Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon Partners with 92 Charities

2012 DaVita Charity Partners Program among largest in the country; High Five Youth Fundraisers program also launched

DENVER - (April 11, 2012) - The 2012 Kaiser Permanente Colfax Marathon continues to provide one of the country's biggest fundraising platforms for local charities and non-profits through the DaVita Charity Partners Program. Charity Partners recruit runners to participate in the full marathon, half-marathon, marathon relay, 5K, or new 10 mile race on May 19 and 20, 2012.

The marathon provides the tools and support to build a successful fundraising campaign where each runner can raise pledges. The best part: the nonprofit keeps 100 percent of the pledges raised.

"The DaVita Charity Partners program is at the core of our race mission to encourage a healthy community in Aurora, Denver and Lakewood," said Andrea Dowdy, Executive Director of the race.

Because the program attracts all levels of runners, the marathon works to provide options, like the Bellco Colfax 5K and the inaugural Urban 10-Miler, for less experienced runners.

"Many of these charities are bringing participants to our event who have never run a race before, so our event line-up is designed to provide attainable and realistic goals for those less experienced athletes," added Dowdy.

Charity partners for 2012 range from the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's Team In Training (TNT), the world's biggest and most successful endurance sports charity training program, to Mile High United Way; from the Colorado Symphony to the Colfax Community Network, providing assistance to families living week to week in Colfax motels.

"With 92 charity partners, we are pleased to say that this puts us among the top marathons in the country in terms of the number of charity partners," said Jean Townsend, DaVita Charity Partners Program Manager.

"At DaVita, we're honored to sponsor the Charity Partner Village at the Colfax Marathon," said Kent Thiry, chairman and CEO of DaVita. "This is all about strengthening our communities. I hope every participant will consider running for charity."

Many charity partners are returning after successful experiences, including the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Colorado, Food Bank of the Rockies, Urban Peak, Colorado Youth for a Change, and Denver Options' Operation TBI, supporting veterans with traumatic brain injuries.

"Last year was our first year participating as a charity partner. We had never done anything like this event before, so it was a totally new experience with wonderful results. Our original goals were to recruit 30 runners and raise $10,000, but we ended up exceeding both those goals. We had 48 runners representing us, and we raised nearly $12,000," said Katie Goulet with Denver Options.

New this year is the High Five Youth Fundraisers program, sponsored by Primrose Schools, encouraging kids to get involved in charity. Kids 12 and under who raise $50 or more for one of our 2012 Charity Partners get a FREE entry to the Bellco Colfax 5K.

The full list of all 92 charity partners can be found at www.runcolfax.org at the Charity Partners tab. Please email jean@runcolfax.org to learn more about participation in the DaVita Charity Partners Program.

Search for your next running event here!