run now, and it’s always a challenging but rewarding experience,” said Shane Byers, Sr. Fleet Manager. “My colleague Daniel Cavazos and I push each other each year. It’s a friendly rivalry! This year, he beat me by about 15 seconds, but we both finished strong, placing 17th and 19th out of 778 runners. I even improved my time by 26 seconds from last year so, not to brag, but I was pretty impressed!"

The Bridge the Gap 5K remains a fun event employees look forward to each year, providing a way to stay active, connect with coworkers from across South Florida and, most importantly, make a lasting impact on students in our community.