FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon
Earns Gold Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport
July 1, 2015— EUGENE, OR—The Hartford Marathon Foundation, producer of the
Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, has earned Gold Level
certification by the Council for Responsible Sport (Council) for its social
and environmental sustainability initiatives. This is the second
certification for the event, held October 11, 2014— the first was in 2008.
Organizers met criteria for 48 of the best practice standards offered by
the Council across five categories including: planning and communications,
procurement, resource management, access and equity and community legacy.
Success came from increased attention to waste diversion from the landfill
and procuring over 70 percent of food served from local or organic sources,
including apple crisp made by local technical high school students. 1,800
pounds of discarded clothing was distributed to local charities and 1,000
heat sheets were collected and recycled into decking material.
Single-use plastic water bottles were eliminated entirely and instead
runners were given reusable bottles. In addition, athletes were given the
opportunity to drink from a 40-ft long waste-free water bubbler at the
finish line. The event neutralized its contribution to climate change by
purchasing verified carbon dioxide emission offsets from Native Energy.
"The continuation of our valuable partnership with Eversource will help
further sustainability efforts and support the event's positive impact on
local communities, charities and participants," said Beth Shluger, CEO of
the Hartford Marathon Foundation and Race Director of the Eversource
Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.
"The Hartford Marathon Foundation has shown a continued commitment to
serving the local community by providing resources, support and continued
opportunities for citizens to cultivate healthy lifestyles," said Shelley
Villalobos, certification director at the Council for Responsible Sport,
"Staff has done an incredible job of weaving sustainability into the way
they approach the planning and execution of this event."
In addition to reducing the environmental impacts of the event, social
inclusivity was not overlooked. 2,500 youth participated in the Hartford
Marathon Foundation's FitKids program including a one-mile fun run and
healthy training skills camp, and a total of 37 athletes with disabilities
completed the marathon, half marathon or 5k.
An economic impact study found that the event generates $13.2 million of
local economic activity.
About the Council for Responsible Sport:
Our vision is a world where responsibly produced sports events are the
norm. Our mission is to provide objective, independent verification of the
socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are doing,
and to actively support event organizers who strive to make a difference in
their communities. The current version of the Council's Certification
standards (v.4.1) was developed by an outside working group of both
sustainability and sport industry experts, reviewed by a wide range of
stakeholders throughout 2013 and implemented in January 2014.
www.CouncilforResponsibleSport.org
About the Hartford Marathon Foundation:
The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded
in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be
healthy and fit. Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford Marathon
Foundation organizes nearly 42 annual athletic events, including the
Eversource Hartford Marathon, and 25 training programs. For more
information, visit www.HartfordMarathon.com and on Facebook at HMF Events
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