In support of the ongoing charitable legacy of the Bank of America Chicago Marathon, Bank of America today announced a $1 million contribution to local after-school youth programming to help make opportunity possible for Chicagoland students and teachers. Bank of America Illinois President Tim Maloney and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel announced the bank’s donation at a press conference today kicking off the 34th annual Bank of America Chicago Marathon, which takes place Sunday, October 9. Additionally, U.S. Soccer star Abby Wambach introduced the “Let’s Run Together” Charity Relay team.
“Bank of America is excited to continue the tradition of supporting after-school youth programs that help children throughout the city to stay safe and be active,” said Tim Maloney, Bank of America Illinois president. “As we continue to partner to lead Chicago forward, these programs fill a critical need by providing a variety of activities when the school day lets out, helping children grow and succeed while easing the burden on parents who need to work late to provide for their families.”
“Bank of America’s collaboration with the city of Chicago on several initiatives including the Bank of America Chicago Marathon not only promotes a healthy and active lifestyle but also spurs economic development and brings jobs to the hard working residents of Chicago,” said Mayor Emanuel. “Through this generous contribution, Bank of America is investing in our children by demonstrating the importance of education and creating an opportunity for them to improve their daily lives and become future leaders.”
“Let’s Run Together” is the theme for this year’s Bank of America Chicago Marathon; it celebrates the partnerships, connections and support systems that come together each year to stage and participate in this world-class event. The “Let’s Run Together” Charity Relay, announced in August, is representative of the thousands of people who will run together in the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon for approximately 160 local, national and global charities. As part of the charity relay, Bank of America will donate $5,000 to the following charities on behalf of each of the relay team members:
1. Pat Arbor, Chicago, Ill., Mercy Home for Boys & Girls
2. Hailey Danisewicz, Evanston, Ill., Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association
3. Chad Doellinger, Chicago, Ill., Susan G. Komen for the Cure
4. Wayne Drash, Atlanta, Ga., American Cancer Society
5. Christie Galvin, Orlando, Fla., American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life
6. Scott Herrick, Gurnee, Ill., The Greater Chicago Food Depository
7. Joe Jasnosz, Yorkville, Ill., Kendall County Triad
8. Dylan Kwait, Brooklyn, N.Y., Chicago Diabetes Project
9. Dori Luke, Matthews, N.C., Girls on the Run, Inc.
10. Danielle Maglinte, Evanston, Ill., American Heart Association
11. Kimberly Mueller, San Diego, Calif., Got Your Back Network Memorial Frogman 238 Memorial Fund
12. Susan Taylor, Spring Grove, Ill., UPS For DownS
13. James Tiller, Mooresville, N.C., Children’s Miracle Network
Last year, approximately 10,000 registered runners raised a record $12 million for 150 charities, filling a gap for many organizations struggling to keep up with growing demands for services as a result of the slow economic recovery. Since its inception in 2002, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon’s charity program has helped runners generate nearly $60 million in nonprofit donations. According to Bank of America, this year’s Chicago Marathon reached the 45,000-participant capacity in a record 31 days, drawing participants to the city – 10,000 of whom have indicated they will be visiting Chicago for the first time – from all 50 states and 109 countries.
The Bank of America Chicago Marathon contributes an estimated $171.5 million in total business activity to the Chicago economy, according to an economic impact report just released and conducted by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The report found that the event directly contributed an estimated $70.6 million distributed among the main sectors of the tourism industry, plus another $100.9 million in indirect activity, accounting for more than $171.5 million worth of total business activity and an equivalent of 965 full-time jobs and $55.91 million worth of wages and salary income.
Bank of America Chicago Marathon
In its 34th year and as a member of the World Marathon Majors, the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago’s Grant Park on Sunday, October 9. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center October 7-8. www.chicagomarathon.com
Bank of America
Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 58 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,800 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.
For more Bank of America news, visit the Bank of America newsroom.
Contacts:
Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 1.312.992.2370
diane.wagner@bankofamerica.com
