FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ING New York City Marathon Adds College Charity Program and
Aims to Raise $35 Million at the November 4 Race
A Record 300 Charities Will be Represented by Nearly 10,000 Runners for the
43rd Running of the World’s Flagship Footrace
New York, August 22, 2012-Two top-grade local college running programs, at
Columbia University and Manhattan College, will be participating in the
inaugural ING New York City Marathon College Charity Program, in which
participants raise funds to benefit the track and field/cross country
programs at these schools, it was announced today by New York Road Runners
president and CEO Mary Wittenberg.
This new program, combined with an already impressive roster of gold,
silver, bronze, and community charity partners, makes a striking total of
more than 300 charities, approximately 225 of them New York City– based.
Each school received five entries to the Marathon, and the funds raised
will benefit their running programs in ways such as increasing the number
of track and field/cross country scholarships they can offer. The entries
are available to anyone who is interested in running on behalf of one of
these college running programs, and each school is expected to raise nearly
$10,000 for its programs. In its initial year, the program will be local,
but there is a plan to grow it incrementally over the next few years,
ultimately making it a nationwide program with 10 or more schools across
the country applying to be part of it.
"We are thrilled to be joining in a partnership with NYRR and the running
community of New York City," said Willy Wood, director of cross country and
track and field at Columbia University. "There has been an increasingly
greater desire for us to connect our running programs with the City of New
York, and I believe this to be a great first step."
"The Manhattan College cross country and track and field program is excited
about this opportunity to work with NYRR and one of the greatest sporting
events in the world," said Dan Mecca, head coach of cross country and track
and field at Manhattan College. "This will not only help our program
financially, but it is a great experience to be associated with such an
outstanding event such as the ING New York City Marathon."
In 2011, the official charity program was made up of more than 200
charities that raised a record $34 million for many different causes. Also
of significance is NYRR’s third-year fundraising partner, CrowdRise, the
leading crowd-sourced fundraising platform that uses the most fun and
engaging game theory, tools and technology to help people who care raise
money for their favorite nonprofit organizations.
"We are ecstatic to introduce our college running program this year," said
Wittenberg. "We raise millions of dollars a year for hundreds of charities;
we are thrilled to now begin raising greater awareness and funds for our
local college running programs."
Noteworthy new charities this year include the Arthur Ashe Foundation, a
nonprofit that works to share the late tennis champion’s tremendous story
and legacy as a source of education and inspiration for individuals; and
the Mobile Kitchen Classroom, a nonprofit founded by actor-filmmaker Adrian
Grenier that seeks to provide high school students in New York City with
the opportunity to engage in experiential lessons around food, health, and
sustainability.
Benefits for the various levels range from guaranteed entries and training
programs to VIP race-weekend benefits. More information and a list of
current 2012 charity partners are available at
www.ingnycmarathon.org/charities.
About the ING New York City Marathon
NYRR's premier event, the ING New York City Marathon is the most loved and
most inclusive marathon in the world, attracting elite athletes and
recreational runners alike for the challenge and thrill of a lifetime. The
race has grown tremendously since it began in 1970 with just 127 runners
racing four laps of Central Park. Now, almost 50,000 participants from all
over the globe flock to New York City every November for an
adrenaline-filled road tour of all five boroughs, starting on Staten Island
at the foot of the Verrazano-Narrows Bridge and ending in Central Park.
Some run for prize money or bragging rights, others for charity or their
personal best. All are cheered on by more than two million live spectators
and a TV audience of 330 million.
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