The Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation, based in Medfield, recently received the Olive Branch Award from the 26.2 Foundation. This annual honor recognizes an organization that exemplifies peace and the power of the human spirit. It was presented on April 19, 2026, at the CharityTeams Boston Marathon brunch—a gathering of 43 nonprofits participating in the Boston Athletic Association’s Official Charity Partners Program for the 2026 Boston Marathon.
Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation Executive Director Melissa Bowman attended the event alongside the Foundation’s marathon team. The award was presented by Timothy Kilduff, President of the 26.2 Foundation, along with Dimitri Kyriakides, who traveled from Greece for the Boston Marathon festivities. Presenters praised the Foundation for its commitment to promoting safety awareness for female runners, as well as its broader violence prevention initiatives.
“We are deeply honored to receive this prestigious award from the 26.2 Foundation,” said Bowman. “This recognition affirms our mission to empower women to live boldly and fearlessly, and it strengthens our commitment to advancing safety awareness for all and preventing violence in our communities.”
Kilduff added, "Each year, we are honored to highlight one of the many outstanding charities participating in the Boston Marathon presented by Bank of America charity program, and one that partners with CharityTeams. We have come to know the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation and the remarkable work they do. The Foundation truly embodies the power of the human spirit by honoring Vanessa's memory and inspiring positive change in our community."
The mission of the Vanessa T. Marcotte Foundation is to promote safety awareness and violence prevention through education, community outreach, and personal safety and self-defense training. The organization also supports youth-focused programs addressing the root causes of violence through mentorship and character-building initiatives. The nonprofit organization honors the life and legacy of Vanessa Marcotte, who was tragically killed in 2016 while out for a run in Princeton, Massachusetts. The Foundation is marking its 10th anniversary by celebrating a decade of impact.
The 26.2 Foundation is a nonprofit with community roots in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, and an international reach. Its mission is to advance the global sport of marathoning while harnessing the power of the human spirit and its capacity for good. The organization is currently developing the International Marathon Center, a major project to be built in Hopkinton within a mile of the Boston Marathon start line.
Dimitri Kyriakides—son of 1946 Boston Marathon champion Stylianos Kyriakides—traveled from Greece to Boston to celebrate the 80th anniversary of his father's victory and to participate in the presentation festivities. The Olive Branch award is made from a 24k gold-plated olive branch, hand-picked from the historic plains of Marathon, Greece and symbolizing victory, peace, freedom, and democracy.
Additional information can be found at vtmf.org and 26.2.org.
