CHARITY & COMMUNITY MEDIA GUIDE COVER COURSE INFORMATION October 9, 2011
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHARITY AND COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Charity Program Overview...252 2011 Top 10 Charity Teams by Participation...253 Charity Program Annual Fundraising Results...254 Community Programs...255 251
CHARITY PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2011 TOP 10 CHARITY TEAMS BY PARTICIPATION CHARITY PROGRAM OVERVIEW Since 2002, Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants have raised more than $70 million through the Charity Program. This feat is accomplished by individual participants who sign on to support an affiliated cause by committing to fundraise in conjunction with completion of the Marathon. Every organization allows its team of runners the distinctive opportunity to make more of their Marathon experience by not only accomplishing a personal goal on race day, but by contributing to a larger goal and giving back to a worthy cause. For the Bank of America Chicago Marathon charities, their mission begins months in advance as they work to ensure that their runners accomplish their individual goals while simultaneously connecting with the charity s overall vision and fundraising goals. Each organization dedicates countless hours and resources to recruiting, planning and organizing their charity runner program. The experience begins with training runs for many of the runners along Chicago s lakefront path and suburban locations, team parties during the training season and pasta parties on race weekend. Charities focus on creating a memorable experience for their runners that lasts well beyond the finish line. 2011 TOP 10 CHARITY TEAMS BY PARTICIPATION Charity Participants Funds Raised In 2010 Team World Vision 1013 1,400,000.00 American Cancer Society 753 1,000,000.00 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society - Team In Training 475 1,100,000.00 PAWS Chicago 421 346,028.00 Opportunity Enterprises - OE Runners 337 459,162.00 Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) 322 380,000.00 Team to End AIDS (T2) 287 404,838.00 Children s Memorial Hospital Foundation 230 404,229.36 Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) 225 27,000.00 ALSAC/St. Jude Children s Research Hospital, St. Jude Heroes Team 217 203,456.00 In a sport that focuses on individual accomplishments, the Charity Program transforms the Marathon experience into a team endeavor. It is easy to see why so many runners return to their charity teams year after year. For a complete list of charities participating in this year s Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Program visit www.chicagomarathon.com/charityprogram. Charity Program Growth The Charity Program has grown from 14 charities with 1,674 runners in 2001 to a record of more than 160 charities with over 10,000 runners in 2011. In 2010, charity runners raised $12 million to fund causes ranging from healthier school initiatives, medical research and animal assistance to foreign aid/humanitarian efforts and assisting the families of those in the armed forces. The runners truly take the experience of the Chicago Marathon beyond the confines of Grant Park and change lives around the world. Mayor Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley Award In 2010, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced the establishment of the Mayor Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley Award. The award will be given annually to the Marathon participant who raises the most funds for charity through their participation in the Chicago Marathon. At this year s Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K, Carl Allegretti, who raised more than $81,000 for Children s Memorial Hospital, was recognized as the first recipient of the award. International Flavor The Bank of America Chicago Marathon has teamed up for many years with the Chicago Sister Cities International Program to recruit increasing numbers of international runners and welcome them to Chicago. The 1996 race had only 322 international participants. That number jumped to 2,242 by 1999 and now stands at 7,261 for 2011. Pockets of ethnic cheering sections are spread out over the course, with the most prominent being Pilsen, Chinatown and Little Italy. 252 253
CHARITY PROGRAM ANNUAL FUNDRAISING RESULTS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS CHARITY PROGRAM ANNUAL FUNDRAISING RESULTS Year Charities Participants Funds Raised ($) 2011 162 10,192* N/A 2010** 150 9,842 12,109,000 2009 123 8,768 10,183,855 2008 110 6,745 9,209,000 2007 85 6,600 9,985,482 2006 60 4,500 9,500,000 2005 43 3,000 6,317,000 2004 29 2,449 4,740,000 2003 19 2,527 4,540,000 2002 14 1,674 2,950,000 2001 7 N/A N/A *2011 number of runners is approximate based on results as of September 1, 2011. Dollar figures will not be available until all charities report their final fund raising results after the race. **Fundraising results from the 2010 Bank of America Chicago Marathon can be viewed at www.chicagomarathon. com/2010fundraising. Records on the charity program were not officially kept until 2002. COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Youth Initiatives Bank of America Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative Bank of America set in motion a new Chicago Youth Fitness Initiative to financially boost local Chicago nonprofit organizations that invest in the present and future health of Chicago s kids. Two dollars from each registration fee for the 2011 Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K and the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, along with a matching gift from the bank, have generated funds to be split among five organizations, impacting thousands youngsters across Chicago: Chicago Run, Parkways Foundation, Girls on the Run, MGR Foundation and Special Children s Charities/Special Olympics Chicago. Beyond its initial donation, Bank of America has also pledged its ongoing support to the organizations through its leadership and volunteerism. Chicago Park District CityWide Cross Country Championships In partnership with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the Chicago Park District annually hosts the CityWide Cross Country Championships for local youth. Each fall, 1,000 participants compete in three regional qualifying contests with the top 12 finishers advancing to the championship race. The 2011 regional competitions took place during the month of September culminating with the CityWide Championships in October. Results of the competition were not available at press time for this publication, but can be viewed online at chicagomarathon.com. Athlete School Visits During race week several elite athletes will visit Nettlehorst Elementary School, St. Ignatius College Prep and St. James Lutheran School in Chicago to share the stories of their success and the dedication it takes to become a professional athlete. They also discuss the importance of nutrition, fitness and exercise in all lifestyles. Athlete school visits are typically planned on Thursday and Friday of race week. Nike Northside/Southside Challenge at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Nike and the Bank of America Chicago Marathon are inspiring the next generation of runners to run in the footsteps of their running heroes. The Northside/Southside Challenge gives high school athletes the unique opportunity to compete in an invitational meet on the Marathon course while the race is in progress. Athletes will compete on behalf of their respective high schools as well as part of the larger Northside or Southside teams. The race starts at Mile 24 where participants will compete over the last 2.62 miles of the course ending at the same official Marathon finish line. Boys start will be at 7:40 a.m. followed by the girls at 7:50 a.m. 254 255
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Charitable Contributions Greater Chicago Food Depository The Bank of America Chicago Marathon will donate remaining food from the Runner Refreshment area to the Greater Chicago Food Depository. For more information on the Greater Chicago Food Depository and the Chicago-area organizations it supports, visit chicagosfoodbank.org Pacific Garden Mission The Bank of America Chicago Marathon partners with Chicago s Pacific Garden Mission homeless shelter to make good use of discarded race day clothing. Worthwhile items discarded or unclaimed by participants following the race are donated to the organization and used to provide for homeless men, women and children. For more information on the Pacific Garden Mission and its programs, visit pgm.org. Share Your Soles Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants, families, friends and spectators are encouraged to donate running and other styles of shoes at this year s Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, as well as on race day. Last year, Share Your Soles collected over 3,500 pairs of shoes and delivered them to less fortunate people around the world. More information on Share Your Soles is available at shareyoursoles.org. Course Activation Bank of America Cheer Zone Spectators can enjoy one of the most exciting race day views at the Bank of America Cheer Zone located at the intersection of Franklin and Adams streets, adjacent to the Willis Tower, the tallest building in North America. Just a block from the CTA s Quincy/Wells stop and two blocks from Metra s Union Station, you can cheer on the runners as they turn west on Adams Street and head toward the halfway point (13.1 miles). Rally cards will be available for friends and family to create custom messages and provide runners with an extra boost of inspiration. Merrill Lynch Cheer Zone Spectators can urge on runners just as they need it most at the Merrill Lynch Cheer Zone, located at the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Michigan Avenue. Witness one of the most rewarding sections of the course as runners face their final challenge the Roosevelt Overpass before they enter the homestretch. Just a few blocks off the CTA Red Line and positioned with less than a half mile to go, the Merrill Lynch Cheer Zone is the ultimate rally station. Charity Block Party Thousands of Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants will be running for more than 160 different charity teams and fundraising on behalf of important causes. To celebrate the impact these participants make on the local, national and global stage, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon will host a Charity Block Party at approximately Mile 14. Spectators, family and friends are welcome to cheer their charity runners on at the Charity Block Party located at Adams and Loomis streets near Whitney Young High School. Community Leaders In partnership with the communities that comprise the Marathon course, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon works with local leadership to activate spectators and fans from surrounding homes, businesses, schools and community groups to enthusiastically support Marathon participants. Several community leaders have stepped up to organize their sections of the course by hosting rally stations and volunteering at Aid Stations. Volunteer Groups Working behind the scenes at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, in Grant Park and along the 26.2-mile course, more than 12,000 volunteers make the Bank of America Chicago Marathon possible. For a complete list of groups volunteering at this year s Chicago Marathon visit www.chicagomarathon.com/volunteergroups. U.S. Trust Cheer Zone Directly beyond the Bank of America Cheer Zone is the U.S. Trust Cheer Zone, at the intersection of Adams Street and Wacker Drive. Spectators can support runners at one of the most scenic points of the course, just before they cross the Chicago River and approach the half marathon checkpoint. The energy is certain to be high with the second half of the race on the horizon. 256 257
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