IRONMAN Foundation Service Projects to Create Global Impact in 2018
After a successful 2017, athletes and volunteers to participate in 16 service projects across multiple IRONMAN communities this race season
TAMPA, Fla. (April 17, 2018) – In 2018 the IRONMAN Foundation® will conduct 16 service projects in conjunction with IRONMAN® and IROMMAN® 70.3® events. Each service project is conducted in partnership with a local nonprofit organization, powerfully linking IRONMAN athletes to the local race community. This year’s roster builds on the success of 2017, when 1,800 athletes participated in 14 service projects and positively impacted countless lives.
2018 Service Projects
- IRONMAN 70.3 Puerto Rico (San Juan, Puerto Rico) – On March 19, more than 100 athletes and volunteers helped rebuild homes and revitalize the small community of Barrio Ingenio in partnership with the Buena Vibra Foundation. Additionally, the IRONMAN Foundation awarded $120,000 in Humanitarian Relief Effort funding to support Hurricane Maria recovery efforts. – Recap Video
- IRONMAN 70.3 Oceanside (Oceanside, California) – On April 8, 50 professional and age-group athletes volunteered at the 2018 IRONMAN Foundation Junior Seau Foundation Adaptive Surf Clinic presented by the Challenged Athletes Foundation. Thirty kids, women and military/adults with physical challenges spent the morning learning to paddle and surf at Oceanside Pier with the assistance of surf coaches, volunteers and triathletes. – Recap Video
- Memorial Hermann IRONMAN North American Championship Texas (Houston, Texas) – When Hurricane Harvey’s record flood waters devastated much of southeast Texas, the IRONMAN community stepped up to support the IRONMAN Foundation’s Humanitarian Relief Effort campaign. On April 26, athletes and volunteers will continue this with hands-on rebuilding support at a Hurricane Harvey community recovery project.
- IRONMAN Lake Placid (Lake Placid, New York) – On July 19, a special community service project is planned to commemorate the 20th year of the event. Further details to follow.
- IRONMAN 70.3 Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa, California) – The record-breaking Tubbs fire ripped through Sonoma, Napa and Lake counties. The IRONMAN community stepped up in support of the IRONMAN Foundation’s Humanitarian Relief Effort, and on July 29, athletes and volunteers will provide hands-on rebuilding support at a community wildfire recovery project.
- IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship (Nelson Mandela Bay, South Africa) – On September 3, athletes and volunteers will help restore a local school and spend the day with local children in partnership with IRONMAN 4 the Kidz. IRONMAN 4 the Kidz has provided more than R15 million in support of 19 children’s homes in South Africa, funding sport, nutrition, education and capital initiatives.
- IRONMAN World Championship (Kailua-Kona, Hawai`i) – To celebrate “40 Years of Dreams,” athletes and volunteers will have a hands-on community service experience on October 8. Details will be announced closer to the event.
- IRONMAN Florida (Panama City Beach, Florida) – On November 1, a community service project is planned to celebrate the 20th year of the event. Further details to follow.
- IRONMAN Arizona (Tempe, Arizona) – On November 15, a day of service is planned in partnership with the Salt River Children’s Foundation.
“Athletes, TriClubs, volunteers and their supporters are invited to join the IRONMAN Foundation throughout the season as we connect with our local race communities for unique, life-changing opportunities,” said Sarah Hartmann, Acting Executive Director of the IRONMAN Foundation. “When we unite for a common purpose – changing lives through sport – we leave our IRONMAN legacy behind long after race day.”
At an additional six races, the IRONMAN Foundation will conduct “pop up service projects” inside the IRONMAN Village race expo. Athletes will have the opportunity to build bikes for local youth as part of the “Bike for a Kid” program in partnership with FLO Cycling.
For athletes and community members who are interested in volunteering at the respective service projects, please visit IRONMAN Foundation in Service for full registration details. Questions about the individual service projects and how you can help, can be directed to sarah.hartmann@ironman.com.
For more information on the IRONMAN Foundation and to register as a volunteer for the 2018 IRONMAN Foundation service projects, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org/imf-in-service. For media related inquiries, please contact press@ironman.com.
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About The IRONMAN Foundation
The IRONMAN Foundation® creates positive, tangible change in IRONMAN race communities by engaging athletes and volunteers to participate in programs that demonstrate service through sport and commitment to community. Since 2003, over $50,000,000 has been provided through IRONMAN charitable giveback programs including the IRONMAN Foundation to more than 6,300 local, regional, national and global nonprofit initiatives. Through these partnerships, IRONMAN athletes are powerfully linked to the community and together we leave the IRONMAN legacy behind in our race communities long after event day. For more information on IRONMAN Foundation programs, including Team IMF, Community Fund, Your Journey Your Cause, and Women For Tri, visit www.ironmanfoundation.org.
About IRONMAN
A Wanda Sports Holdings company, IRONMAN operates a global portfolio of events that includes the IRONMAN® Triathlon Series, the IRONMAN® 70.3® Triathlon Series, 5150™ Triathlon Series, the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon Series®, Iron Girl®, IRONKIDS®, International Triathlon Union World Triathlon Series races, road cycling events including the UCI Velothon® Series, mountain bike races including the Absa Cape Epic®, premier marathons including the Standard Chartered Singapore Marathon, and other multisport races. IRONMAN’s events, together with all other Wanda Sports Holdings events, provide more than a million participants annually the benefits of endurance sports through the company’s vast offerings. The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world’s most challenging endurance races. Beginning as a single race, IRONMAN has grown to become a global sensation with more than 200 events across 50 countries. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.
About Wanda Sports Holdings
Wanda Sports Holdings is the world’s leading sports business entity, founded to capture the opportunities in the global sports industry and to contribute to the prosperous international sports landscape – in three key areas: 1) Spectator Sports (media & marketing business), 2) Participation Sports (active lifestyle business), 3) Services (digital, production and service business). Wanda Sports Holding incorporates the international sports marketing company Infront Sports & Media, the iconic endurance brand IRONMAN, and Wanda Sports China. The headquarters are in Guangzhou, China.