Akron, OH (Dec. 28, 2021) — The Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation staff and Board of Directors are thrilled to announce its nonprofit charity partners through its Blue Line Charity Program raised $94,310.00 during the 2021 racing season, a 9.53 percent increase from 2019.
Part of the mission of the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation is to benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations. To date, more than $6 million has been raised through the net proceeds of events, runner donations, and its Blue Line Charity Partner Program.
The Blue Line Charity Partner Program allows nonprofits from the community to use the Akron Marathon Race Series presented by Summa Health as a fundraiser. With over 14,000 runners and 2,000 volunteers, the Akron Marathon and related events provide a large audience for nonprofit organizations.
Local nonprofit organizations with a 501(c)3 status are eligible to apply and the top charities that raise more than $5,000 as part of the Blue Line Charity Program will receive a donation from the Akron Marathon. Donations vary depending on annual proceeds.
2021 Top Fundraisers include:
- Craine’s Cholangiocarcinoma Crew: $39,193 (+ $5,000 donated by Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation)
- Akron Children’s Hospital: $16,005 (+ $2,000 donated by Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation)
- Melina Michelle Edenfield Foundation: $7,390 (+ $1,000 donated by Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation)
Additional charity partners include:
- Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank
- American Heart Association – Akron Heart Walk
- Building for Tomorrow
- Curated Storefront
- Family Promise of Summit County
- Girls on the Run of Northeast Ohio
- Golden Treasures Golden Retriever Rescue
- Hope and Healing Survivor Resource Center (Battered Women’s Shelter and Rape Crisis Center of Summit & Medina Counties)
- International Welcome Center
- Open Arms Adoption
- Rahab Ministries
- Running2BWell
- Stewart’s Caring Place
- Summa Health
- Wellington Exempted Village Schools District
As part of this program, nonprofit partners are asked to recruit runners who will fundraise on their behalf, as well as volunteers to give their time on race weekend. All funds raised by the individual nonprofits will go directly to them.
“We’re thrilled with the results of this year’s Blue Line Charity Program and grateful for our running community who showed such support to our nonprofit partners,” states Anne Bitong, president and CEO of the Akron Marathon Charitable Corporation. “As a nonprofit, we know the work and dedication that goes into providing services to Northeast Ohio and these numbers reflect our passion and mission to benefit nonprofit and charitable organizations.”
Applications for the 2022 Blue Line Charity Program are now open. For more information on the Blue Line Charity Program please visit AkronMarathon.org.
