FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ING MIAMI MARATHON AND HALF MARATHON WILL BECOME A PREMIER INTERNATIONAL
EVENT WITH NEW TITLE SPONSOR
ING Miami Marathon to Introduce Physical Education and Health
Awareness Program for Children in Miami-Dade
MIAMI (May 25, 2005) - A storied international company will apply its
successful past to the future of South Florida running as the new title
sponsor of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon on January 29, 2006.
The announcement of ING as the title sponsor for the fastest growing race
in Florida will make international waves in the running industry. This is
another key step for ING in assuming presenting level status of a major
running event in the U.S. (ING became the title of the ING New York City
Marathon, the largest marathon in the country, in 2001). The announcement
of this partnership strongly supports the ambitions of local government and
event organizers to host a world class marathon with over 20,000 runners in
the streets of Miami and Miami Beach within the next 5 years.
The marathon, which began in 2003, has grown into one of South Florida’s
biggest single-day sporting events and has become a major destination race
for runners throughout the U.S. and Latin America. In three years, the race
has drawn top Latin American runners and has lured 70% of participants from
outside Miami-Dade County while sparking a running boom in South Florida.
“We are very proud of what the marathon has accomplished in the past” says
Robert Pozo, Miami Marathon Race Director, “but it is the future of this
race that will have a tremendous impact locally and make the world proud of
this community.” PR Racing, organizer of the race, is planning several
other programs in association with the marathon to establish a campaign
that promotes physical education and health awareness for children in
Miami-Dade County.
“We are thrilled to announce our partnership with PR Racing and the ING
Miami Marathon,” said Toby Hoden, Chief Marketing Officer for ING US
Financial Services. “This marks another significant step in our commitment
to the sport of running – and reflects our second title sponsorship of a
marathon in the U.S.”
Hoden continued, “Our commitment to the ING Miami Marathon also includes
the ING Run For Something Better – a program funded by ING to champion
running while serving the greater community in Miami-Dade County.”
As part of the commitment by ING, the ING Miami Marathon will establish the
ING Run for Something Better program, a public school program that will
reach over 87,000 middle school students in Miami Dade County Public
Schools, motivating and inspiring children to experience running and get a
feel for participating in a sports event like a marathon. The privately
funded program encourages children to lead active and healthy lifestyles
while engaging them in a goal oriented program. Participating students will
have the opportunity to run “The Final Mile” on the morning of the ING
Miami Marathon. Every student who participated in the ING Run for Something
Better will have the opportunity to run on the same course as 10,000
international marathon runners in a special kid’s race.
“Picture a couple thousand 10-14 year olds coming across the finish line
with bright smiles and shiny medals around their necks,” says Pozo. “It
will be the ultimate picture of triumph, happiness, and accomplishment, and
the ING Miami Marathon is proud to provide that opportunity to our
children.”
“The marathon’s goal is to promote wellness in the community,” says Pozo.
“By starting with our children, we can inspire their parents, teachers and
siblings to help make Miami-Dade a healthier place to live.” The ING Run
for Something Better program will recognize teachers that take part as
coaches or volunteers by providing them with free entry into the ING Miami
Marathon and Half Marathon.
ING Miami Marathon Race Weekend will take place on January 27-29 2006, with
a full schedule of events for beginning and expert runners, kids and the
rest of the family. The 4th annual weekend of events including the 2nd
Tropical 5K benefiting Community Partnership for Homeless, will draw over
12,000 runners and walkers. Additionally, over 25,000 people will attend
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Health and Fitness Expo which is
free and open to the public the weekend of the race.
The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is at 6 a.m. on Sunday, January
29, 2006.
PRESS INQUIRIES:
PR Racing: Danny Elfenbein ING: Cindy Schaus
305-278-8668 515-698-7607
Seth Gordon
305-381-883
www.ing.com
ABOUT ING
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin offering banking,
insurance and asset
management to over 60 million private, corporate and institutional clients
in more than 50 countries.
With a diverse workforce of over 113,000 people, ING comprises a broad
spectrum of prominent companies that increasingly serve their clients under
the ING brand.
In the U.S., the ING family of companies offer a comprehensive array of
financial services to retail and institutional clients which include life
insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, managed accounts, alternative
investments, direct banking, institutional investment management,
annuities, employee benefits, financial planning, and reinsurance. ING
holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves over 14 million
customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com
ABOUT PR Racing
PR Racing is a Miami based Health and Fitness Event Management Company
devoted providing awareness to the community for improved and healthier
lifestyles. As the producers of the Miami Marathon and Half Marathon and
Escape to Miami Triathlon, PR Racing has established world class
destination events that draw thousands of international participants to
Miami-Dade County on an annual basis. PR Racing prides itself in creating
opportunities for their own city and all of their neighbors to live
healthier and happier through the production of fitness events.
ABOUT ING Miami Marathon
The ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon is the premier running event in
South Florida. The race creates awareness for healthy lifestyles in the
local community. The 4th annual race runs on January 29, 2006 with over
10,000 runners and walkers expected to be in Miami, Miami Beach, and
Miami-Dade County. The event has created an estimated $35 million economic
impact on the surrounding community. For more information, visit
www.ingmiamimarathon.com or call 305-278-8668.
ABOUT ING Run For Something Better
Running, as a sport, reflects the many of ING’s core values such as
challenging limits, long-term vision and doing things differently. The ING
RUN for Something Better program reflects ING’s desire to support and
enhance the sport of running in a way that will positively affect people
across age groups in multiple communities. A collaborative program, it is
also intended to further advance PR Racing’s efforts to promote health and
fitness, and is expected to have a visible impact on the local community in
Greater Miami.
Full details on the ING Run for Something Better program will be announced
this summer, but both ING and PR Racing indicate that the effort is shaping
up to focus on middle school students. It is anticipated that the program
will be developed in collaboration with the Miami Dade County School system
as an optional element for physical education classes- highlighted by a
chance for hundreds of 10-14 year-old kids to choose to participate and run
the final mile of the ING Miami Marathon on January 29. ING and PR Racing
anticipate the innovative nature of the fitness program will culminate in
hundreds of kids having a special opportunity to run “The Final Mile” of
the Race- crossing the finish line and earning a medal from the ING Miami
Marathon.
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