The Ironman Foundation Community Fund will distribute US$70,000 in grant funding to initiatives and groups in the Coeur d’Alene, Idaho, community in conjunction with the 2014 Ironman Coeur d’Alene triathlon taking place on Sunday 29 June 2014.
The Ironman Foundation’s contribution will provide support to non-profit needs and initiatives within the local community. With the 2014 donations from the Ironman Foundation, a total of US$575,000 has been given to support the needs of the community since the first Ironman Coeur d’Alene event in 2003.
The Ironman Foundation will donate US$35,000 to the Coeur d’Alene community to support local non-profit beneficiaries that will use the funds toward local initiatives to better the area. Two recipients of these funds are the City of Coeur d’Alene for sports and recreation activities and The Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center for their Third Grade Swim program.
“The Ironman Foundation made the difference in this year’s Third Grade Swim program at The Kroc Center, helping teach over 1,000 Kootenai County students water safety and swim basics,” said Christy Markham, Development Director from The Salvation Army Kroc Center. “The grant from The Foundation helped increase enrolment by 50% and provided the needed funds to invite schools who had never been able to participate.”
A third organization to benefit from those funds will be identified at the Athlete Welcome Ceremony on Friday, 27 June 2014 in the Bandshell City Park as part of the new community grant application initiative. Non-profit groups in the Coeur d’Alene community who were interested in a community grant through The Ironman Foundation were able to submit applications to the foundation with one recipient being selected.
In addition to donating funds to these community organizations, The Ironman Foundation will provide the additional US$35,000 in grant donations to local non-profit groups who have a volunteerism component to their organizations.
The Ironman Foundation also provides registered athletes with the platform to fundraise for the foundation or a non-profit beneficiary of their choice as they train for their Ironman event. Fifteen registered Ironman Coeur d’Alene 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 they have raised nearly US$50,000 for their respective causes. Athletes have now raised over US$200,000 as part of this initiative in 2014.
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