Atlanta Track Club to Award $132,125 to 23 Metro Atlanta Nonprofit Organizations through Adopt a Marathon Mile Program

Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta was named “Participant Favorite”and took home top monetary prize

The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) will award $132,125 to the 23 local nonprofit organizations that participated in the Adopt a Marathon Mile program at the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay on October 28. Seven of the 23 participating nonprofit organizations were awarded the top donation of $7,500. Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta also took home an additional $500 as “Participant Favorite,” an honor awarded based on feedback from participants in a post-event survey.

“The organizations participating in this year’s Adopt a Marathon Mile program provided Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay participants with plenty of energy, inspiration and motivation along the 26.2 mile course,” said Tracey Russell, executive director of the ATC. “Thanks to the high level of engagement from each of these organizations, the Atlanta Track Club is giving back nearly $15,000 more than we did in 2011 when we first introduced the Adopt a Marathon Mile program.”

Donation amounts varied based on the level of participation from each organization. Volunteer requirements for participating nonprofits included a minimum of 15 volunteers to assist the ATC at the water stops and a minimum of 15 spectators and cheerleaders in each “cheer zone.” Organizations that met the minimum requirements on race day received a base donation of $3,500. Bonus points, which were redeemed for additional donations up to $7,500 per organization, were awarded to those that offered extra course support in categories including the number of volunteers, costumes and signage, among others.

2012 ATC Adopt a Marathon Mile Donation Amount
Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta $8,000
Historic Oakland Foundation $7,500
L.E.A.D. $7,500
Girls on the Run Atlanta $7,500
Miles for Cystic Fibrosis $7,500
Homestretch $7,500
Georgia Foundation for Public Education $7,500
Center for Puppetry Arts $7,250
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta $7,250
Kate's Club $7,000
Lionheart School $7,000
Rockdale Special Olympics $6,750
Sheltering Arms $6,750
Piedmont Park Conservancy $6,625
Embraced $6,000
Back On My Feet Atlanta $6,000
FCA South Cobb/Buckhead $5,750
MUST Ministries $5,250
Boy Scouts of America $5,000
Gwinnett County Master Gardeners $2,500 *

*Gwinnett County Master Gardeners was one of four organizations vying for one $2,500 award.

Close to 2,500 participants took part in the 2012 Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay. Reuben Mwei, of Kennesaw, Ga., was the overall winner of the 2012 Atlanta Marathon with a time of 2:23:25, and Christine Rockey, of Conway, S.C., claimed the women’s top prize with a time of 3:09:09. Visit atlantamarathon.org for more information regarding the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay.

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. Through the support of its members and volunteers, the Atlanta Track Club also maintains a number of community initiatives including organizing and promoting the Kilometer Kids youth running program to metro Atlanta youth, honoring high school cross country and track and field athletes through the ATC’s All-Metro Banquets and supporting the Grady Bicycle EMT program. For more information on the Atlanta Track Club, visit atlantatrackclub.org.