Thousands Expected for Autism Awareness Fundraiser in Sea Isle City on Feb. 15

Already, people from as far away as Colorado have signed up to participate in an event that has raised more than $1 million for autism-related programs and causes during its history.

The Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism annually attracts thousands of participants and spectators to Sea Isle City during the Presidents Day weekend.

Now in its 17th year, the event will be held on Saturday, Feb. 15, starting at noon on the oceanfront Promenade and includes a five-kilometer run and one-mile family fun walk.

The fundraiser traditionally benefits autism support groups, special services schools and families of special needs children.

“Any day you can do something for children with disabilities is a good day,” said Mike’s Seafood owner Mike Monichetti, who organizes the event with his wife, Jeannie.

    More than 4,000 participants and spectators are expected for the Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism.
  

Optimistic for another big turnout, Monichetti is hoping to exceed the 1,800 participants in 2024. The number of spectators boosted the total turnout to about 4,500 people last year.

With still two weeks to go before the event, 857 people have already signed up, a sizeable jump over the 547 people who had signed up by this time last year.

“We’re more than two weeks out and we already have 857 people sign up. We’ve never had that many people sign up at this time before,” Monichetti said in an interview Thursday.

He noted that nearly 50 percent of the sign-ups are people who have not participated in the fundraiser before, suggesting that the turnout could be significantly higher than in previous years.

People from as far away as Colorado, South Carolina and West Virginia are among the sign-ups, said Kevin Capone, who manages the seafood market at Mike’s Seafood & Dock Restaurant and serves as organizer of the run-walk fundraiser.

    Mike Monichetti, right, owner of Mike's Seafood & Dock Restaurant, is joined by event organizer Kevin Capone while sitting in front of a banner promoting the autism awareness fundraiser.
  

Monichetti has invited Gov. Phil Murphy and his wife, Tammy, to attend. The governor and his wife participated in the event’s 5K run in 2020.

The run attracted another big-name participant in 2024, when former Eagles All-Pro and Pro-Bowl center Jason Kelce made a surprise appearance with his wife, Kylie. The Kelces own a vacation home in Sea Isle and are often seen around town in the summer.

“I am hoping that Jason and Kylie Kelce would be able to join us, just like they did last year,” Monichetti said.

Jason Kelce’s appearance in the run generated loads of national and international publicity for the fundraiser, including coverage from media outlets from Los Angeles to London. NFL News was part of the coverage.

“You know what I call it? The Jason Kelce effect,” Monichetti said.

Capone said there were more than 50 million views of Kelce’s participation in the run on social media, including Facebook, Instagram and X, formerly known as Twitter.

Promoting autism awareness has also been a major effort by Kelce. For four years in a row, he has appeared as a celebrity bartender at the Ocean Drive bar and sister property O’Donnell’s Pour House in Sea Isle each June to raise money for his “Team 62” campaign. Team 62 is part of the Eagles Autism Challenge, an annual fundraiser for the Eagles Autism Foundation.

    Jason Kelce is greeted by cheers from his fans while running on the Promenade in the Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism on Feb. 17, 2024. (Photo courtesy of Mike's Seafood Facebook page)
  

Monichetti is not counting on star power alone to promote the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism. Social media, email blasts and thousands of flyers distributed throughout South Jersey are all part of the publicity campaign.

Over its history, the run-walk has raised more than $1 million for autism-related causes. Monichetti has established a broad network of supporters over the years, including private donors, city officials, the business community, corporations, schools, churches, civic organizations, autism groups and many others. Each year, Monichetti is touched by their generosity.

“The rewards of this event, you can’t put a price on it,” he said.

As he does every year, Monichetti extended his thanks to Mayor Leonard Desiderio and other Sea Isle officials for helping to make the fundraiser a success.

“I’m very grateful to the city, the mayor, the police department, Public Works, the fire department and emergency medical services for their outstanding work they do to make sure this event runs smoothly,” he said.

Following the run and walk, an awards ceremony and after-party featuring food and family-friendly entertainment are planned in large, heated tents in Excursion Park next to the Promenade at John F. Kennedy Boulevard. Entertainment will include a Mummers string band from Philadelphia.

The run-walk will serve as the centerpiece of Sea Isle’s Presidents Day celebration, a time when thousands of visitors traditionally head to the shore for a winter getaway weekend of shopping, dining and family-friendly activities.

For additional information on the Mike’s Seafood Run-Walk for Autism, visit Mike's Seafood Run/Walk.