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BURLINGTON, Vermont –RunVermont executive director Peter Delaney announced that People’s United Bank would be the new title sponsor of the Vermont City Marathon beginning with the 2015 race at a news conference on this week.
Next year’s People’s United Bank Vermont City Marathon is scheduled for May 24.
People’s United Bank is only the second title sponsor in the 27-year-old history of the picturesque marathon that runs through the Burlington city streets and along the shores of Lake Champlain.
"It was such a great event. This was my first time here this year and I had heard great things, but seeing is really believing,” said running legend Joan Benoit Samuelson. “I was blown away. Not only the caliber of the runners, but the spectators, the volunteers, the sponsors. Everybody has really come together to make this a marquee event."
The marathon is the centerpiece of a running weekend that also includes the Sport & Fitness Expo and the MVP Health Care YAM Scram Youth Running Festival. The marathon attracts more than 8,000 participants, and more than 1,700 volunteers. The weekend has an estimated yearly economic impact of $3.5 million to the local economy.
“Beginning with our 2015 event, we think people will begin to see how we’re strengthening the future of this marathon and all of our RunVermont events,” said Delaney.
The partnership will be a key step in an expanded marketing and promotion campaign to highlight the event as a “destination marathon” looking to use the People’s United Bank locations throughout the region as an important tool.
“We are thrilled to take on the role of title sponsor of the Vermont City Marathon & Relay beginning in 2015. Through the partnerships and the hard work of the RunVermont staff, this event has grown to be a very important milestone kicking off our Vermont summers,” said Michael Seaver, Vermont President – People’s United Bank. “With our locations throughout New England and New York, we hope to bring much more regional awareness and growth to the marathon.”
“RunVermont is excited to be partnering with People’s United Bank as we look to the future,” said RunVermont Board Chair Kevin Dwyer. “We think the partnership is a strong fit with the marathon’s demographic footprint, the shared commitment to community, and the enthusiasm to create a healthy lifestyle. This partnership will leverage the network of People’s United Bank throughout the northeast states and also bring the awareness of the event to a new level within the region.”
“Marathons have evolved, and staying ahead of the pack requires not only our traditional approach to creating a great course with supportive volunteers and spectators, but also new ways of targeting marketing and race promotion,” said Delaney. “Our team opened our discussion up to potential new sponsors, and in the final evaluation decided that a change would provide new opportunities.”
Based in Connecticut, People's United Bank is a subsidiary of People's United Financial, Inc., a diversified financial services company with $33 billion in assets. People's United Bank, founded in 1842, is a premier, community-based, regional bank in the Northeast offering commercial and retail banking, as well as wealth management services through a network of over 400 retail locations in Connecticut, New York, Massachusetts, Vermont, New Hampshire and Maine.
RunVermont is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization committed to the promotion of running as a life-long activity through complementary programs that celebrate the athletic spirit, are recognized nationally, and embrace the Vermont community. In addition to its premier Memorial Day weekend events, RunVermont presents the FirstRun Burlington 5k each January 1st; the Half Unplugged half-marathon in the spring; Ready, Set, Run spring and summer youth running programs; and consulting, timing and race services support for other Vermont running events.
For more information, visit https://www.runvermont.org
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