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Top Headlines

For Immediate Release
July 25, 2015

Contact:
Beryl Wolfe, Wolfe PR
(520) 399-5770
E-mail: jason@wolfenews.com

Jason Wolfe, Wolfe PR
(520) 399-5097

Web Site: http://www.beach2beacon.org

PRESS KIT: Story Ideas for Media re: 2015 TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race

Story Ideas for Media

(updated July 25)

Topics:

Race Beneficiary Feeds Hungry   Free Photos for Every Runner   Host Families Welcome World   Winning Gold for Greening Efforts   iResultsLive Display Feature Expands for Runners  TD Bank Among Corporate Partners who Fuel the Race   Race Expo Keeps Getting Better   Hannaford Associate to Run in Honor of Friend   Legendary Runner: Joan Benoit Samuelson   New American Prize Purse Sweetens Pot   Showcase Event for Maine Runners   Inspiring Health Story from Camden Cabot Fit Team Returns   Volunteer Effort   Kids Fun Run on Friday Night   Past Beneficiaries Enjoy Gift that Keeps Giving   Town of Cape Elizabeth Rises to Occasion

 

Race Beneficiary – Good Shepherd Food Bank

This year’s beneficiary of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is Good Shepherd Food Bank. As the largest hunger relief organization in Maine, Good Shepherd Food Bank distributes nutritious food to 600 partner agencies across the state, including food pantries, meal sites and youth programs. Together with its network, the Food Bank leads a statewide effort to combat the root causes of hunger by engaging in advocacy, nutrition education and strategic partnerships. In 2014, Good Shepherd Food Bank distributed 17.5 million meals to families, children, and seniors in need throughout Maine. For more info, visit www.feedingmaine.org or call 207-782-3554. Find the organization on Facebook and Twitter.

Good Shepherd Food Bank is the beneficiary of the 2015 TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race on Aug. 1.

Food Bank vs. Food Pantry
This year’s race beneficiary is a food bank rather than a food pantry, and that is an important distinction. Kristen Miale, president of Good Shepherd Food Bank, explains: “Essentially, we are the grocery store to the hundreds of food pantries, soup kitchens, homeless shelters, etc. across Maine. They get the food they need to do their work from us.”

Good Shepherd Food Bank collects donated food from manufacturers and retailers, and also purchases food – including more than 1 million pounds of local Maine produce each year. The organization distributes the food through member agencies throughout the state via three distribution centers: a main 53,000-square-foot warehouse in Auburn, a 5,000-square-foot warehouse in Biddeford, and a 7,000-square-foot warehouse in Brewer.

“Because of our economies of scale in securing and distributing food, every dollar donated to the food bank allows us to provide four meals to a family in need,” Miale said.

Media Contact: For a story on this amazing organization and how wide and deep its reach is throughout Maine, contact Kristen Miale at kmiale@gsfb.org 207-423-5166.

Hannaford & Cooking Matters/store tour
Maine’s Cooking Matters program, which started in 2010, provides low-income people at risk of hunger with hands-on cooking and nutrition classes led by volunteer professional chefs and nutritionists. The four- to six-week classes are held in local community agencies and schools. Classes are free to participants and host agencies. At each class, participants receive a bag of groceries and recipes to try at home. Classes are offered in all 16 Maine counties through a partnership with Maine SNAP-Ed. Hannaford is a major sponsor of both the TD Beach to Beacon and the Cooking Matters program in Maine. For more info, visit www.gsfb.org/how-we-help/programs/cooking-matters-maine/

Media Contacts: Courtney Kennedy, Good Shepherd Food Bank’s Nutrition & Education Manager, ckennedy@gsfb.org 207-577-4847 or Eric Blom, External Communications Manager, Hannaford Supermarkets eblom@hannaford.com 207-885-7175 (o) 207 332-2207 (m)

 

New this Year – Free Photos for Every Runner

Gameface Media, the world’s largest publisher of amateur athletic photos, will partner with TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank® to provide free professionally shot race photos to TD Beach to Beacon 10K participants this year.

Gameface Media has partnered with TD Bank to provide free action photos of each TD Beach to Beacon 10K participant following the Aug. 1 race.

Runners will receive their photos after the race through a simple, streamlined process. Shortly after running from Crescent Beach State Park in Cape Elizabeth to the Portland Head lighthouse, runners will receive an email notifying them that their photos are ready to download at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K Facebook page – a special link that will be created. Participants will then be able to search by bib number or name to download and share images immediately across the most popular social media platforms.

Here are some quotes you can use – or see Media Contact info below if you would like to do a story.

 “Like our 6,500 runners, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K organizers are always striving to improve upon our past performances,” said Larry Wold, President, TD Bank, Maine. “Gameface Media gives race participants something they will truly cherish: a memento of themselves running the race that they can share with friends and family. This unique, best-in-class experience demonstrates our commitment and appreciation for our race’s participants.”

 “Our branded images not only drive social buzz but create authentic connections between brands and their customers,” said Gameface Media CEO David Lavallee. “TD Bank and the TD Beach to Beacon Board of Directors understand the power of highly shareable images and are extending the reach and value of their event with these dynamic photos.”

"Providing free action photos to our runners is a great new feature of the TD Beach to Beacon this year, and we are grateful to TD Bank and Gameface Media for making this happen,” said Race Founder and Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson. "It’s going to make a great day even better for our runners, who will each get to experience an amazing photo finish.”

Media Contact: Tim Morin, Breakaway Innovation Group (617) 399-0635 E-mail: tmorin@breakaway.com.

 

Host Families Welcome World-class Athletes to Cape Elizabeth

Each year, families from Cape Elizabeth and surrounding areas open their homes – and their arms – to elite athletes from around the world. These incredible athletes who arrive from Kenya, Ethiopia, Japan, Romania, Russia, Great Britain and elsewhere around the globe are connected with families in Maine for a cultural experience that rewards both the host family and the athlete. The race’s home stay program is one of the most popular and talked about in the community of world-class athletes – it’s a main reason why some athletes want to return year after year.

We can help arrange interviews with families or help media do a story on the program itself, which promotes cultural awareness as athletes and their host families often swap recipes, customs and stories. More and more local families from the area get involved each year; however, there are some families who have participated for many years now. And those bonds between athlete and family are growing stronger and more connected.  We can supply names of families and their runners.  Gemma Steel at 2013 TD Beach to Beacon 10K.

Defending champion Gemma Steel, who is returning this year, might make an interesting feature. She co-wrote and illustrated a children’s book last year that was inspired by her week in Maine at the 2013 TD Beach to Beacon. The book is called Spots vs. Stripes and it's a tale of six animals divided by appearance – spots versus stripes – but united in one dream to be crowned king of the jungle. The book was “born in the U.S.,” she said. “I was working on it at my host family’s house in Maine and even at the airport waiting for Larry (Barthlow, elite athlete coordinator).  I also was inspired staying on a farm between the two races – the TD Beach to Beacon and Falmouth," she said.

Gemma, who also is the illustrator of her twin sister Louise’s books, said art is “good for the spirit and a good distraction from running and I can let my imagination run wild.”  She and her sister both studied art. “Even though we both have followed different paths - she a journalist and myself an athlete - we have that telepathic link that I think all twins share when it comes to creativity.” Indeed. To see the books and illustrations, follow this link on Lulu.com. For more information, contact Gemma at gemborunning@gmail.com or thru her agent at Dave.Scott@stellargroup.co.uk

Media Contact: Kathy Tarpo, Host Family Coordinator, can provide info about which athlete is staying with what family as well as when they come into town. Contact Kathy at kmtarpo@gmail.com or Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete coordinator, who can assist in reaching runners, at larry@worldeventnetwork.com,

 

Greening the TD Beach to Beacon Wins Gold for 2015!

Thanks to Fairchild, its green corporate sponsor, and Athletes for a Fit Planet, its green consulting partner, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has a long history of commitment to the environment.

This year, that commitment paid dividends as the race earned gold for its greening efforts from an international social and environmental assessment organization.

The Gold Level Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport followed a rigorous review of the TD Beach to Beacon’s environmental and social sustainability programs, which range from comprehensive recycling to reducing carbon emissions to raising money for charities and leaving a positive legacy in the community.

Highlights included:

  • Recycling and composting 84 percent of the 6 tons of waste produced by the race and expo, up from 67 percent in 2012. 
  • Collecting the plastic water bottles at the finish, redeeming them with CLYNK, and donating the money to the race beneficiary.
  • Free bike parking provided to more than 100 runners at Fort Williams in partnership with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine.
  • Offsetting the carbon emissions from race operations with carbon credits from NativeEnergy

The TD Beach to Beacon is not resting on its laurels. The goal for 2015 is to strive for a zero waste event by recycling and composting more than 90 percent of the waste produced by the race. To help reach that goal,  the TD Beach to Beacon 10K will have Green Team volunteers staffing the Recycling Stations at the start and finish to ensure the race recycles all plastic, cardboard and paper, plus compost all food waste.

Also, the race is again offering free bike parking at Fort Williams for runners, and extending the service to volunteers and spectators as well. Shuttle buses to the start will be provided for runners. Those interested in the service are asked to register at http://www.beach2beacon.org/bike-valet-program. Also, for more information, email info@afitplanet.com.

Here are some of the other activities taking place:

  • Give worn-out shoes a brand-new life. Instead of throwing old sneakers out, participants are encouraged to toss them into the Nike Reuse-A-Shoe bins at the Expo and at Nike’s booth at the finish. They are then recycled to be used in new places to play and train - like tracks, field, courts and playgrounds. Athletic shoes only, any brand OK, no damp or muddy shoes, no metal, cleats or dress shoes, no sandals or flip-flops. Visit www.nikereuseashoe.com  for more info.
  • Rideshare to the race. Every mile driven produces about a pound of CO2. To help reduce the race’s carbon footprint, runners, family and spectators are encouraged to share a ride to the Expo and the race and/or use satellite parking and take a shuttle bus. .
  • Offset carbon footprint. As part of the Council for Responsible Sport certification, the race offers runners the opportunity to offset their carbon emissions resulting from travel. Athletes for a Fit Planet is partnered up with  Native Energy to offer a cheap and convenient way to offset the CO2 emissions from you travel. For $3, you can buy a Green Tag that offsets 300 pounds of CO2, which is about 300 miles of travel.
  • Eco-friendly portable toilets. They use only recycled paper and non-toxic chemicals. Satellite parking. Race organizers are providing transportation to and from the race from satellite parking lots at the Hannaford corporate headquarters in Scarborough and SMTC in South Portland as well as from the Cape Elizabeth High School and Middle School lots.
  • Non-toxic paint. Brite Stripe Ultra-Friendly, the turf industry’s only VOC-free paint and the only one to receive EPA approval, is used for the Start and Finish lines.
  • Paperless registration. Runners register online only, and the majority of the race’s communications to runners are conducted via e-mail and through its website.

For more information about eco-initiatives, visit the Green Page at www.beach2beacon.org/green                                                                                

MEDIA CONTACT: Contact Bruce Rayner, Chief Green Officer at Athletes for a Fit Planet – (508) 380-0868 bruce@afitplanet.com. Athletes for a Fit Planet is a leading provider of eco-services for athletic events in the U.S. and Canada. The company advises event organizers on cost-effective strategies, and products and services for reducing, recycling and composting waste, reducing and offsetting greenhouse gas emissions, and minimizing the impact of the event on the local environment.

 

iResultsLIVE Display Feature Expands for Runners

The live iResultsLIVE feature for runners will once again be at the Finish Line. In addition to the large iResults Screen, which has a built-in RFID reader that can read a bib number and display results simply by walking up to the system, a number of iResults iPads will be added to help runners look up results soon after crossing the finish line.

ith the iResults iPads, runners can search either by bib number or by last name, and also view overall results and results for each age-group. The aim of the iPads is to eliminate the need for posting paper results. The system is wireless and waterproof and the iPads will be mounted in steel housings bolted to a table for security. In addition, runners will be able to utilize an iResults Clock, a custom-built digital race clock that is integrated into the iResultsLIVE system. Once a specific finish time is “sent” to the clock, runners will be able to take photos and pose next to their time.

For more information, visit the company website at www.iresultslive.com

Media Contact: Inventor and iResults owner Steve Dulahunty is available at steve.delahunty@gmail.com.

 

TD Bank Leading the Corporate Partners who Fuel the Race

Without the help of title sponsor TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, and the race’s other corporate partners, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K would not be the world-class event that it is. TD Bank former president and CEO Bill Ryan met with Olympic Gold Medalist Joan Benoit Samuelson 18 years ago to create this premier running event in her home state, beginning in 1998.

TD Bank is the title sponsor of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K.

Corporate partners Nike, Hannaford, Poland Spring and MaineHealth also jumped on board that first year and have supported the race ever since. Other long-time sponsors are IDEXX, Northeast Delta Dental and WCSH6. Dead River Company and Olympia Sports signed on in 2014.

“Just like the world-class runners we attract each year, our sponsors include some of the most recognizable and trusted names in Maine, the region and around the world,” said Race President Mike Stone.

He added, “It’s hard to describe just how grateful we are for the generous and vital support we receive from our sponsors, new and returning. In addition to being a world-class road race, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K truly has grown into a celebration of health and fitness for the entire region. The stature of this race would not be maintained without the continued support we receive from all of our sponsors. We can’t thank them enough.”

The race beneficiary, Good Shepherd Food Bank, will receive a check for $30,000 from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®. TD Bank has now donated $540,000 to Maine charities over the history of the race.

Larry Wold, President of TD Bank in Maine, will be among the 125 returning legacy or “streak runners” to run the race for the 18th time this year. Wold, 56, a Freeport, Maine resident, is an active member of the community and is involved in a number of fundraising events and causes. He joined the company in 1991. If interested in a story about someone who is a leader at TD Bank AND has run the race all 17 years, Wold would make a great feature story. Plus, he’s no slouch as a runner. His 2014 time placed him in the top 10 percent of all runners overall! (We can also arrange for a photo or interview while he does his practice runs at lunch around Back Cove, sometimes with Joanie).

MEDIA CONTACT: FMI, contact Beryl Wolfe at beryl@wolfenews.com or visit the race website at www.beach2beacon.org or the bank’s site at www.tdbank.com

 

Top-notch Expo Keeps Getting Bigger and Better

Like almost all aspects of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K, the race’s Expo rates right up there for variety and the sheer number of vendors. There is something for everybody.

 This year, 50 vendors, including various retailers, non-profits and race sponsors, will set up booths to offer helpful information, merchandise and giveaways. The exhibitors are:  Northeast Delta Dental, Cabot Cheese, Hannaford Bros., BonTon, Nike Factory Store, Mainely Tubs, Anthem,  National Running Center, Spandits, Oculus Eyewear, Scarborough Family Chiropractic, Coastal Wellness Chiropractic, Black Bear Medical/This Active Life, Sweaty Bands, Pauline Warg Designs, LLC, AdvoCare, Fleet Feet Running, Janji, Handy Spandy, Bermuda Marathon, Thos. Moser, Oakhurst Dairy, Dead River, Terra Cotta Pasta,  MaineHealth, TD Bank, Spectrum Medical Group, Fit Planet, Dunkin Donuts, Wymans of Maine, MEMIC, AAA, Nike, Rippleffect, Cape Business Alliance, Cape Elizabeth Girls Cross Country Team, Community Cancer Center, Be the Match,    Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, The Summit Project, Maine Indoor Air Quality Council, Moose Pond Half Marathon, Pineland VAST Program, Center for Grieving Children,  Maine Track Club,  26.2 with Donna, Riverview Foundation, and Moving Maine Forward.

Expo hours run concurrently with registration, from 4-8 p.m. on Thursday, July 30, and from 2:30-8 p.m. on Friday, July 31 in the gym at Cape Elizabeth High School. The Expo also houses the race shirts for registered runners who pick them up after checking in at registration, so media can easily find runners at the Expo.

With the flurry of activity and interesting exhibits and giveaways, the Expo and registration are an ideal pre-race photo op.

Media Contact: The coordinator of the Expo is Angela Best, who can be reached at bestn92@gmail.com (207) 233-4216.

 

 Joan Benoit Samuelson

TD Beach to Beacon founder Joan Benoit Samuelson, 58, is a running icon who remains Maine’s most admired athlete. She is an inspiration and a role model for girls and women around the globe. Her quiet determination, on display for the entire world to see during her marathon victory at the 1984 Olympics, played a key role in making her dream of staging a major road race in Cape Elizabeth a reality.

TD Beach to Beacon founder Joan Benoit Samuelson won the 1984 Olympic marathon.Joan works tirelessly on the race that she started as evidenced by her race-day activities, which includes presiding at the start, personally greeting hundreds and hundreds of runners at the finish, posing for pictures and welcoming dignitaries, and quite often helping with the post-race cleanup.

She also continues to inspire on race courses around the country by competing at a high level still, setting numerous age-group records along the way. But Joan’s legacy goes well beyond her records. She is a strong advocate for the environment, children and healthy choices.

MEDIA CONTACT: Wolfe PR has organized a “Media Morning at the Fort with Joanie” from 9:45 to 11:45 a.m. Wednesday, July 29, where media can schedule one-on-one, 15-minute interviews with Joanie. Contact Beryl Wolfe at beryl@wolfenews.com (520) 399-5770 to schedule a time. 

 

 

Hannaford Associate to Run in Honor of Friend

Hannaford employee Barbara Morrissette takes medication for a heart condition that affects her breathing. But the Norway, Maine woman, who has been competing in road races for four years, is not going to let that stop her from running the TD Beach to Beacon 10K for this first time this year to honor a co-worker, friend and former Beach to Beacon competitor who died in 1999.

Theresa “Terry” Bellegarde of Lewiston participated in the first two Beach to Beacon races, but passed away tragically in September 1999 at the age of 40. Morrissette, who began participating in road races since 2011, has decided this is the year to run the Cape Elizabeth race in honor of her friend.

"I am running B2B for the first-time ever - in memory of a dear friend and fellow associate, Terry Bellegarde, who worked with me in the Auburn Hannaford,” said Morrissette, 61, who has worked at Hannaford since 1973. “I run with a heart condition and take medication to slow my heart rate, which makes it very difficult to breathe, but despite this I do quite well. I always pray that Terry is by my side for encouragement and will definitely be looking for her spirit on August 1."

Morrissette works as a Certified Pharmacy Technician at the Hannaford Supermarket in Oxford.

Media Contact: Contact Barbara at bampcl@yahoo.com 743-7982

New American Prize Money Sweetens Pot for Elite Field

Two-time past champ Micah Kogo of Kenya is returning to the 2015 TD Beach to Beacon 10K on Aug. 1.

A new $23,000 prize purse for American men and women has been added to the TD Beach to Beacon this year, raising the stakes for top U.S. distance runners and swelling the already generous overall prize money available to more than $90,000. Elite field preview here.

Maine native and rising international track star Ben True leads a field of top Americans, many with New England ties and three - Will Keoghegan, Riley Masters and Ethan Shaw - who were former Maine category champs. Beside top U.S. runners, the race also will include former Olympians and world champions from Kenya, Ethiopia, Burundi and beyond, including defending champion Gemma Steel of Great Britain and 2013 champ Joyce Chepkurui of Kenya. On the men’s side, defending champ Bedan Karoki of Kenya is not returning but two-time champion Micah Kogo (2013 & 2011) and 2012 champ Stanley Biwott, both Kenyans, are back in the field. Elite bios can be found here.  The full list of runners will formally be announced early next week (July 20 or 21).

The new $23,000 prize purse for American men and women is one of the most generous offered at U.S. road races. It will be split evenly among the top five men and women and break down like this: $5,000 for first, $3,000, $2,000, $1,000 and $500. The men’s and women’s winner in the Open category of the race receives $10,000, so an American overall winner would pocket a total of $15,000 in prize money. In addition, a $2,500 bonus is offered for a new course record in the Open category.

MEDIA CONTACT: FMI on the elite field, contact Larry Barthlow, the elite athlete director, at larry@worldeventsnetwork.com.

TD Beach to Beacon Showcase Event for Maine Runners

The elite distance runners from around the world who come to Cape Elizabeth get much of the attention, but the growth and competitiveness of the race among Maine's top runners is also a worthwhile story. One thing has become clear over the years, Maine produces a number of runners who can compete on the national stage (see Ben True), and many have showcased their talents by winning the TD Beach to Beacon 10K to earn the title as the state road race champion.

Erica Jesseman greeted by Joan Benoit Samuelson after the 2014 TD Beach to Beacon 10K.

On the men’s side, defending champion Will Geoghegan of Brunswick, a Dartmouth All-American who ran at Oregon this year, is now pursuing a professional career out of state and competing in the world-class category. That means the door is open to someone like Wade Meddles, an All-American in track and cross country at Eastern Kentucky who recently re-located to Maine. He set a course record (15:11) at the Kennebunk Beach Classic 5K in June. Other contenders include Kelton Cullenberg, a former University of Maine All-American, Sam Seekins, a Bowdoin College track star who won the Patriot 5K in May (15:12) and Luc Bourget of Auburn.

For the women, 2013 champion Erica Jesseman of Scarborough is having a stellar season on the roads in 2015 and will be the heavy favorite as defending champion Michelle Lilienthal, who set a course record last year, is not in the field. Other contenders include a pair of former Maine high school phenoms now running collegiately – Abbey Leonardi of Kennebunkport (Oregon) and Emily Durgin of Standish (UConn). Three-time champ Sheri Piers of Falmouth also will be in the hunt along with two-time winner Kristin Barry of Scarborough.

MEDIA CONTACT: Former race president David Weatherbie, dweatherbie@seafax.com, can provide valuable insights into the stature of the race among Maine runners, and can help locate top runners for interviews.

 

Inspiring Health Story from Camden

Mainehealth is sponsoring a Camden, Maine man's efforts to continue to improve his impressive fitness gains in preparation for his second TD Beach to Beacon 10K.

George Orestis just two years ago was featured on the cover of our annual Community Benefit Report. He continues to be involved with the Waldo County Healthcare “Journey to a Healthier You” program (he also attends its monthly support group), and his wellness coach calls him “nothing short of amazing.” George did the bike portion of “Team Waldo” for the YMCA triathlon in 2014 and the swim, bike and run portion in 2015.  He is already starting to train for the entire triathlon again in May 2016; this year his goal was to finish all three portions, and next year he wants to improve his time.  He also did the Patrick Dempsey bike race last year and plans to do it again this year with his son Jack.  George won a Waldo-sponsored raffle to wellness program participants to run in the TD Beach to Beacon last year for the first time and is training to run again this year and hopes to improve his time.

George swims outside every day, rain or shine, from the time the ice melts to the fall.  He swims across the river behind his house, touches the rock on the other side, and then swims back. In 2014, George did this every single day between May and Oct.1 and this year he has completed it every day since the ice melted. 

George’s goal has been to be “an athlete again” – with a focus on being healthy, and not simply weight loss. While he has continued to lose weight and hasn’t yet achieved his target, his cholesterol and blood pressure are under control. One of George’s goals is to help his three boys stay fit and healthy through an active lifestyle, and his 14-year old son Jack is his daily exercise buddy and motivation and will be running the TD Beach to Beacon with him!

Media contact: Kathleen Taggersell, System Director, Marketing & Communications, MaineHealth; ktaggersel@mainehealth.org, 207-661-7582 (office), 207-210-2053 (cell)

 

Cabot Fit Team Returns

The Cabot Fit Team will be at the TD Beach to Beacon again this year.  The team is put together by the farmer-owned cooperative Cabot Creamery, and features eight runners from across the country.  They are food/lifestyle bloggers who work with Cabot through its Fit Team to promote health and wellness. Read more and meet the team members here: https://www.cabotcheese.coop/cabot-fit-team

Media Contact: Nate Formalarie, Brand Communications Manager, Cabot Creamery Cooperative nformalarie@cabotcheese.com 802-496-1254 (o) 603-490-4983 (m)

 

Volunteer Effort

The volunteer effort at the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is huge and is often taken for granted. It shouldn’t be. Coordinating more than 800 volunteers is a monumental task that requires patience, perseverance and a certain amount of guile. Volunteer Director Maya Cohen of Cape Elizabeth has developed and each year executes a program that involves coordinators who oversee volunteers in more than a dozen different areas, from the Kids Fun Run and the Medical Tent to water stations, parking, security, course set up and breakdown and directing traffic.

Media Contact: FMI, contact Maya Cohen at (207) 838-8816 or mmcohen@gmail.com  

 

Kids Fun Run on Friday Night Before the Race

The Kids Fun Run will again complement the TD Beach to Beacon the evening before the race. Open to children 12 and under, with different distances for different age groups, the event will be held in Fort Williams Park at 6 p.m. on Friday, July 31. The races will be run in heats according to age. Refreshments and finishing prizes will be handed out after the races.

  • Again this year, the race will donate 30 kids’ bibs to Opportunity Alliance for children who may have barriers to participating, such as lack of transportation, concern over cost, unfamiliarity with running and language. Partnering with Opportunity Alliance – the 2013 race beneficiary - allows the race to reach these families that would not otherwise participate. The race provides transportation for the children and their families and waives the fees, and Opportunity Alliance helps with registration, organization and arranges chaperones. For additional information on this program, contact Morgan Merrie Allen at Opportunity Alliance at merrie.allen@cppcmaine.org.
  • Maine Adaptive also is coordinating the inclusion of one or more children with mobility impairments to take part in the Kids Fun Run. A young girl from Cape Elizabeth who uses a wheelchair will participate for the second year. The girl idolizes Christina Kouros, the 20-year-old Cape Elizabeth woman who is a three-time winner of the TD Beach to Beacon’s wheelchair division. For more information and contact info for the family of the girl, contact Deb Maxfield at Maine Adaptive, dmaxfield@maineadaptive.org 207 824-2440 (o) 617 794-7104 (m).

Media contact: Morgan Lake Adams at 207-329-7522 or mlakeadams@gmail.com.

 

Past Race Beneficiaries – A Gift that Keeps On Giving

Getting named the beneficiary of the TD Beach to Beacon 10K is a great help to Maine’s non-profit community – and it doesn’t end on race day. Each beneficiary receives a $30,000 donation from the TD Charitable Foundation in addition to the publicity and prestige that goes with the title. But this is a gift that keeps on giving.

A story idea might include talking with some past beneficiaries about how the race continues to benefit their non-profit organizations. Here’s a of past beneficiaries: http://www.beach2beacon.org/pastbeneficiaries

TD Bank has now donated $540,000 to Maine charities over the 18-year history of the TD Beach to Beacon, while many past beneficiaries continue to raise significant funds each year through the race’s charity bib program.

A survey conducted in 2012 found that past and present race beneficiaries had raised more than $300,000 over the previous two years (2011 & 2012) through their association with the race. All of the prior race beneficiaries are provided the opportunity to fundraise with 25 entries. The bibs are sometimes auctioned or awarded to individuals who reach a designated fundraising threshold on behalf of the specific organization.

“It’s extremely gratifying to see the positive impact this race is having on these organizations, some for more than a decade after they were named the race beneficiary,” said volunteer Race President Michael Stone. “This truly is a gift that keeps on giving as they are able to find ways to continue to raise money to help fund their programs that are so vital to the well being of Maine children and families.”

Media Contacts:  Erin Nadeau,The Opportunity Alliance (207) 523-5004; Sam Beal, Big Brothers Big Sisters (207) 773-5437; Peg Libby, Kids First Center (207) 761-2709; and Tory Dietel-Hopps, Riding to the Top (207) 892-2813 are ready and willing to talk about the race and its impact.

Town of Cape Elizabeth

The Town of Cape Elizabeth – celebrating its 250th year this summer - continues to come through for this event. Police, fire and municipal officials serve on the 60-plus-member Organizing Committee and are involved from the time they begin meeting in January to the day in early August when the field of 6,000 runners and thousands of spectators line the streets of this coastal town.

Media Contact: For more information about the town’s involvement, call Town Manager Mike McGovern at Cape Elizabeth Town Hall at 207-767-3323.

NOTE TO REPORTERS/EDITORS: For more information or assistance with any of the above items that do not contain contact info, please contact Beryl or Jason Wolfe at Wolfe PR – (520) 399-5770 or 5097, or by e-mail, beryl@wolfenews.com, jason@wolfenews.com. Also, bios, a Fact Sheet, past results, statistics, news releases, a course map and other race materials are available at www.wolfenews.com and on the race website. Thanks!
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