Running for Impact: The Green Team at the 22nd Annual Pat’s Run

Tens of thousands of runners packed the streets of Tempe this April to honor a lasting legacy, and the GreenLight Solutions Green Team was right there with them. The 22nd Annual Pat’s Run, presented by TEK, brought together community, purpose, and a whole lot of heart. We’re happy to share the impact we made together. 

Greening the 22nd Annual Pat’s Run

Pat Tillman’s legacy of service, leadership, and selflessness is the heartbeat of this race. The Pat Tillman Foundation carries that legacy forward through the Tillman Scholars program, and Pat’s Run is the foundation’s largest fundraiser. Every stride along the 4.2-mile course is a tribute to Pat, and an investment in the next generation of leaders he continues to inspire.

For our Green Team, every stride is also a chance to take on one of the biggest contributors to climate change: landfill waste. From sunrise setup to the last bag of compost rolling out, our crew showed up ready to leave Tempe greener and cleaner than we found it.

The Numbers Are In

Months of planning, hours of sorting, and a lot of teamwork added up to real results at Pat’s Run 2026:

• 70% Landfill Diversion Rate
  
• 7.7 tons of material diverted from the landfill

Those numbers translate into real climate wins. The greenhouse gases we kept out of the atmosphere are equivalent to:

• 56,745 miles driven
  
• 1,801,523 phone charges

This is what happens when sustainability is built into an event from the very beginning, and we’re proud of every pound diverted.

How We Pulled It Off

Impact at this scale doesn’t happen by accident. Our 2026 Pat’s Run game plan leaned on six core initiatives to Starve the Landfill: 

• Recycling: capturing bottles, cans, and cardboard across the event footprint.
• Composting: redirecting food scraps and compostable serviceware to soil-building partners.
• Food Rescue: teaming up with Waste Not to deliver untouched food to neighbors facing food insecurity.
• Soft Plastics Recycling: rescuing the tricky films and wrappers most events leave behind.
• Waste Sorting: our signature “glamorous dumpster diving” that makes sure every item ends up exactly where it belongs.
• Bin Guarding: friendly, trained team members stationed at every waste station to coach attendees in real time.

Behind every bin and every bag is a team of people making the right choice, the easy choice for tens of thousands of runners and spectators.

​A Big Thank You to Our Champions

None of this would have been possible without the partners and sponsors who said yes to sustainability. A sincere thank you to the organizations that helped make Pat’s Run 2026 a true model for green events:

​Your commitment to leaving Tempe better than we found it is what makes this kind of impact possible. 

Powered by Our Green Team

These numbers don’t happen without people. Our staff and volunteers showed up before sunrise, sorted bags in the Arizona heat, kept the energy steady all day, and stayed long after the finish line cleared.

Green Team Leads: Ashley Weisman and Oliver Renteria
Green Team Staff & Volunteers: Amia, Evoni, Kamari, Keith, Leohuns, and Nathaniel.
To every Green Teamer who hauled, sorted, guarded, smiled, and educated: thank you. You are the reason these numbers exist, and the heart of everything we do.

Ready to Join the Movement?

​Pat Tillman believed in showing up for something bigger than yourself, and so do we. We’d love to have you on the team.

If you’re ready to roll up your sleeves and make a measurable difference for our planet and our community, join the Green Team today. Whether you’ve sorted a thousand bins or you’ve never touched a pair of gloves, we’ve got a spot with your name on it.

Hosting an event of your own? Schedule a Discovery Session and let’s bring this kind of impact to your next event. Every event deserves a legacy that lasts.

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​Author

Kathia is a student at Arizona State University, double-majoring in Digital Marketing and Business Data Analytics, with strong interests in graphic design and data strategy. She has experience supporting marketing efforts at GreenLight Solutions, where she creates social media content and infographics that communicate sustainability impact. Her sustainability journey began as a volunteer with the nonprofit, which later grew into a more active role in communications and outreach. On campus, Kathia is actively involved as a Business Ambassador and a member of adworks, where she works on real client campaigns, develops strategic marketing insights, and continues building her skills at the intersection of creativity and data-driven decision-making.

Connect with Kathia on LinkedIn!