The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund will distribute more than US$122,000 in grant funding to initiatives and groups in the greater Woodlands area in conjunction with the 2015 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas presented by Waste Management, which takes place on Saturday 16 May.
The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund provides community and volunteer grant opportunities to non-profit organizations where US IRONMAN events are held. With the 2015 donations from The IRONMAN Foundation, nearly US$522,000 has been given since the first IRONMAN event in The Woodlands.
In 2015, The IRONMAN Foundation will provide more than US$1.5 million to support the needs of IRONMAN race communities across North America.
Community grants
The IRONMAN Foundation’s Community Fund will provide a total of US$50,000 in community grants that are given to local non-profit beneficiaries that will use the funds toward initiatives to better the Woodlands area.
“Grant funding is one way that The IRONMAN Foundation leaves a lasting legacy in the communities where IRONMAN races take place,” said Dave Deschenes, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “We are thrilled to support The Woodlands community with these community grant awards.”
All community grant recipients will be honoured at the Athlete Welcome Banquet on Thursday 14 May 2014 at 17:30 at the Marriott Hotel.
One recipient of these funds is Meals on Wheels Montgomery County, a local organization that will use its US$10,000 grant to increase homebound meal deliveries to seniors not currently being served.
“Meals on Wheels Montgomery County currently serves 450 homebound seniors with a nutritious meal every day,” said Allison Hulett, Executive Director for Meals on Wheels Montgomery County. “These are the elderly among us that otherwise could not procure a meal for themselves. With that said, we still have a waiting list of approximately 200 disabled seniors needing our services to continue to age in their homes, where they want to stay.
“We are grateful that The IRONMAN Foundation will allow our organization to deliver 5,460 meals to needy seniors over the next 12 months!”
Other community grant recipients include Education for Tomorrow Alliance, Montgomery County Youth Services, Angel Reach and the Boy Scouts of America – George Strake District Chapter.
Volunteer grants
The IRONMAN Foundation’s Community Fund will also provide US$50,000 in grant donations to local non-profit groups that have a volunteerism component to their organizations.
“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 IRONMAN Foundation’s reach and impact through volunteer grants in The Woodlands.”
Last year, volunteer grant funding was distributed among thirty seven community groups in the region.
Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation
The IRONMAN Foundation, in partnership with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation (FHSPSF), will also donate one grant of US$17,777 to Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services to show support of first responder groups. This donation will be used to procure a customized utility vehicle and bike team equipment hauling trailer.
“This grant will allow Cypress Creek EMS to store and deploy the necessary equipment to a variety of events or disasters in a professional and safe manner,” said Wren Nealy, Director of Special Operations for Cypress Creek Emergency Medical Services. “This equipment will greatly enhance safety, and could potentially save lives.”
“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. “We continue to see the amazing IRONMAN athletes proving 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 Newton Running Ambassador Triathlon Team
The IRONMAN Foundation Newton Running Ambassador Triathlon Team, in its third year of existence, will be giving back in The Woodlands, Texas. The goal of the team is to have athletes share the concept of ‘service through sport and commitment to community.’
The IRONMAN Foundation and Newton Running recruited athletes from across North America to represent the team and share the goodwill of giving back to race communities. 20 members will be representing the team in Texas, and have identified Interfaith of the Woodlands as the beneficiary of a hands-on service project and the fundraising efforts of the team.
Interfaith is a non-profit social service organization that meets the basic needs of children, adults, families and seniors, improving their overall well-being and promoting self-sufficiency and independent living. Tri Team members have raised more than US$22,000 to donate to the organization.
Additionally, the team will be volunteering in Interfaith’s community garden, called ‘Veggie Village’, which provides fresh produce for Interfaith’s food pantry, and for a food delivery service for homebound senior citizens. Tri Team members will provide hands-on help, including harvesting veggies, mulching and assembling shelving for the food storage unit.
To further enhance this service project, Newton Running has donated 36 pairs of running shoes; and Foster Grant has donated 200 pairs of glasses to be distributed among Interfaith clients.
“Our partnership with Newton Running has allowed us to come into a community and showcase that IRONMAN is so much more than an amazing endurance event,” said Dave Deschenes, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “It is about IRONMAN, our partners and athletes making a difference in our race communities through the sport of triathlon.”
TEAM IMF
TEAM IMF is The IRONMAN Foundation’s fundraising triathlon team. Team members have the opportunity to race in the IRONMAN event of their choice when they commit to raise US$3,000 for The IRONMAN Foundation’s Community Fund.
Athletes participating in this program through the 2015 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas presented by Waste Management have raised nearly US$60,000, while collectively all of the Foundation’s TEAM IMF athletes have raised nearly US$350,000 for the IRONMAN Foundation’s Community Fund in 2015.
Featured charity partner
Save the Children is a featured charity partner of the 2015 Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas presented by Waste Management. The organization’s mission is to invest in childhood – ‘every day, in times of crisis and for our future’. The charity gives children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm.
Save the Children will race with a team of 40 athletes on race day. The Save the Children team is on track to raise more than US$200,000 for international children’s relief work.
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