Gounardes raises more than $9,500 in marathon

Bay Ridge runner to donate money to St. Basil Academy

November 10, 2016 By Paula Katinas Brooklyn Daily Eagle

Andrew Gounardes finished his first New York City Marathon in 4 hours and 18 minutes. Photo courtesy of Gounardes

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Bay Ridge runner Andrew Gounardes was a man on a mission when it came to the New York City Marathon on Nov. 6.

Gounardes set two goals: one, to finish the race and two, to use the 26.2-mile run to raise money for St. Basil Academy, a private boarding school for Greek Orthodox children in upstate New York.

He accomplished both of his goals.

Gounardes, who was running in his first marathon that day, completed the five-borough course in 4 hours and 18 minutes. And he also proved to be a successful fundraiser.

“Overall, I’ve raised just over $9,500 for Saint Basil Academy, and with a few more outstanding pledges still coming in, I think I just might hit $10,000,” he told the Brooklyn Eagle in an email.

Gounardes, a Greek American, wore a bandana bearing the Greek flag during his run.

He decided to dedicate different parts of his first marathon to different people. During the first five miles, for example, he was thinking of friends and supporters. “These first five miles are dedicated to everyone who has supported my fundraising goal throughout this entire process,” he wrote in a Facebook post.

The last five miles were dedicated to the students of St. Basil Academy. “The mission of the academy is simple: to provide shelter, protection, love, and education to these children so they grow up to have every chance of success in life,” Gounardes wrote.

Gounardes serves as chief counsel to Borough President Eric Adams.

The marathoner said St. Basil Academy holds a special place in his heart.

“As a young Cub Scout, and later a Boy Scout, I spent many nights camping on the academy grounds, exploring the campus and making friends with the children who lived there. For my Eagle Scout project, I decided to embark on a 10-month-long project to reorganize and modernize the library located on the grounds,” Gounardes told his Facebook friends.

His father, Dr. Steven Gounardes, a Bay Ridge dentist, served as president of the academy for 10 years.