2026 Citizens Miles that Matter Award Winner Spotlight Ann Duong

Citizens Miles That Matter is a community-driven platform, launched in partnership with New York Road Runners, that recognizes purpose-driven New Yorkers whose marathon journeys create meaningful impact across their communities. The program celebrates individuals who embody the spirit of the race, grit, resilience, leadership, and generosity, and who use the marathon as a platform for service, leadership, and giving back, not just personal achievement.

For Ann Duong, New York City became more than just a city. It became a place she calls home.

Like many people who arrive in the city seeking opportunity, connection and a sense of belonging, Ann discovered that building a life in New York often starts with building a community. Over the years, she dedicated herself to creating those connections for others, helping bring people together through volunteerism, service and a shared commitment to making the city stronger.

Representing Manhattan, Ann is running in support of City Harvest, an organization whose mission reflects many of the same values that have guided her work for years. Through both her running and volunteer efforts, she has focused on connecting people, resources, and communities, believing that meaningful change often begins with individuals coming together around a common purpose.

For Ann, running has been a constant companion throughout that journey.

A lifelong runner, she has long viewed the sport as more than exercise. Running offered a way to experience NYC from a different perspective, allowing her to explore neighborhoods, discover new corners of Manhattan and connect with people she otherwise might never have met. Mile by mile, the city became more familiar, and the relationships she built along the way helped transform New York from a destination into a true home.

Those experiences reinforced a belief that would shape much of her work: community does not happen by accident. It is built through shared experiences, intentional connections and opportunities for people to come together.

That same mindset has also shaped how she approaches running today. Reflecting on the lessons she's learned, Ann says, "In the last few years I've learned about running is the importance of just like showing up every single day, whether I want to be running or not."The consistency and commitment required to keep moving forward have become principles she carries into other areas of her life and service.

That philosophy ultimately inspired Ann to establish Volunteering Untapped NYC.

The organization was created with a simple but powerful goal: mobilize volunteers to support local nonprofits while creating meaningful connections among people looking to engage with their communities. The concept recognizes that many New Yorkers, especially those who are new to the city, are searching for ways to meet people, contribute to causes they care about, and feel more connected to the place they call home.

By bringing people together in service of local nonprofits, Volunteering Untapped NYC helps participants accomplish all three goals. The model reflects Ann's belief that even a small idea can have a meaningful impact. When people are given a chance to contribute, build relationships and work toward a shared goal, the benefits extend far beyond a single volunteer event.

That same belief continues to shape how Ann approaches running.

Every mile serves as an opportunity to give back. Whether supporting charitable causes, raising awareness, or fostering connections within the communities she serves, Ann views running as another way to create positive change. The sport has become an extension of her commitment to service, allowing her to combine personal passion with a broader purpose.

It is a natural fit with her support of City Harvest.

For years, Ann has supported the organization and its mission to rescue and deliver nutritious food to New Yorkers. The work has a citywide impact, helping connect resources with communities while addressing food insecurity across the five boroughs. In many ways, the organization's approach mirrors the principles that have guided Ann's own efforts: bringing people together, directing resources where they are needed most, and strengthening communities through collective action.

Her connection to City Harvest has only deepened through hands-on volunteer work. "To be able to support all the families … it's just really beautiful," she says. "We handed out over 500 meals last week," she continues as a demonstration of the impact she is making.

The alignment is especially meaningful because City Harvest's work reaches people throughout NYC, reflecting the interconnected nature of the communities Ann has spent years helping to build. Its mission recognizes that creating a stronger city requires collaboration among individuals, nonprofits, volunteers and community partners.

Whether through organizing volunteer opportunities, encouraging civic engagement or supporting causes that improve lives, Ann has consistently focused on helping people find ways to contribute to something larger than themselves. Her work demonstrates that community is not defined solely by geography. It is defined by relationships, shared responsibility and a willingness to show up for one another.

As she takes on this challenge representing Manhattan, Ann carries those values with her. Running provides an opportunity to support a cause she believes in while highlighting the power of service and community engagement. Each mile reflects a commitment not only to personal endurance but also to the city and people who have shaped her journey.

Through both running and volunteering, Ann found ways to explore new cities, making if feel like home while also creating opportunities for others to build those same connections.