Contact: Dan Finanger
Executive Director
612-925-3500, Ext. 12
Jackie Liu
Media & Public Relations Manager
612-925-3500, Ext. 13
TWIN CITIES MARATHON SELECTS COMMUNITY CONTRIBUTION PARTNERS
Non-profit marathon supports other community non-profits
Minneapolis, Minnesota - March 27, 2002 - Twin Cities Marathon (TCM)
announces its selection of this year's Community Contributions Partners.
The partners are The American Lung Association, Assistive Technology of
Minnesota, Bolder Options, Children's Cancer Research Fund, Second Harvest
Heartland, Team USA Minnesota and the TCM scholarship program.
"The Twin Cities Marathon has a great history of giving back to the
community," says Dan Finanger, TCM Executive Director. "I am proud to be
associated with an organization that partners with the Twin Cities
community. Together, we have touched people's lives and made a difference
by providing awareness and raising funds for other community non-profits."
Each year, the TCM Community Contributions committee selects contribution
partners, raises funds, and promotes these partners throughout the year.
The selection of charity partners is based on TCM's mission to provide a
community supported, nationally recognized, high quality running event,
which attracts athletes of all ages and abilities and promotes health and
fitness. This mission statement, which helps guide the TCM Community
Contributions committee, includes expanding the level of community
participation and building long-term charitable affiliations. Funds are
raised by auctioning marathon and 10 mile entries after race registration
closes, collection of individual and sponsor donations, and a silent
auction at TCM's poster unveiling.
"This year's charity partners are so impressive," says Tammy Ziegenbein,
TCM Community Contributions Chair. "We are an event that promotes health
and community and each of our selected organizations fit that mission."
In 2001, over $37,500 was distributed to contribution partners. In
addition, TCM made an extraordinary gift of $1 for every registrant
totaling $15,538 to the Twin Towers Fund in New York, resulting in over
$53,000 in charitable donations. The TCM Community Contributions committee
has set a goal to raise $50,000 for the 2002 designated charity partners.
The 2002 TCM weekend is September 27-29 and will host the 2002 USA Men's,
Women's and Masters Marathon Championships. The three-day weekend
celebration of fitness includes, a 5K Fun Run/Walk, children's fun runs,
pasta dinner, two-day Health and Fitness Expo and a 10 mile race, in
addition to the marathon. Major corporate sponsors for the marathon are Cub
Foods, Calhoun Beach Club and Seagate. The major media sponsors are KARE 11
and Cities 97. Twin Cities Marathon, Inc. is a non-profit organization that
directs the TCM weekend as a community service for the Minneapolis/St. Paul
area. Visit us at www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
The American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is one of the oldest non-profit voluntary
health organizations in the nation, serving the Minnesota community since
1903. Team Lung, a pledged-based marathon training program, raises money
for the American Lung Association of Minnesota in partnership with the Twin
Cities Marathon. Proceeds of this program will benefit the American Lung
Association of Minnesota programs and TCM designated charities. All TCM
2002 participants are eligible to join Team Lung. Benefits include a
personal training program for the Twin Cities Marathon and the opportunity
to further the American Lung Association's work in creating cleaner outdoor
air; enhanced indoor air quality, and improved quality of life for children
and adults with asthma and other lung diseases. Everyone deserves to
breathe easier - help make that a reality. For more information, please
call 651-227-8014 or visit www.alamn.org, www.healthhouse.org, or
www.cleanairchoice.org.
Assistive Technology of Minnesota
Assistive Technology of Minnesota (ATMN) is a non-profit organization
dedicated to increasing technology applications and opportunities for people
with disabilities. ATMN's mission is to develop a statewide, comprehensive,
consumer responsive system of technology for people with disabilities.
ATMN's values include; increasing awareness throughout Minnesota of
assistive technology devices and services available for people with
disabilities, collaborating with other providers in the delivery of services
and training to enhance the most effective utilization of assistive
technology, providing resource and referral information to persons with a
disability to access assistive technology devices and services, "Fill a gap"
in the current delivery of services through innovative programs that meet
the assistive technology need of persons living with a disability, and
extending opportunities for disabled persons by working in conjunction with
the STAR Program to expand assistive technology services. For more
information, visit www.atmn.org or call 763-479-8239.
Bolder Options
Bolder Options is a year round, short term, one on one mentoring program
that uses running and biking to reach at-risk youth ages 10-15. Youth are
paired with adult mentors and either run or bike together twice a week for
twelve weeks while training to complete three races together. At the heart
of the program is the matching of youth with a suitable mentor. Together,
pairs establish agreed upon distance goals, which progressively increase
participant's stamina, self-confidence, and self-esteem. Making a 12-week
commitment to a youth makes a difference in the life of a mentor as well.
Use your love for running, discipline and patience to help a young person
set goals for running and their future. For more information on how you can
get involved visit www.bolderoptions.org, email volunteer@bolderoptions.org
or call 612-871-8777, Ext. 207.
Children's Cancer Research Fund
Children's Cancer Research Fund provides critical funding to the University
of Minnesota Cancer Center for research and training related to the
prevention, treatment and cure of childhood cancers and is dedicated to
improving the quality-of-life for pediatric cancer patients and their
families. Since 1980, Children's Cancer Research Fund has raised more than
$29 million. While eight out of ten children diagnosed with cancer can be
successfully treated, cancer is still the leading cause of death by illness
among children. For more information about Children's Cancer Research Fund,
visit www.childrenscancer.org or call 952-893-9355.
Second Harvest Heartland
Second Harvest Heartland solicits, warehouses and distributes food and other
grocery products for more than 700 agencies in 61 counties in Minnesota and
western Wisconsin. These agencies, which serve those in temporary or
long-term need, include food shelves, on-site meal providers and shelters.
Second Harvest Heartland also operates a prepared food rescue program and a
community kitchen. Additionally, it provides direct service to seniors and
families through several publicly funded nutrition programs. Second Harvest
Heartland advocates on behalf of hunger relief in Minnesota and nationally
through its affiliation with America's Second Harvest. For more
information, visit www.2harvest.org.
Team USA Minnesota
Team USA Minnesota, a non-profit organization, is a coordinated effort to
bring resources together to improve post-collegiate American distance
running and develop future Olympians. The Team USA Minnesota Distance
Training Center is based in the Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul, and is
one of four distance training centers designated in the United States by
Running USA and USA Track & Field. Its major sponsor is Life Time Fitness.
For more information about Team USA Minnesota, as well as profiles of its
athletes and coaches, visit the web site at www.teamusaminnesota.org.
TCM Scholarship Program
The TCM scholarship program provides a $1,000 scholarship to one female and
one male graduating high school student-athlete planning to go to college.
The student-athlete must be a cross-country and/or track and field runner
and have participated in distances of 800 meters and longer. Eligible
student-athletes must also be students at a high school in the seven-county
Twin Cities metro area. Applications will be available October 2002. For
more information, call 612-925-3500.
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REMEMBER TO MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
The Twin Cities Marathon is moving to Sept. 29 for 2002.
USA Women's, Men's and Masters Marathon Championships
www.twincitiesmarathon.org.
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