HOUSTON (April 6, 2016) - The 2016 Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity program has raised over $2,300,000 to benefit 60 official charities. With more than 18,500 donations, this year marks the sixth in a row that fundraising has surpassed the $2 million plateau.
Since the program's inception in 1995, more than $24 million has been raised to benefit various charities. Since breaking the $1 million fundraising mark in 2008, charity donations have generated over $18 million.
"The Houston Marathon Committee is extremely grateful for the commitment and dedication of all 60 official charities, and to the thousands who donated to and fundraised for the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason program this year," said Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Committee and Foundation. "The philanthropic nature of the Greater Houston community, our runners, and our sponsors is remarkable, and the $24 million raised since the inception of the program has been truly beneficial to each charity over the past 20 years."
The Run for a Reason program links runners with participating nonprofits and provides a platform for charities to raise awareness and funds as well as educate others about their cause. The program also offers alternative ways to enter the marathon and half marathon races through guaranteed charity HERO registration and Fundraising for Registration options.
Official 2016-2017 Run for a Reason charities will be announced on May 4, 2016. Guaranteed HERO Registration will be available beginning on May 5, 2016 and Fundraising for Registration entries will be available beginning on June 1, 2016.
The 45th running of the Chevron Houston Marathon race weekend, also featuring the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and ABB 5K, will take place on January 13-15, 2017. Open registration for the marathon and half marathon begins on June 1, 2016 at ChevronHoustonMarathon.com.
To learn more about the Run for a Reason charity program, please visit RunforaReasonHouston.org.
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 2016, the Run for a Reason Charity Program raised $2.3 million and the HMC retained Gold Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport and was awarded the AIMS Green Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Host to 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships since 2005 and the 1992 women's Olympic Trials Marathon, the 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 ChevronHoustonMarathon.com or call 713.957.3453.
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