FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Philadelphia Marathon Donates $150K to American Red Cross
Mayor Michael Nutter and Philadelphia Marathon Race Officials
Presented a Check for Hurricane Sandy Relief Efforts at City Hall Today.
PHILADELPHIA (April 5, 2013) - On behalf of the Philadelphia Marathon,
Philadelphia Mayor Michael A. Nutter and Philadelphia Marathon Executive
Director Desiree Peterkin-Bell contributed $150,000 to the American Red
Cross today. The funds will support the Red Cross' ongoing and much-needed
rebuilding efforts following the devastation caused by Hurricane Sandy last
year.
"Today's check presentation completes a fundraising plan created by the
Philadelphia Marathon last November in response to Hurricane Sandy," said
Mayor Nutter. "We support the Red Cross' efforts to restore normalcy for
the people still feeling the effects of Hurricane Sandy. Using the
Philadelphia Marathon as a platform to improve the lives of others is one
of our goals. We want to do our part to assist the Red Cross and those who
need assistance."
The funds will benefit many in need of relief during the ongoing recovery
and rebuilding stages in the region said Judge Renee Cardwell Hughes, CEO
of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Red Cross.
"We are grateful to the Philadelphia Marathon and Mayor Nutter," said Judge
Hughes. "Their contribution helps nearly 9,000 families who are still
without permanent housing. Appropriately, we believe that Sandy relief
efforts are indeed a marathon, not a sprint. It is critical we pace
ourselves to make sure assistance is still available for people who need it
months, and potentially years, from now."
Philadelphia Marathon race officials hosted nearly 1,500 runners that were
unable to participate in the ING New York City Marathon due to Hurricane
Sandy. The registration fee for the displaced NYC Marathoners was $200.
Half of that registration fee was a donation towards the Hurricane Sandy
relief efforts, while the remaining cost covered the additional Marathon
supplies and resources needed to accommodate the extra runners.
Initially, about 350 of those runners were able to register among the
Philadelphia Marathon's 34 charity partners. More than 1,200 charity race
slots were offered to all Philadelphia Marathon race participants
supporting a mix of local, national and international initiatives.
Collectively, the 2012 Philadelphia Marathon charities raised more than $1
million.
"In addition to being an athletic race, the Philadelphia Marathon follows a
holistic model that uses marathoning as a vehicle to reach many relevant
goals in the community," said Executive Director Peterkin-Bell. "We
consistently seek ways to provide effective fundraising for charitable
organizations and to raise awareness for important causes."
The American Red Cross' Hurricane Sandy relief operation continues to be
one of the largest in recent history. The Red Cross provides 30,000 meals
per day in New York, and thousands of caseworkers who meet individually
with affected families.
The Red Cross is currently accepting donations supporting Hurricane Sandy
relief efforts. To donate, supporters must write a check with "Sandy" in
the memo line. Although Red Cross online donations are no longer designated
only for Sandy relief, those funds will go toward a wide-range of disaster
assistance initiatives.
Registration for the 20th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Marathon began
Monday, April 1.
Philadelphia Marathon Weekend attracts more than 30,000 runners, 60,000
spectators and 3,000 volunteers to Philadelphia to celebrate "20 Years, For
the Love of Running."TM Course events
include the Philadelphia Marathon and Half Marathon on Sunday, November 17;
the 8K Race and Kids Fun Run on Saturday, November 16; and a free two-day
Health & Fitness Expo Friday, November 15 and Saturday, November 16. Race
participants pass many of Philadelphia's famous attractions on the swift
and scenic USATF-certified course, which is a Boston qualifier. For The
Best Time of Your LifeTM, take
the first step to experiencing 26.2 miles of fun, beauty, history and
excitement by visiting www.philadelphiamarathon.com
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