For Immediate Release
Contact:
Dave Stringer
Chronicle Marathon PR
415-383-8418
dave@nnsllc.com
Peter Nantell
Chronicle Marathon Race Director
peter_nantell@westendmanagement.com
CHRONICLE MARATHON CREATES "CAUSE TO RUN"
Unique Training/Fundraising Program to Assist Bay Area Non-Profits
SAN FRANCISCO, CA (June 25, 2002) - Organizers of the 25th Anniversary
Chronicle Marathon on Sunday, July 28th have created a unique training
program, "A Cause to Run," that allows local charities to raise funds for
their individual causes.
An individual may register for free weekly training sessions to run any
of the events on race day including the 5K (3.1-mile), the 13.1-mile Half
Marathon, or the 26.2-mile Chronicle Marathon. Groups of four family,
friends, or co-workers may train for and run in the 4-Person Marathon
Relay. Online registration is now available at www.ChronicleMarathon.com.
The Chronicle Marathon's Cause to Run program is designed along the lines
of the highly successful "marathon training team" programs used by
several national non-profit organizations as pledge fundraisers. However,
the Chronicle Marathon program is different in that it provides coaching
services for participating pledge runners and walkers for not only the
marathon but also the half marathon and 5K distances. And the Chronicle
Marathon is even providing the events in which these athletes will
participate. All of this will be at no cost to the local charitable
organizations.
In exchange for the free training program, free admission to their event,
and a host of other goodies, participants commit to raising pledge
dollars for one of the ten official Chronicle Marathon beneficiaries.
Chronicle Marathon race director Peter Nantell says that this "umbrella"
training program allows small, local charities to do the kind of outreach
and fundraising normally available only to larger, well-funded
non-profits.
"This is a definite winner for our local charities," Nantell said. "The
Chronicle Marathon covers the costs of producing the event as well as a
great training program with certified coaching. Our charities need only
recruit participants, and obviously our presenting sponsor and our other
media sponsors can be of great assistance in this regard."
One of the charities benefiting from the Cause to Run program will be the
Volunteer Center of San Francisco. Spokeswoman Babs Lowe says that in the
months since 9/11, "People are more eager to volunteer their time and
talents in the community, yet may not know where or how. The Marathon
gives the Volunteer Center the opportunity to rally people together, tell
our story, and utilize the event to gain both exposure and funds. We will
be visible at the pre-race Expo and along the marathon route, where all
of the beneficiaries will provide volunteers."
Another Bay Area non-profit organization seeking both publicity and
much-needed funding through the Chronicle Marathon "Cause to Run" program
is the San Francisco Fire Department's Neighborhood Emergency Response
Teams (NERT).
According to Bob Jacklevich, NERT Auxiliary Chair, his organization's
involvement with the Marathon is simple to explain: the Chronicle
Marathon will provide valuable publicity for the program. "NERT is one of
the best kept secrets in the City due to the fact that we do not have
funds to publicize our program," Jacklevich says. "But NERT is the only
major volunteer response organization in the City of San Francisco. It
has graduated over 11,000 people who are willing to put it on the line
and do whatever is necessary for the City in the event of a disaster."
"Any funds that come to NERT as a result of the Marathon will be used to
promote continued disaster preparedness for the citizens of San
Francisco," Jacklevich adds.
Susan Kirk of the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Society (CAPS)
says her organization will use funds from the Cause to Run program to
make a positive difference in children's lives.
"It shouldn't hurt to be a kid," Kirk says. "And CAPS is committed to
breaking the cycle of child abuse through services including the TALKLine
(Telephone Aid in Living with Kids), therapy and counseling, substance
abuse recovery, job preparation and parenting groups."
Kirk adds that, "Most of our clients are low income; approximately
one-third are homeless," which places a greater fundraising burden on the
organization.
Peter Nantell says that in order to make Cause to Run pledging and
fundraising easier and more effective, the Chronicle Marathon has added
online fundraising capabilities to the event's web site at
www.ChronicleMarathon.com.
"We're doing as much as we can to help training program participants
collect pledges from their backers and to get those funds to our
charities."
Complete information on all aspects of the 2002 Chronicle Marathon,
including the Cause to Run program, is available online at
www.ChronicleMarathon.com or by calling 1-800-698-8699.
********************
The Official 2002 The Chronicle Marathon Cause to Run program
beneficiaries are:
The San Francisco Fire Department's Neighborhood Emergency Response Team
Program
After the Loma Prieta earthquake, the San Francisco Fire Department
created and trained citizen-based volunteer Neighborhood Emergency
Response Teams (NERT) to enable people to care for themselves, their
families, and their neighbors after a disaster, particularly during the
first 72 hours. The NERT program provides 18 hours of training covering a
variety of preparation information and response skills. Though designed
primarily as a response to a large, regional earthquake, the training is
applicable to any kind of disaster.
The Volunteer Center of San Francisco
The Volunteer Center of San Francisco stands ready to mobilize and deploy
volunteers in times of disaster, supporting local agencies in rescue
efforts and in providing aid to victims. Today and every day, people
throughout the Bay Area are fed and clothed and comforted by volunteers.
The Volunteer Center turns "How can I help?" into action through training
and matching volunteers with more than a thousand local nonprofits
working to end homelessness, protect our environment, mentor youth, care
for the sick, and more. Your financial support is multiplied through the
work of many hands.
The Bay Area Red Cross
Any major emergency in the Bay Area affects every citizen. The American
Red Cross Bay Area works with volunteers to ensure that the Bay Area is
ready to respond. Funds raised locally are used locally to provide
CPR/First Aid training, outreach to vulnerable populations, and a new
Emergency Operations Center (EOC) designed to ensure a coordinated and
efficient disaster response.
Child Abuse Prevention Society
The San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Society (CAPS) believes that
every child deserves a childhood free of violence, abuse, and neglect. By
promoting healthy families, preventing child abuse, and raising public
awareness, CAPS helps to assure that every child gets a nurturing start
in life. CAPS owns and maintains a facility that houses the programs of
the San Francisco Child Abuse Prevention Center and they provide
financial and hands-on volunteer support to ensure the ongoing success of
those programs and goals.
Treatment On Demand Substance Abuse Project
Run by the San Francisco Health Department, TOD helps those battling
substance abuse issues. Too many people who are willing and ready to
enter treatment services are, in effect, denied services due to the
limited treatment capacity currently available. San Francisco is one of
three pilot cities engaged in the process of community-focused health
planning in hopes of providing better treatment and facilities.
America True: Programs for At-Risk Youth
The America True Foundation works in partnership with the YMCA, YWCA,
Boys and Girls Clubs, and other inner city youth programs to provide free
sailing experiences to at-risk youth in San Francisco, surrounding
communities, and across the United States. Girls and boys in America True
Sailing Programs have the opportunity to learn about the sport of sailing
and find empowerment in themselves. They learn leadership, teamwork,
safety, environmental respect, risk assessment, how to make good choices,
and of course, they learn how to sail. This program makes a difference to
2500 children each year.
Oceana
Oceana is a non-profit, international advocacy organization created with
the sole purpose of protecting the world's oceans to sustain the circle
of life. Oceana brings together dedicated people from around the world,
building an international movement to save the oceans through public
policy advocacy, science and economics, legal action, grassroots
mobilization, and public education.
Organs 'R' Us
Organs 'R' Us ("ORU") is a California non-profit public benefit
corporation whose members include transplant recipients and candidates,
family members, and friends all committed to promoting awareness about
the critical shortage of donor organs. An American dies every two hours
while waiting for an organ transplant, in part because less than
one-third of potential organ donors actually donate. More than half of
the commitments to donate organs are rescinded by surviving family
members after a potential donor's passing. To solve this medical crisis,
ORU works to increase awareness, provide educational materials, and
encourage family discussions about organ donation.
Suicide Prevention
San Francisco Suicide Prevention (SFSP) is the oldest volunteer crisis
line in the United States. It was founded in 1963 with the initial focus
of providing telephone intervention to people experiencing suicidal
crisis. Over the years, the focus of the agency has changed from strictly
suicide prevention to more general counseling services including
crisis/suicide, drug/alcohol dependencies, AIDS/HIV, and domestic abuse.
A Spanish-speaking crisis line service has been added and more recently a
support group has been established for those family and friends who have
lost someone to suicide.
Canine Specialized Support Team (CSST)
CSST, a volunteer resource of the Santa Clara County Medical
Examiner/Coroner's office, uses specially trained and certified dogs in
the field of disaster search for live humans buried in rubble, forensic
evidence, and in the location of human remains. CSST continuously trains
their canine teams in new and advanced techniques. These teams are
available for all law enforcement agencies and other official offices in
Santa Clara County and beyond. CSST has been called upon to assist in
hundreds of searches including the aftermath of the Bay Area's Loma
Prieta Earthquake, the Mexico City Earthquake, and the Oklahoma City
Bombing.
********************
The 2002 Chronicle Marathon is sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle,
KPIX Channel 5, SFGate.com, 96.5 KOIT, UPN 44/Digital 45/Cable 12, San
Francisco Toyota, Albertson's, GU Energy Gel, GU2O Hydration Drink,
Centrum Performance Energy Nutrition Bar, the San Francisco Municipal
Railway, the Port of San Francisco, Webb Design, the Embarcadero Center,
and the San Francisco Road Runners Club.
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