The second annual “Run for Haiti” 5K race is set for Santa Clarita’s Central Park on Saturday, Aug. 11, starting at 9 a.m.

Proceeds from the event will go to Children of the Nations Inc., the same faith-based nonprofit organization behind the recent Million Meals Marathon, and will help fund construction of housing, schools and food distribution centers for Haitian orphans who are still in need today after January 2010’s devastating 7.0 magnitude earthquake.

The tax-deductible entry fee is $25, which includes a “Children of the Nations” t-shirt for the first 300 registered runners. Pre-registration is available online at Children of the Nations’ website at www.cotni.org.

On race day, on-site registration begins at 7:30 a.m.; the kids’ fun race starts at 8:30, followed by the 5K run at 9.

Prizes will be awarded for the top male and female finishers, and the top three male and female finishers in eight age divisions — 11 and younger; 12-18; 19-29; 30-39; 40-49; 50-59; 60-69; and 70+.

The organizers welcome donations, too. Checks should be made payable to “Children of the Nations” and mailed to 25809 Barnett Lane, Stevenson Ranch, CA 91381. Donations are also accepted online at the organization’s website.  Children of the Nations’ tax ID number is 91-1702551.

Santa Clarita residents and Real Life Church members Doug Robert, Frank Schiro and Diana Osterhaus, who organized the first “Run for Haiti” last year, re-teamed to coordinate this year’s event.

“Children of the Nations built an orphanage in Uganda and our church has supported that orphanage and has been sending people there, teams there, a couple times a year, and it’s been very, very successful,” Schiro said.

“So now that Children of the Nations is going to be building a similar project In Haiti, we are just completely behind it and want to do whatever we can here in Santa Clarita to endorse their project and try to help fund it,” he said.

“So we’re excited about it. Our hearts are behind this. We believe the money’s going to a really good cause, and hope it’s going to be a great run on Aug. 11.”

Find Central Park at 27150 Bouquet Canyon Road, Saugus 91350.

For more information about the “Run for Haiti,” email drobert770@sbcglobal.net, fschiro@schiroscollision.com, or diana_osterhues@hotmail.com.

For more about Children of the Nations and its activities on behalf of children in need worldwide, visit the organization’s website here: http://www.cotni.org.