Hope Starts Here 5K
Presented by Fraternal Order of Police – Jacksonville
- May 23rd, 2026 at 8am
Join us for the 5th Annual Hope Starts Here 5K, a community run and walk welcoming participants of all ages and abilities to experience Jacksonville in motion, and make a meaningful impact along the way.
Hosted at Operation New Hope’s historic Springfield headquarters, this scenic course weaves through one of the city’s most iconic neighborhoods and incorporates portions of the Emerald Trail. Whether you’re racing for a personal best or enjoying a walk with friends and family, this is a race rooted in purpose.
Proceeds from the event directly benefit Operation New Hope, Florida’s Statewide Reentry Network and a trusted Jacksonville nonprofit that has worked since 1999 to help people impacted by incarceration achieve long-term stability and success. Through workforce training, employment placement, mental health services, and community violence intervention initiatives, Operation New Hope helps individuals reconnect to work, family, and community — creating pathways to lasting change.
Funds raised from the Hope Starts Here 5K support these life-changing programs and help expand opportunity across Florida.
“Operation New Hope was a turning point for me. They taught me how to show up professionally, believe in myself, and start building a future I once thought was out of reach. When I came into the program, I was rebuilding my life from addiction, homelessness, and uncertainty as a new mom. The support, job training, counseling, and encouragement I received helped me gain confidence, stability, and direction. They didn’t see my past — they saw my potential. Today, I have a career I’m proud of, a stable home for my son, and goals for the future. Operation New Hope helped me move from simply surviving to truly living, and I’m proof that with the right support, hope really can change everything.”
Brooke’s story is one of more than 20,000 justice-impacted Floridians supported by Operation New Hope over the past 27 years. Your participation helps make continued access to support, training, and opportunity possible for others rebuilding their lives after incarceration.
Sponsoring the Hope Starts Here 5K is more than supporting a race, it’s a visible commitment to second chances, workforce development, and community well-being.
Sponsors gain meaningful exposure while helping break cycles of incarceration and poverty. We anticipate welcoming 450+ socially conscious runners, families, and supporters on race day, and promoting the event across 30,000+ contacts through email, web, and social platforms.
This is your opportunity to show Jacksonville that your organization values purpose-driven impact and believes second chances strengthen our community.
Gain in-person and digital visibility with a highly engaged audience.
For sponsorship questions, please contact Marketing & Communications Manager Korey McDougald at kmcdougald@operationnewhope.org.
The Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) – Jacksonville
We are proud to partner with the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) as the title sponsor of this year’s Hope Starts Here 5K. Founded in 1915, the FOP has grown into the largest professional law enforcement organization in the United States, representing more than 325,000 members nationwide. Locally, Jacksonville’s FOP Lodge 5-30 represents over 3,000 active and retired officers and is one of the largest lodges in the country. With a strong commitment to supporting both their members and the broader community, the FOP plays an important role in advancing initiatives that enhance public safety, strengthen communities, and improve quality of life across Duval County.
We are grateful to our sponsors across the Jacksonville community and our partner organizations who have made this year’s event possible, including Florida Capital Bank, All Construction Group of North Florida, Inc., Springfield Preservation and Revitalization (SPAR), Local Initiatives Support Coalition (LISC) Jacksonville, Exercise is Medicine On Campus at UNF, and 1st Place Sports, who help bring this event to life.
Each of these organizations is a champion of second chances, demonstrating a shared commitment to strengthening Jacksonville by supporting pathways to opportunity, stability, and hope.
