Atlanta Track Club Announces Nonprofits for their Adopt a Marathon Mile Program

ATLANTA  – The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) announced 26 metro Atlanta nonprofit organizations have been chosen to participate in its Adopt a Marathon Mile program during the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay on Sunday, October 28.  The organizations will “adopt” a mile along the route, assisting with water stops and creating “cheer zones,” in exchange for a donation from the ATC. 

Adopt a Marathon Mile is the ATC’s neighborhood and nonprofit program created to help generate course support on race day while giving back to Atlanta’s nonprofit organizations.  In 2011, $117,500 was awarded between 18 participating nonprofits.  For 2012, the number of participating organizations has increased to 26 nonprofits, 15 of which participated in 2011.

All 26 organizations were selected based on their funding needs and ability to recruit volunteers for one of the marathon miles.  The ATC will donate between $3,500 and $7,500 to 20 of the nonprofit organizations, depending on the level of assistance and participation from each group.  Organizations that meet the minimum requirements on race day will receive a base donation of $3,500 while those offering extra support can earn bonus points for additional donations up to $7,500 per organization.  Points will be awarded based on categories such as the number of volunteers, number of people wearing costumes, signage and promotion of the nonprofit, among others. 

 

Those 20 organizations include:

 

·       Embraced

·       American Cancer Society- Determination

·       Lionheart School

·       MUST Ministries

·       Back On My Feet Atlanta

·       Fellowship of Christian Athletes

·       Historic Oakland Foundation

·       Georgia Foundation for Public Education

·       L..E.A.D.       

·       Sheltering Arms

·       Rockdale Special Olympics Piedmont Park Conservancy

·       Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta

·       Girls on the Run Atlanta

·       Boy Scouts of America

·       Center for Puppetry Arts

·       Girl Scouts of Atlanta

·       Miles for Cystic Fibrosis

·       Homestretch

·       Kate’s Club    

New for 2012, six additional nonprofits were selected to compete for one $2,500 donation.  Those six organizations include:

 

·       Adopt a Golden Atlanta

·       Gwinnett County Master Gardners

·       HealthSTAT     

·       Rockdale County Emergency Relief Fund

·       Trees Atlanta

·       Variety – Children’s Charity of Georgia

 “We are thrilled to be able to increase the number of nonprofit participants and their level of involvement this year,” said Tracey Russell, executive director of the ATC.  “It’s important for the Atlanta Track Club to give back to the community we run through, and we are happy to support these nonprofits that have such a positive impact on the Atlanta community.”   

The Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay will start and finish at Atlantic Station and features a USA Track & Field certified loop course that takes place entirely within Atlanta.  The event has a marathon prize purse of $10,500 and features a challenging course that takes participants on a tour of Atlanta past well-known sites and neighborhoods including Centennial Olympic Park, Georgia Aquarium, CNN Center, Turner Field, The King Center, Grant Park, Virginia-Highland, Piedmont Park, Buckhead and along Peachtree Road.  

To register or for more information on the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay, visit www.atlantamarathon.org.  Registration is available through 11:59 p.m. on Wednesday, October 24.

 

About the Atlanta Marathon

The Atlanta Marathon, organized by the Atlanta Track Club, is the oldest marathon in the Southeast and among the longest running marathons in the United States.  The event is an urban marathon and marathon relay that takes participants on a tour through the largest city in the Southeast, Atlanta. With a challenging course, festive cheer zones and a 6 1/2 hour course limit, this event is the perfect opportunity for both first-timers and seasoned runners looking to achieve their marathon goals.  For additional information on the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay, visit atlantamarathon.org.

 

About the Atlanta Track Club

The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) is a nonprofit organization established to inspire and engage the community to achieve health and fitness through running.

With more than 18,000 members, the ATC is the second largest running organization in the United States. In addition to the AJC Peachtree Road Race (peachtreeroadrace.org) – the largest 10K running event in the world, the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay (atlantamarathon.org), and the Atlanta Half Marathon and Thanksgiving Day 5K (atlantahalfmarathon.org), the Atlanta Track Club directs more than 25 running events per year. 

For more information on the Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.