A small idea from two students, four years in.
Heart of Gold Foundation is a community-organized effort in Oakland, New Jersey. Every summer we host a charity 5K that raises money for four local causes.
How the race started.
In his junior year of high school, Nico Tucci got a call from his friend Krishan Patel. The idea was simple: combine Nico's running background and knowledge of local routes with the two of them working together to organize something for Oakland.
Nico had competed in cross country and track. Krishan volunteered as an EMT in Oakland. They knew each other as classmates at Indian Hills High School.
The first Heart of Gold 5K was small — roughly twenty participants. It has grown each year since, and 2027 will be the race's fifth annual running.
Year by year.
- 1st Annual23 runners. The first community 5K organized by two local students.
- 2nd Annual68 runners. The Father's Day race date tradition starts here.
- 3rd Annual93 runners. Course refined, upgraded awards, and the first stream of race sponsors.
- 4th Annual (2026)97 runners. Expanded first responder participation and $4,120 donated.
- 5th Annual (2027)Planned for June 20, 2027 in Oakland, NJ.
Where the money goes.
Registration fees, sponsorships, and donations fund the race. After race-related expenses (permits, insurance, timing, printing, medals, and supplies), net proceeds are shared among four Oakland-based organizations.
For confirmed annual totals and a beneficiary-by-beneficiary breakdown, contact the organizers directly.
Oakland Volunteer Fire Department
Volunteer firefighters protecting Oakland homes and families.
Oakland First Aid Squad
Volunteer EMTs providing emergency medical response across town.
Oakland Police Department
Local officers keeping Oakland's neighborhoods safe every day.
Ramapo-Bergen Animal Refuge (RBARI)
A no-kill shelter giving local animals a second chance.
Volunteers make race day.
From setup to registration to timing to awards, race day is powered by neighbors, friends, and volunteers. If you'd like to help — before, during, or after the race — we'd love to hear from you.