Friendswood Development Company, which is best known for developing some of Houston’s signature master-planned communities including Fairfield and Kingwood, hosted the fifth annual Tavola Reindeer Run in its community of Tavola, located in New Caney, TX, on Saturday, December 4, 2021. The chip-timed, USATF-certified course included a 5K beginning at 8:00 am and a 1K family run/walk at 9:00 am. The race also featured festive, family-friendly activities and attractions including free photos with Santa, a rock-climbing wall, giant snow globe, as well as free food and a coffee bar. All proceeds from this year’s race went to New Caney ISD’s Tavola Elementary, which sits on site in the community. This week, the Tavola Foundation presented a $7,500 check for the race proceeds and a $2,500 check for the NCISD School Challenge to Tavola Elementary School, for a total $10,000 donation. 

New for 2021, all schools in New Caney ISD were challenged to participate in this year’s race, with the school with the most participation receiving $2,500. Fifteen schools had teachers, students and parents participate with Tavola Elementary School winning the challenge with 52 runners. Tavola Elementary School Principal Lisa Bruce said the funds are going to be used to buy basketball goals and new AV equipment to be used for all school assemblies.

“Reindeer Run has become an annual holiday tradition for our New Caney community, and we look forward to it every year. Our goal with this race is to expose visitors and residents to the development so they see what living in Tavola is like –including our amenities and on-site Tavola Elementary School, which runners will pass as part of the course,” said Michael Johnson, Vice President of Land for Friendswood Development Company. This year’s race attracted nearly 600 runners and walkers, the largest turnout since the race started.

Lennar and Storm Water Solutions/Beyer Construction were this year’s presenting sponsors. Other sponsors included: Perry Homes, Coats|Rose, LJA Engineering, Nonstop Roofing, East Montgomery County Improvement District, H2O Innovations, Westin Homes, Imagination by David Weekley Homes, Centex, KW Landscape Architects, Chick-fil-A, The Spencer Company, Perfect Image Signs, Urgent Doc Urgent Care Clinic, DECA Brewing Company, Crescere Digital and Boe Creative.

The race will return in 2022 on Saturday, December 3, 2022. Get more information at TavolaReindeerRun.com.