It was another hot and sunny weekend for our TEAM IMF Athletes’ who toed the start line for IRONMAN Chattanooga 2017 in hopes of setting new PR’s thanks to the generous current of the Tennessee River along the city’s famous Riverwalk. Prior to the start line, 9 TEAM IMF teammates came together for our breakfast at The Blue Plate on Saturday morning, where not only did the “Voice of IRONMAN”, Mike Reilly made an appearance, but as did one of the IRONMAN Foundation Community Grant recipients “On My Own 2 Feet”—a non-profit whose mission is to channel the commitment and discipline received in training runs to other life activities such as obtaining independence, a job and ultimately housing for the homeless community in Chattanooga. “On My Own 2 Feet” personally thanked our TEAM IMF Athletes for their fundraising efforts and for not only making an impact on their own organization, but for leaving their legacy on the IRONMAN Chattanooga community long after race day regardless of their race results.
Our IRONMAN Foundation Service Project at the 2017 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship was a large-scale swim initiative for local youth in partnership with the Freeman Family Foundation and Chattanooga Youth & Family Development. Some youth will receive scholarships to learn to swim and others will receive scholarships to join their local swim team. The initiative culminated with a late afternoon awards ceremony and swim exhibition where youth swam with IRONMAN athletes and celebrated their achievements with Chattnooga Mayor Andy Berke, IRONMAN CEO Andrew Messick and Freeman Family #RaceForMore
The IRONMAN Foundation ® will partner with My Own 2 Feet & Wheels, a running, walking and biking program created to support and motivate the Chattanooga homeless community with a Community Grant to purchase new bikes and running equipment. In addition, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute $50,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the Chattanooga region in conjunction with the 2017 Little Debbie IRONMAN ® Chattanooga triathlon presented by McKee A Family Bakery taking place on Sunday, September 24. The IRONMAN Foundation’s overall giveback in Chattanooga in 2017 will be $126,500, bringing the total awarded to-date to $351,500.
The air was crisp, the leaves had started to change and the hills we’re chilly out on the beautiful, timeless, Lake Placid race course for the inaugural IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Placid race. 18 TEAM IMF Athletes not only toed the frigid starting line to tackle this historical and challenging race course, but they rallied together, shared training stories at their TEAM IMF breakfast and then ventured to IRONMAN Village, where they stuffed backpacks as a part of the IRONMAN Foundation’s, We’ve Got Your Back(pack) program, to inspire the local Lake Placid Central School students to eat well, exercise and live a healthy lifestyle! Thanks to TEAM IMF and their fabulous donors, the IRONMAN Foundation delivered over 150 backpacks on race weekend and presented them to the school’s principal. Between IRONMAN Lake Placid and IRONMAN 70.3 Lake Placid TEAM IMF members, our total give back to the Lake Placid race community was over $90,000, which brings the historical give back to the community over $1.5 million dollars historically! We’re excited to return to this beautiful race community next year to join in the celebration of IRONMAN Lake Placid’s 20th anniversary as we continue to #RaceForMore.
The IRONMAN Foundation to provide an additional $80,000 in charitable giveback to the greater Madison region
The IRONMAN Foundation ® will partner with the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation to provide $25,000 in critical life-saving equipment to the City of Verona and Oregon Police Departments. In addition, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute $80,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the greater Madison region in conjunction with the 2017 IRONMAN ® Wisconsin triathlon taking place on Sunday, September 10, bringing the total awarded to date to $1,047,000 to 192 local organizations.
– Mike Reilly, who has called half a million athletes across the finish line, will add to his total at the 2024 Athletic Brewing IRONMAN Lake Placid triathlon, part of the VinFast IRONMAN North America Series
– Ambassador team includes 20 carefully selected age group athletes led by recently retired “Voice of IRONMAN” and Ambassador Team Captain, Mike Reilly – 2023 IRONMAN Foundation schedule consists of 18 service projects with a focus on DE&I, military & first responders, volunteerism, as well as health & wellness
– Milestone commemorates numerous achievements made across two decades, including monumental partnerships and millions raised for race communities – The IRONMAN Foundation kicks off anniversary year with Team IMF Webinar hosted by Ambassador Captain and IRONMAN Hall of Fame member, Mike Reilly
– $20,000 worth of bicycles and toys to be delivered to 4KIDS Southwest Florida by Country Music artist Ryan Kinder and The IRONMAN Foundation staff
– The IRONMAN Foundation supports the Kona Community Aquatic Center with $100,000 in grant funding – Daniel R. Sayre Memorial Foundation awarded Dave Orlowski Memorial Grant as part of $40,000 provided by the IRONMAN Foundation