The Atlanta Track Club (ATC) will award $132,125 to the 23 local nonprofit organizations that participated in the Adopt a Marathon Mile program at the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay on October 28. Seven of the 23 participating nonprofit organizations were awarded the top donation of $7,500. Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta also took home an additional $500 as “Participant Favorite,” an honor awarded based on feedback from participants in a post-event survey.
“The organizations participating in this year’s Adopt a Marathon Mile program provided Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay participants with plenty of energy, inspiration and motivation along the 26.2 mile course,” said Tracey Russell, executive director of the ATC. “Thanks to the high level of engagement from each of these organizations, the Atlanta Track Club is giving back nearly $15,000 more than we did in 2011 when we first introduced the Adopt a Marathon Mile program.”
Donation amounts varied based on the level of participation from each organization. Volunteer requirements for participating nonprofits included a minimum of 15 volunteers to assist the ATC at the water stops and a minimum of 15 spectators and cheerleaders in each “cheer zone.” Organizations that met the minimum requirements on race day received a base donation of $3,500. Bonus points, which were redeemed for additional donations up to $7,500 per organization, were awarded to those that offered extra course support in categories including the number of volunteers, costumes and signage, among others.
2012 ATC Adopt a Marathon Mile
Donation Amount
Great Pyrenees Rescue Atlanta
$8,000
Historic Oakland Foundation
$7,500
L.E.A.D.
$7,500
Girls on the RunAtlanta
$7,500
Miles for Cystic Fibrosis
$7,500
Homestretch
$7,500
Georgia Foundation for Public Education
$7,500
Center for Puppetry Arts
$7,250
Girl Scouts of GreaterAtlanta
$7,250
Kate's Club
$7,000
Lionheart School
$7,000
Rockdale Special Olympics
$6,750
Sheltering Arms
$6,750
Piedmont Park Conservancy
$6,625
Embraced
$6,000
Back On My FeetAtlanta
$6,000
FCA South Cobb/Buckhead
$5,750
MUST Ministries
$5,250
Boy Scouts ofAmerica
$5,000
Gwinnett County Master Gardeners
$2,500 *
*Gwinnett County Master Gardeners was one of four organizations vying for one $2,500 award
Close to 2,500 participants took part in the 2012 Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay. Reuben Mwei, of Kennesaw, Ga., was the overall winner of the 2012 Atlanta Marathon with a time of 2:23:25, and Christine Rockey, of Conway, S.C., claimed the women’s top prize with a time of 3:09:09. Visit atlantamarathon.org for more information regarding the Atlanta Marathon and Marathon Relay.