The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund will distribute US$70,000 in grant funding to initiatives and groups in the greater Panama City Beach, Florida community in conjunction with the 2014 IRONMAN Florida triathlon taking place on Saturday 1 November 2014.
The IRONMAN Foundation’s contribution will provide support to non-profit needs and initiatives within the local community.
Through the Community Fund, The IRONMAN Foundation will provide US$45,000 in grant donations to local non-profit groups that have a volunteerism component to their organizations. Several non-profit organizations will also benefit from a new US$10,000 community grant program, made available through a grant application process.
“The mission of the IRONMAN Foundation is to leave IRONMAN’s legacy through philanthropy, voluntarism and grant making, and to support various non-profit organizations around the world,” said Betsy Langan, Community Relations Manager for The IRONMAN Foundation.
“We are thrilled to expand The Foundation’s reach and impact through several new community grants in Panama City Beach.”
A formal grant check presentation will take place at the IRONMAN Florida Athlete Welcome Banquet on Thursday 30 October at the Boardwalk Beach Resort Main Ballroom.
Additionally, The IRONMAN Foundation, in partnership with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation (FHSPSF), will donate US$15,000 to the Panama City Beach Police Department to show support of first responder groups. This donation will be used to procure a six-person Utility Terrain Vehicle (UTV) to respond to calls for service in areas that are not easily accessible to the standard patrol vehicle.
“Our officers often respond to medical emergencies, disturbances, crashes, distressed swimmers and missing persons in remote areas, inaccessible to normal police vehicles. With the addition of a Police UTV we will be able to respond more quickly, greatly enhancing the safety of our community and increasing capabilities to save lives,” said Captain Rich McClanahan.
“Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, along with The IRONMAN Foundation, is grateful for the opportunity to give back to those who loyally serve our communities,” said Robin Peters, Executive Director of FHSPSF. “As IRONMAN athletes prove that ‘Anything is Possible’, we feel that the mantra also represents what can be done to support the men and women who have dedicated their lives to protecting others.”
The IRONMAN Foundation will also join forces with two organizations to combat hunger, using IRONMAN Florida as a platform for collecting donations. Through the United We Can food drive, The Foundation will collect canned food, supporting the local drive’s goal of distributing over 25,000 pounds of food to local charities.
IRONMAN Tri-club members, individual athletes and their supporters will bring canned food to the IRONMAN Village Expo in advance of the race, and donations will be transported to a drop off location for distribution around the Panama City Beach community. Over the past four years, this canned food drive has provided over 100,000 pounds of food to local charities with a goal of helping them serve families through Thanksgiving.
In addition, The IRONMAN Foundation will continue a partnership with the national non-profit organization Move For Hunger at IRONMAN Florida in order to fill US nation’s food banks. In an effort to give back to the local community, The IRONMAN Foundation has agreed to donate leftover food from select races throughout the United States to neighbourhood food banks.
By teaming up with moving companies, Move For Hunger arranges pickup and delivery directly from the event to the local food bank. With moving trucks and forklifts, the movers devote their free time by volunteering for the non-profit organization.
“We are beyond excited about the partnership with the IRONMAN Foundation for these select races,” said Adam Lowy, Move For Hunger Executive Director. “Not only is IRONMAN making a big impact in the fight against hunger, the food donated is of high nutritional value, great for those who are malnourished.”
One in six Americans, including 17 million children, are considered food insecure. Move For Hunger and The IRONMAN Foundation have partnered in three other race communities in 2014, transporting a total of 84,585 pounds of food for delivery to those in need.
The IRONMAN Foundation also provides registered athletes with the platform to fund-raise for The Foundation or a non-profit beneficiary of their choice as they train for their IRONMAN event. These athletes have signed up to participate in The IRONMAN Foundation’s ‘Your Journey, Your Cause’ fundraising program.
Through their participation with The Foundation these athletes have been touched by something greater than themselves and are giving back to non-profit organizations to make their race experiences more than just crossing the finish line – they are racing for a cause. Collectively, the ‘Your Journey, Your Cause’ athletes have raised a total of US14,000 for their respective causes.
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