FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Honda LA Marathon Moving Strongly Toward
Charity Challenge Goal of $4 million
Impressive $808,000 Raised Already,
with Seven Weeks Still Left Before Raceday
LOS ANGELES, February 5, 2011 – In amounts from $5 to more than $10,000, an
unprecedented $808,000 has already been raised for community, institutional
and even individual fund-raising programs with nearly 60 days still left
before the 2011 edition Honda LA Marathon presented by K-Swiss.
In addition to its traditional affiliation with dozens of local and
national charitable organizations, the race added a significant new partner
this year in Crowdrise.com, a easy-to-use, Web-based portal for
fund-raising.
"During the past two years, we've made great strides in expanding our
charitable program, but Crowdrise is helping us take it to a whole new
level," said LA MARATHON LLC chief operating officer Nick Curl. "It's a
fairly staggering total when you consider that our partnership with
Crowdrise just launched and our race isn't until March 20. We've set an
aggressive goal of raising $4 million – far more than ever before – and we
believe we are on pace to achieve it."
From high-profile programs like the ThinkCure! cancer research fund to
individual initiatives to raise money for family members facing
life-threatening medical challenges, the unique Crowdrise.com interface
makes contributing to a favorite cause easier than ever.
"It'll allow anybody to participate," said actor Edward Norton, who helped
found Crowdrise, in an interview during "Valentine in the Morning" on Clear
Channel's MyFM 104.3 in Los Angeles. "You don't even have to have an
official charity. You or your team can go to the Web site and run for any
cause you choose. Like for instance, Flea [of the Red Hot Chili Peppers] is
running a contest on my Web site for his music conservatory, a music
conservatory that he started. He is donating a bass guitar signed by all
the members of the Red Hot Chili Peppers for those who want to support his
cause."
During a joint appearance with Flea on the KTLA Morning News, Norton added
that "Just a couple of clicks of the mouse button, no hassles or logistics
and all of it will channel toward the LA Marathon total." Flea, who is
running in the March 20 race, noted that "ten years ago I started a
non-profit music school called the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music. It is
a community-based school in Los Angeles to give music lessons. It's not
about being famous or a celebrity, but about academic music instruction and
studying the art of music.
"The school costs a million dollars a year to run and we have 700 kids a
week studying music, trying to fill a void for the lack of artistic funds
available in [the L.A. Unified School District]. So I'm running the
Marathon to raise money for my school. Crowdrise.com is such an awesome
thing because many people, whether they have a billion dollars or five
dollars to give, want to help out and this is an opportunity for everyone
to help out. Edward has been gracious enough to help me with the school and
I'm just excited to be a part of it. These two things are great. Exercising
and getting in shape and taking care of your body is a good thing but to do
it with a purpose. Lifting up yourself as well as other people, what could
be a better thing?"
Organizations like the Silver Lake Conservatory of Music, ThinkCure! and
others are also in the spirit of giving back with contests for donors on
Crowdrise. For example, Flea has put up a bass guitar signed by the Red Hot
Chili Peppers; anyone donating $25 or more through
crowdrise.com/teamsilverlake within the next three weeks is eligible for
the drawing.
ThinkCure!'s current contest runs through February 10 and offers a drawing
for an authentic Dodgers jersey autographed by centerfielder Matt Kemp and
two tickets to Opening Day at Dodger Stadium vs. the San Francisco Giants;
anyone signing up for the ThinkCure! team and raising $10 or more for the
charity by February 10 is automatically entered. Additional contests will
continue right up to raceday.
Many participants in the Marathon raise money through pledges for each mile
covered in the race over the 26.2-mile Stadium to the Sea course. Last
year, however, the race sold out early and registration closed, leaving
some runners unable to participate...and unable to undertake their
fund-raising venture. Curl is asking runners to make sure they're in the
race for sure by registering early this year.
"We don't want to leave people out, but the Stadium to the Sea course is
quickly becoming one of the iconic marathon routes worldwide and
registration has been strong so far in 2011," he noted. "Registration is
online at www.LAmarathon.com, is easier than ever to complete and the early
birds will be the ones assured of being on the line at Dodger Stadium to
compete in the 26th Honda LA Marathon."
About LA MARATHON LLC:
We inspire athletes and connect communities. With thousands of volunteers,
tens of thousands of participants and hundreds of thousands of spectators,
the Honda Los Angeles Marathon presented by K-Swiss is one of the largest
organized road races in the country. For more information, visit
www.lamarathon.com.
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