News & Releases >> 2003 >> Sep 08 2003
NEWS Sep 08 2003
Toronto Waterfront Marathon
Release No. 3 — Charity Challenge
September 8, 2003
Technology helps charities fuel the boom in marathon running.
Running for a cause takes first big steps in Toronto.
Scotiabank's Charity Challenge lets runners in upcoming Toronto Waterfront Marathon raise pledges on-line for over 30 charities. Record dollars and donors expected from race on September 28th.
TORONTO — The days of raising pledges for charity by having your friends sign your pledge form for a race you're running are long gone. Now, it's nearly all done on-line, at least in Toronto where Scotiabank has pioneered a method of on-line giving called the Scotia Charity Challenge. This not only makes it much easier for your family and friends to support your efforts, but makes it much easier for charities to collect those pledges. The result is more money raised, for many more causes, with much less effort.
Said race organizer Alan Brookes: "We're seeing three trends converge here — more people are running marathons; more people are making their marathon try the reason to raise money for a good cause; and technology makes it easier for the runners, the donors and the charities to come together."
"It's early days for mass charity running to come to marathon running. But Scotiabank has made it possible for us to make a start with something that clearly has no limit. Runners of the London Marathon, for example, this year raised an astounding 31 million pounds ($64 million) for hundreds of charitable causes, with most of that money being raised online. As Toronto's marathon grows, so too will the role of charities in encouraging Canadians to train and run the race of their lives."
Scotiabank piloted its Charity Challenge in 2002 at last year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon to help entrants into the marathon, the half-marathon and the 5K raise some $80,000 for 18 charities. The success of the first Charity Challenge prompted Scotiabank to integrate it into its marketing campaign for this year's marathon, which runs on Sunday, September 28th along the Toronto waterfront [see www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com].
"At Scotiabank, we believe that the opportunity to help others — good causes that need financial support — can enhance the experience and the many benefits of running a marathon," said Pat Minicucci, Senior Vice President, Toronto Region, Scotiabank. "We're pleased to have the opportunity to help the runners, the donors and the charities link up with each other."
Using technology from ICANPLEDGE.COM, entrants into all three races on the 28th can raise pledges electronically, with the assurance that 100% of the money raised will go to the charity of their choice. Entrants can solicit pledges from their family and friends via e-mail, and also track their fund-raising efforts and charities in real-time. Whenever someone pledges support for a runner, that person's name, as well as the amount of the pledge, and the charity the pledge will go to, are all automatically sent to the runner. What's more, once the pledge is processed, using a credit card, the donor receives an immediate e-tax receipt.
The result is, no more paper pledge forms, no more having to keep track of who gave and who didn't, no more waiting months for a tax receipt.
Pledging has suddenly become much easier and more efficient. This year, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon has four official charities: the Leukemia Research Fund of Canada, Rick Hansen Man in Motion, the White Ribbon Campaign, and the Canadian Diabetes Association. In addition, while any recognized charitable organization is eligible to receive pledges via the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, over 32 other recognized charities — including CANFAR, the Easter Seals Society of Canada, About Face, and the Give Girls A Chance Fund — can also receive up to $10,000 in special incentives. Scotiabank will award $5,000 to the team with the greatest number of runners participating, and $5,000 to the charity with the largest number of dollars pledged per runner.
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For information and interviews, please contact:
Scotiabank Waterfront Marathon
Jennifer Sclisizzi
(416) 866-3625
jennifer_sclisizzi@scotiacapital.com
April Hanna
(416) 944-2765
apeshanna@hotmail.com