FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Morehead Named Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Foundation
AUGUST 27, 2014 - On behalf of the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF), the
Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) announced today that Executive Director
Wade Morehead will also assume the duties of Executive Director for the
Foundation. In addition to this announcement, the HMF is getting a new look
by changing its logo to include the iconic star footprint associated with
the Houston Marathon Committee since its inception.
"Both the HMC and HMF Board of Directors have been extremely pleased and
impressed with Wade's leadership and the direction of the Houston Marathon
Committee since his arrival in 2010," stated Houston Marathon Foundation
President Maddie Bunch. "We are extremely pleased that Wade will take on
this additional role because the collaboration between both organizations
can be mutually beneficial and the new logo was created to make it visibly
clear that the HMF is the philanthropic arm of the Committee."
The mission of the Houston Marathon Foundation is to support the
advancement of running as an element of a balanced and healthy lifestyle in
the Houston community and nationally. In 2013, the HMF educated and helped
train more than 500+ Houston area middle and high school students, teaching
running and exercise fundamentals while also providing mentorship. The
Foundation was also one of the top funding partners for the Memorial Park
stretching area rebuild.
Additionally, the HMF has teamed with Texas Children's Hospital for seven
years to host its annual Family Fun Run. For the first time in 2013, the
Fun Run was conducted as a stand-alone event in the Spring at TCH's West
Campus in Katy instead of on race weekend downtown. The change has proven
to be a success, featuring over 3,300 family participants in April of this
year.
"The HMC hosts an event weekend that has grown in scope over the years and
includes the largest single-day sporting event in Houston, generating over
$50 million in economic impact for the region and featuring 250,000
participants, spectators, and volunteers; but the event transcends race
weekend by impacting the region year-round and the Houston Marathon
Foundation plays an important role in these legacy efforts," said Morehead.
"We take a great deal of pride in this community and are committed to
several initiatives which includes the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a
Reason charity program that generates over $2 million annually for local
charities; a sustainability program that garnered gold certification in
2013-14 from the Council of Responsible Sport; and a Foundation that will
expose hundreds of new runners to the sport and support local runners of
all levels."
The Foundation was created in 2007 and guided by the HMF Board of Directors
and employee Ally Walker, who has worked for the Foundation since 2010.
Walker was promoted to Sr. Manager, HMF Community Development and will now
report to Morehead, who will report to the HMF and HMC Board of Directors.
In 2010, Morehead became the first Executive Director in the history of the
Houston Marathon Committee. A graduate of both the University of Tulsa (BA,
'91) and Tennessee (MS, '94), he helped lead the organization to host the
nationally-televised 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. Morehead is a
founding member of the endurance event public safety steering committee for
the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), and
currently volunteers on the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau
Board of Directors. An adjunct professor at the University of Houston
Conrad N. Hilton College, Morehead also volunteers for Special Olympics
International.
In addition to the staffing change, the HMF's new logo was launched today.
It was designed to increase compatibility with HMC branding to make it
more instantly recognizable.
For more information on the Houston Marathon Foundation, visit
www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com/AboutHMC/HoustonMarathonFoundation.cfm.
About the Houston Marathon Foundation
Founded in 2007, the Houston Marathon Foundation is a community
organization with local roots. The HMF serves the greater Houston area
through program management and support of organizations that demonstrate
sound fiscal management, efficient operation, and program integrity while
promoting an understanding of, access to, and/or participation in running
as part of a physical fitness regimen.
About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.
Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC), a Running
USA Founding Member, annually organizes the nation's premier winter
marathon, half-marathon, and 5K. Over 250,000 participants, volunteers and
spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the largest single-day
sporting event in Houston. Race Weekend generates over $50 million in
economic impact for the region annually. In 2014, the Run For a Reason
Charity Program raised a record $2.6 million and the HMC retained Gold
Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport for industry-leading
sustainability initiatives. Host to 14 U.S. Half Marathon Championships
since 2005 and the 1992 women's Olympic Trials Marathon, HMC conducted the
nationally-televised 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon, which featured men
and women competing on the same course simultaneously for the first time,
vying for the chance to represent Team USA at the 2012 Olympic Games.
For more information, visit www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com or call
713.957.3453.
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