New Records for Mike’s Seafood Run Walk for Autism Event in Sea Isle City

Two of the most popular holidays in February are typically used by people for vacations and weekend getaways. Many New Jersey residents choose either romantic getaways for Valentine's Day or family vacations for Presidents' Day Weekend.

But one South Jersey community has been rallying around an annual fundraiser for almost 20 years, and 2026 marks a record turnout for the charity event that has been saying for two decades:

"Any day you can do something for children with disabilities, it’s a good day”

Sea Isle City, the popular Coastal Community located off Garden State Parkway South Exit 17, has been the home to Mike's Seafood on Park Road for over 100 years, and Mike Monachetti's family business.

When Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism first began, no one knew the event would become a staple of President's Day Weekend in Sea Isle City or that it would become a draw for thousands of visitors each year.

After drawing over 4,500 people in 2025, this year's edition of the Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism brought 5,000 people to Sea Isle City. Mike Monachetti spoke to 973 ESPN about how the support of the community has been a huge part of the annual fundraiser's success:

"(Sea Isle City) comes alive for one weekend over the winter, and this is the weekend (thanks to) the people who come here and they support this. The city supports it. You can't do it without the support (we) get. You know, it's just amazing. - We're blessed; I mean, one week ago it was ike 9 degrees (with a) Windchill minus 14. A week later, it's 45 degrees and all I've seen all day was smiles. That's just really special....

"18 years ago when I started this, I was hoping to raise $2,000 and get a couple of hundred people. Now, you know, we're getting 5,000 people coming out, do the run and walk. And there are many more (people) just on the run route cheering on their loved ones. And (this fundriaser event has) just become special. The city, you got to give them a lot of credit with all the ice and snow we had on the boardwalk and the streets. They came out here in full force - They cleaned this place up. So it's nice to see it is just as important to them as me, and all the people we help, the special services schools, autism support groups, and families of special needs children. So it's a team effort to help people who are dealing with multiple disabilities."

Part of that support is for the Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism event over the last few years has also come from Philadelphia Eagles Legend Jason Kelce, and his wife, Kylie. The Kelce family has a shore house in Sea Isle City, and they are frequent customers of Mike's Seafood during the summer months.

Jason and Kylie have gone out of their way to come out to support Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism in recent years, including Jason running the 5K a couple years ago. Mike Monachetti talked with 973 ESPN about what it means to have the Kelces show up to the event each February:

"Jason Kelce, and Kylie, come out here today and support the event, (and) got just to say something about them: They take the time out to take pictures, to shake hands, to hear people's personal stories. They are down to earth, (and) Sea Isle City is blessed that they chose Sea Isle as their second home.

And Jason always says to me, "Mike, I didn't know nothing about autism (awareness, but) you started this event 18 years ago, and (Eagles owner) Mr. Lurie started (Eagles Autism Foundation) 14 years ago." (Jason has told me) that a lot of people don't know Jeffrey Lurie's brother, Peter, is autistic. That's why you can't kick a kick a field goal in Lincoln Financial Field or look on the sidelines (without seeing) there's autism awareness banners there at every game, especially behind the field goal post you don't miss that autism awareness and that's powerful just in itself."

While Jason and Kylie Kelce host their Team 62 Fundraiser for the Eagles Autism Foundation in Sea Isle City every summer, that event has plenty of support from the tri-state region. But Mike's Seafood Run-Walk for Autism has been truly a community collaborative effort that has drawn attention from people outside of the immediate Sea Isle City community.

As someone who used to live in Sea Isle City, and remembers the origins of this fundraising event two decades ago, it's incredible for me to see how much it has grown. Because "Any day you can do something for children with disabilities, it’s a good day!"