FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon, Nationwide Children's Hospital
Extend Beneficiary Partnership To 2019
More Than $3 Million Raised for Hospital Through Event Since 2012
(COLUMBUS, OH - March 10, 2015)- Ohio's largest marathon has renewed for
five years the partnership naming Nationwide Children's Hospital the title
beneficiary of the annual running
In 2012, an initial three-year agreement named the event the Nationwide
Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon. Since that time, more
than $3 million has been raised for the Hospital. Major corporate sponsors
of the event since the partnership was formed include Nationwide, LBrands
Foundation and The Dispatch Media Group. Additionally, the Columbus
Marathon Board has donated $550,000 over the last three years.
Marathon participants also have the opportunity to contribute by making a
voluntary gift at registration or joining the Children's Champion
fundraising program organized by Nationwide Children's Hospital. Gifts from
the community are also welcomed.
In addition to serving as a major corporate sponsor since the collaboration
between the Marathon and Nationwide Children's Hospital in 2012, Nationwide
has been a key supporter of the yearly fall event since its inception in
1980.
"We are excited to be part of this wonderful community
collaboration," said Chad Jester, Vice President of Corporate Citizenship
at Nationwide, "bringing together two outstanding non profit partners
benefitting children. We encourage other corporate partners to consider
joining us to support this worthy cause."
Bill Burns, Chairman of the Marathon Board of Trustees, said the decision
to renew was easilymade, while the length of the agreement showcases the
strength and benefits that have resulted from the partnership.
"We have made great strides, and are committed to even greater success,"
Burns said. "The best is yet to come."
"We want to thank Nationwide and the Columbus Marathon Board of
Trustees for their continued support of Nationwide Children's Hospital,"
Steve Allen, MD, chief executive officer of Nationwide Children's Hospital,
said. "During the past three years this partnership has proven
how engaged the runners, walkers and the community are as a whole. This
world-recognized event has helped support the life-saving research and care
taking place at Nationwide Children's Hospital."
Darris Blackford, Race Director, said specific benefits from the
partnership include increased awareness for the race, which has led more
businesses to provide in-kind support of products and services and their
employees to volunteer as a way to "give back" to a far-reaching
community-minded event.
"We are finding a high level of support as a result of partnering with an
institution as important as Nationwide Children's Hospital," Blackford
said. "Whether people are running, walking, volunteering or providing
support, it is for the kids."
Each year, 24 miles of the Marathon feature a patient from Nationwide
Children's Hospital. These"Patient Champions" and their families cheer on
athletes and serve as a visual reminder of how the event helps ill and
injured children. Additionally, children who participated as Patient
Champions in previous years gather at one spot known as "the Encore Mile,"
while another is "the Angel Mile" to honor children who have passed away.
To learn about all the patients and ways to get involved, please visit
Nationwide Childrens Hospital Columbus Marathon
About The Nationwide Children's Hospital Columbus Marathon & 1/2 Marathon
Registration opens February 1 for the 36th annual Nationwide Children's
Hospital Columbus Marathon and the 10th edition of the 1/2 Marathon. The
2015 race will be held Sunday, Oct. 18. The event has sold out for eight
straight years. Entry levels are capped at 7,000 runners and walkers in the
Marathon, and 12.000 runners and walkers in the 1/2 Marathon.
With more than 5,500 finishers in 2014, the Columbus Marathon is Ohio's
largest 26.2-mile footrace and the 16th largest U.S. marathon. The 1/2
Marathon had more than 10,400 finishers, making it the largest 1/2 marathon
in Columbus and the second largest in Ohio.
About Nationwide Children's Hospital
Ranked 7th of only 10 children's hospitals on U.S. News & World Report's
2014-15 "America's Best Children's Hospitals Honor Roll," Nationwide
Children's Hospital is one of the nation's largest not-for-profit
freestanding pediatric healthcare networks providing wellness, preventive,
diagnostic, treatment and rehabilitative care for infants, children and
adolescents, as well as adult patients with congenital disease. Nationwide
Children's, also ranked among the Top 10 on Parents magazine's 2013 "Best
Children's Hospitals" list, has a medical staff of 1,100 and nearly 10,000
employees providing state-of-the-art pediatric care for one million patient
visits annually. As home to the Department of Pediatrics of The Ohio State
University College of Medicine,Nationwide Children's physicians train the
next generation of pediatricians and pediatric specialists. The Research
Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital is one of the Top 10 National
Institutes of Health-funded freestanding pediatric research facilities.
Nationwide Children's remains true to the original mission since its
founding in 1892 of providing careregardless of a family's ability to pay.
More information is available at www.NationwideChildrens.org
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