Charity & Community MEDIA INFO & FAST FACTS CHARITY & COMMUNITY
TABLE OF CONTENTS CHARITY & COMMUNITY Charity Program Overview...260 2012 Top 10 Charity Teams by Participation...262 Charity Program Annual Fundraising Results...263 Community Programs...264 259
CHARITY PROGRAM OVERVIEW CHARITY PROGRAM OVERVIEW CHARITY PROGRAM OVERVIEW Since 2002, Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants have raised $85 million through the Charity Program. This feat is accomplished by individual participants who sign on to support an affiliated cause and commit to fundraise in conjunction with completion of the Chicago 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 performance 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. RICHARD M. DALEY AND MAGGIE DALEY AWARD In 2010, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon announced the establishment of the Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley Award. The award is given annually to the Chicago Marathon participant who raises the most funds for charity through their participation in the Chicago Marathon. Dr. Jose Oberholzer, was recognized as the 2011 award recipient earlier this year. Obholzer raised more than $125,000 for the Chicago Diabetes Project through his participation in the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon. 2011 Award Winner Dr. Jose Oberholzer Chicago Diabetes Project Dollars Raised: $126,800 2010 Award Winner Carl Allegretti Children s Memorial Hospital Dollars Raised: $81,000 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 2002 to 190 charities with 10,000 runners in 2012. In 2011, charity runners raised an event record $13.4 million to fund causes ranging from healthier school initiatives, medical research and animal assistance to foreign aid/humanitarian efforts and assisting the families of those in the armed forces. The runners truly take the experience of the Chicago Marathon beyond the confines of Grant Park and change lives around the world. 260 261
2012 TOP 10 CHARITY TEAMS BY PARTICIPATION CHARITY PROGRAM ANNUAL FUNDRAISING RESULTS 2012 TOP 10 CHARITY TEAMS BY PARTICIPATION Charity Participants Funds Raised In 2011 ($) Team World Vision 1,703 1,720,000.00 American Cancer Society 902 1,100,000.00 The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society 497 1,000,000.00 Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) 415 450,000.00 PAWS Chicago 379 504,236.00 Opportunity Enterprises - OE Runners 319 199,194.00 Children s Memorial Hospital Foundation 272 355,375.00 AIDS Foundation of Chicago 266 447,000.00 ALSAC/St. Jude Children s Research Hospital 221 313,504.00 LIVESTRONG 208 233,264.00 CHARITY PROGRAM ANNUAL FUNDRAISING RESULTS Year Charities Participants Funds Raised ($) 2012 170 9,952* N/A 2011 162 10,192 13,400,000 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 *2012 number of runners is approximate based on results as of August 12, 2012. Dollar figures will not be available until all charities report their final fund raising results after the race. Charity program records were not officially kept until 2002. 262 263
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS COMMUNITY PROGRAMS YOUTH INITIATIVES 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 2012 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 local schools along the Bank of America Chicago Marathon course 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. 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 to run in the footsteps of their running heroes. The Nike Northside/Southside Challenge gives high school athletes the unique opportunity to compete in an invitational meet on the Chicago Marathon course while the race is in progress. Athletes will compete on behalf of their respective high schools and as part of the larger Northside or Southside teams. The race starts at approximately Mile 24 where boys and girls will compete over the last 2.62 miles of the course ending at the Chicago Marathon finish line in Grant Park. Boys start at 7:40 a.m. and girls at 7:50 a.m. 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 gently used running and other styles of shoes at this year s Bank of America Chicago Marathon Health & Fitness Expo, as well as on race day. Share Your Soles will deliver the collected to shoes to less fortunate people around the world. More information on Share Your Soles is available at shareyoursoles.org. COURSE ACTIVATION Bank of America Cheer Zones Bank of America will host two on-course Cheer Zones to support the runners with a special message for our Armed Forces. Spectators will receive cards to compose personal messages to runners and mini American flags to wave in demonstration of their thanks to our troops. To say Thank You, Bank of America will also dedicate the final stretch of the course the one that requires the most courage to their service. At mile 26, spectators will be joined by military representatives and Bank of America employee volunteers who will lead all runners to the finish line with large American flags. To join Bank of America in demonstrating your support, visit either location below on race day: Mile 12 Bank of America Cheer Zone Franklin and Adams Streets One block from CTA Quincy/Wells stop; two blocks from Union Station Mile 26 Bank of America Cheer Zone Michigan Avenue and Roosevelt Road Two blocks from CTA Red Line Roosevelt Road stop U.S. Trust Cheer Zone Directly beyond the first 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. 264 265
COMMUNITY PROGRAMS Merrill Lynch Cheer Zones Spectators can urge on participants as they make their way through the West Loop at the Merrill Lynch Cheer Zones. Located at Miles 13.5 (Halsted Street and Adams Street) and 16.5 (Halsted Street and Jackson Boulevard), just a few blocks from the CTA Blue Line, the Merrill Lynch Cheer Zones are the ultimate rally stations, motivating runners during the second half of the race. Charity Block Party Thousands of Bank of America Chicago Marathon participants will be running for 190 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 Bank of America Chicago 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. 266