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Runners and Spectators Can Donate to Miami-Area Kid Fitness Programs, Receive Orange Laces
MIAMI, Jan. 26 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The color orange is in for
Miami. The U.S. arm of global financial services company ING announced
today that it is expanding its sponsorship of the ING Miami Marathon until
2010.
The company became the title sponsor of the marathon in 2006. The race
became the third major distance running sponsorship for the company,
joining the ING New York City Marathon and the ING Bay to Breakers 12K in
San Francisco. ING will add a fourth major race, the ING Georgia Marathon,
in March 2007.
"As a financial service company, ING sees the parallels between
distance running and financial planning," said Toby Hoden, chief marketing
officer, ING U.S. Financial Services. "It's about starting small, setting
goals and staying committed for the long run. ING is proud to provide
continued support of the ING Miami Marathon and Half Marathon to allow
aspiring runners to pursue their dreams, especially the new generations of
runners in Miami-Dade County."
Along with ING's five-year commitment as the title sponsor of the ING
Miami Marathon and Half Marathon, the company is also strengthening its
pledge to help Miami-Dade County kids get and stay fit.
The company also announced that it has extended its support of the ING
Run For Something Better, the charitable companion to the company's race
sponsorship designed to raise funds for free running programs for
Miami-area kids. Funded by ING and community contributions, and managed by
the FIT MIAMI Foundation, the school-based running program is available
free to public and private middle schools in Miami-Dade County.
More than 3,000 children in the Miami area have participated in the ING
Run For Something Better program, running more than 73,360 miles. By 2010,
ING hopes to add another 4,500 kids to the program, making the running
total jump to 117,900 miles -- the equivalent of the children of Miami
running around the Earth nearly five times.
Runners, spectators and the community at large can make donations that
will benefit the FIT MIAMI Foundation's running programs in Miami-Dade
County schools. Everyone who donates $10 or more will get a special pair of
orange shoelaces to wear in support of being "tied" to kids' fitness.
Donations can be made at www.OrangeLaces.com, or at various retail
locations in Miami in the days leading up to the ING Miami Marathon and
Half Marathon on Sunday.
"We are encouraging everyone in Miami -- whether they are running the
marathon or cheering -- to donate and wear their orange laces as a visible
way to show their support for healthy and active kids," said Hoden.
Students from area middle schools have been working towards completing
a 26.2-mile marathon over the past 15 weeks. Running at least one mile per
week, the students will complete their "final mile" alongside professional
and international athletes and more than 12,000 runners at the ING Miami
Marathon on Jan. 28, 2007.
"Linked to ING's marathon sponsorships, we created the ING Run For
Something Better to help make it easier to introduce kids to the benefits
of sport, a habit of physical fitness and a healthy lifestyle that prevents
conditions such as childhood obesity," said Hoden. "The ING Run For
Something Better orange laces program is our commitment to help ensure
every child gets a healthy start to life through fitness."
NOTE: The orange laces will be used to fund youth fitness programs in
select markets. The amount of an individual's contribution is tax
deductible, less the cost of the merchandise, valued at $1. Funds will be
managed and allocated by the ING Foundation.
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 115,000 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.
Related Links: OrangeLaces.com.
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