November 16, 2023: McCarthy-Bush Corporation (McB) will proudly title sponsor the YMCA’s Turkey Trot on Thanksgiving Day for the 36th consecutive year.
The YMCA Turkey Trot has been a Quad City Thanksgiving Day tradition since 1986. Over $2.4-million has been raised and provided to local children, teens, students, families and seniors because of the 65,500 registrations and thousands of volunteers.
In 1987, with shared values of healthy living, social responsibility, and youth development, the YMCA of the Mississippi Valley (previously Scott County YMCA) and McCarthy-Bush joined forces to put on the second annual Turkey Trot, an event that would eventually become the Y’s largest annual fundraiser.
“My grandfather, Jack Bush, was a phenomenal businessman but was also a philanthropist at heart, along with my grandmother Patricia,” said Ben Bush, Director of Sales and Business Development at McB. “He believed in the Y’s mission and took a personal responsibility to move it forward, and he instilled that with my family members and the employees that came after him.”
Jack Bush was the chairman and CEO of McCarthy-Bush from 1985 to 2002 and was honored by the YMCA with the Heritage Award in 2005 and the YMCA Leadership Award in 1996, due to his many years of dedication to the Y’s mission.
This year, employees from McCarthy-Bush will participate in the race and volunteer at water stations along the course.
“McCarthy-Bush’s support has been unwavering,” said Luis Leal, Turkey Trot Race Director and Bettendorf Branch Executive Director. “In 2020, when our race was shut down due to COVID-19, there was no hesitation, Pete Bush called me up and wrote the check which helped us recuperate some of our losses from that year.”
The Turkey Trot course begins on East Fourth Street, heads west to Main, then north past Palmer College and Central High School. The 5k turnaround is just north of Locust St., and the 5-mile course continues around and through Vander Veer Park.
“I want to carry on my grandfather’s legacy and traditions,” said Ben Bush, “The cool part is, the Turkey Trot is a part of so many families’ Thanksgiving Day tradition. We’re just happy to be a part of it.”
For more information and to register for the YMCA McCarthy-Bush Turkey Trot visit: https://www.ymcaimv.org/programs-activities/community-events/