At David Smith Law Firm, PLLC, our commitment to service extends beyond our work in the courtroom. We believe businesses can make a meaningful contribution by supporting people and organizations that create opportunities for others. In that spirit, our firm made a donation to New York Road Runners (NYRR) in support of Neha Smith’s fundraising efforts connected with her participation in the New York City Marathon.

Neha ran in a milestone edition of the marathon celebrating the 50th anniversary of its five-borough course. Her participation brought together an ambitious personal challenge and an opportunity to support a nonprofit whose work reaches far beyond a single race. We were proud to contribute to her fundraising efforts and help support NYRR’s mission of bringing the benefits of running and movement to more people.

A Historic Marathon With a Purpose Beyond Race Day

The New York City Marathon is a 26.2-mile journey through Staten Island, Brooklyn, Queens, the Bronx, and Manhattan. In 2026, the race celebrated 50 years since the marathon first traveled through all five boroughs in 1976. That expansion helped make the event a shared experience across the city’s neighborhoods, connecting runners and spectators through a course that showcases the communities along the way.

For Neha, participating in this anniversary race also provided a platform for charitable fundraising. A marathon gives supporters a concrete goal to rally around: one runner taking on a demanding distance while inviting others to contribute to a larger cause. By making a donation to NYRR, David Smith Law Firm, PLLC helped sponsor that fundraising effort and supported the organization behind the event.

We celebrate both parts of Neha’s undertaking. Running a marathon is a substantial achievement in its own right. Using that effort to raise support for a nonprofit adds another dimension, connecting an individual accomplishment with opportunities that can benefit other people.

Understanding New York Road Runners’ Mission

New York Road Runners is a New York City–based nonprofit organization. Its vision centers on healthier lives and stronger communities through running. Its mission focuses on improving community health and well-being by making running experiences inclusive and accessible, helping people realize their potential.

That mission gives context to NYRR’s work beyond organizing prominent races. Through free youth activities, neighborhood programs, and opportunities for people of different ages and abilities to participate, NYRR works to make movement part of everyday community life. Someone does not need to be preparing for a marathon to have a place in that mission.

This approach matters because the opportunity to participate can be as important as the motivation to begin. A welcoming program, an accessible activity, or a regular gathering can give someone a practical starting point. We value charitable work that helps create those starting points and encourages people to take the next step at their own pace.

Helping Children Build Skills and Confidence

One example of NYRR’s mission in action is Rising New York Road Runners, its free running-based youth program. The program serves children across the country through schools, after-school programs, and community centers. It gives educators and other adults resources to make physical activity engaging and appropriate for different ages and abilities.

NYRR describes the program’s goal in terms of helping young people develop the skills, confidence, and desire to remain active throughout their lives. Its resources include activities, lesson plans, and instructional videos that help adults introduce movement in ways children can enjoy.

We appreciate that emphasis on learning and participation. A child’s experience with physical activity should leave room for discovery, gradual improvement, and enjoyment. The value of an opportunity like this can include the simple experience of trying something unfamiliar, practicing a skill, and feeling encouraged to return.

These youth initiatives illustrate the broader charitable mission that made Neha’s fundraising meaningful to our firm. Our donation supported NYRR’s work; the programs described here show the kinds of opportunities the organization creates.

Making Room for Community Participation

NYRR’s outreach also includes Open Run, a program offering free, weekly community-led runs and walks in neighborhood parks across the greater New York City area. Participants of different ages, abilities, and experience levels are welcome. The program offers a recurring opportunity to get outside, move, and take part in a neighborhood activity.

A regular community event can make getting started feel more manageable. For someone who has never joined a running group, knowing that walkers and beginners are welcome may make the difference between watching from the sidelines and participating. For someone who already enjoys running, it offers a way to share that interest with neighbors.

We see value in that welcoming approach. Community participation often begins with an invitation and a setting where people feel comfortable showing up. NYRR’s free programs reflect a commitment to creating those opportunities alongside its major racing events.

Why Our Firm Chose to Contribute

David Smith Law Firm, PLLC’s donation was a way to support a mission we respect. Neha’s marathon participation gave our firm a personal connection to NYRR and an opportunity to learn more about the nonprofit’s wider work.

As a Houston criminal defense law firm, our daily work centers on people facing difficult circumstances and consequential decisions. Our charitable giving is another way to put our values into practice. We welcome opportunities to support organizations that emphasize participation, opportunity, and respect for people at different stages of their lives.

We Do Well by Doing Good

Our firm’s motto, “We do well by doing good,” expresses a principle we want reflected in our actions. Supporting New York Road Runners was one opportunity to act on that principle through a concrete contribution.

We congratulate Neha on her marathon accomplishment and thank everyone who supported her fundraising. We also recognize the people who make NYRR’s work possible, including its staff, volunteers, donors, educators, and community participants. Their efforts give the organization’s mission a place in everyday life beyond marathon weekend.

To learn more about New York Road Runners, explore its mission, programs, and ways to get involved at www.nyrr.org/about/about-nyrr. Whether through a donation, volunteering, or joining an activity, supporting a nonprofit can begin with one practical step. We are glad our firm could take that step alongside Neha and help support a cause that brings people together.