Janus, Ironman Wisconsin athletes raise more than $300,000
for non-profit groups through the Janus Charity Challenge
MADISON, Wisc. - Ironman Wisconsin athletes competing in the Janus Charity Challenge, raised more than $300,000 at the second annual Ironman Wisconsin triathlon held on Sunday, September 7, 2003.
As presenting sponsor of Ironman North America events in the United States, Janus plays host to the Janus Charity Challenge program, a program that is designed to encourage athletes to use the 2003 Ironman North America events as a platform to raise money for their favorite nonprofit organization.
Twenty-eight athletes in total took part in the Janus Charity Challenge at Ironman Wisconsin, raising a total of $309,161.07 for 24 different non-profit groups around the U.S.
Through three events (Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene, HSBC Ironman USA Lake Placid and Ironman Wisconsin), Ironman athletes and Janus have raised a total of $1,291, 092.16 for non-profit groups, with two events remaining-the Ironman World Championship on October 18 in Kona, Hawaii and Ironman Florida taking place on November 8 in Panama City Beach, Fla.
“I've heard over and over again from participating athletes how much the Janus Charity Challenge added to their Ironman experience,” said Casey Cortese, Sponsorship Marketing Manager at Janus. “By dedicating their race to helping others, the arduous training and preparation became much more rewarding and meaningful. Janus is proud to be investing in the future of our communities through this program, and we thank everyone who has joined us in this effort.”
All athletes competing in any Ironman North America full-distance event in 2003 can participate in the program and raise money for the nonprofit organization of their choice.
For the top three individual fundraisers at each race, Janus will make an additional donation to their designated charity in the following amounts: First place, $10,000; second place, $5,000; and third place, $3,000. The beneficiary of the top team fundraisers (any group of three or more) will receive a contribution of $8,500.
In addition, the first-place fundraiser’s entry fee will be waived for the Ironman North America race of his or her choice within the next 12 months. In addition to its donations to the top three fundraisers’ charities, Janus will contribute $750 to the chosen nonprofit group designated by the next 25 athletes who raise the most money in the Janus Charity Challenge at an Ironman North America U.S. event.
Janus is an investment management company with expertise in growth and core equity, specialty fixed-income and money market investments. Founded in 1969 in Denver, Janus has grown to become one of the largest and most successful investment management companies in the United States.
To make a donation or sign up for the Janus Charity Challenge, or for more information, log onto www.januscharitychallenge.com.
Top Janus Charity Challenge Fundraisers at Ironman Wisconsin
Top fundraiser-Jim Koehn (Plymouth, Wisc.), St. John's Lutheran Church, $65,496.00
St. John's Lutheran Church will receive an additional $10,000 from Janus
Second-place fundraiser-Linda Landreth (Glen Ellyn, Ill.), SIDS of Illinois, $51.047.00
SIDS of Illinois will be the recipient of an additional $5,000 donation from Janus
Third-place fundraiser-Diana Schnell (Libertyville, Ill.), Equestrian Connection, $35,202.00
Equestrian Connection will be the recipient of an additional $3,000 donation from Janus
The beneficiaries of the following top fundraisers will receive an additional $750 contribution from Janus.
Sam Alongi, Happy Tails
Betsy Armstrong, Girls on the Run - Chicago
Don Asher, People to People Ministries
Jim Barron, Allies' Angels
Randy Clark, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Ian Duncan, The Myelin Project
George Economos, Children's Memorial Hospital
John Elder, Interfaith Hospitality Network
Matthew Evans, Challenged Athletes Foundation
Mike Gotzler, JDRF
Peter Hanson, Lance Armstrong Foundation
Dave Hantz, Wisconsin Sports Foundation
Jeanne Hoffman, American Cancer Society
Timothy Josephs, Racing for Recovery
Naiomi Lundman, New Beginnings Are Possible
John Morse, Salesian Lay Missioners
Greg Robida, Hunters Hope
Robert Rudolph, Central PA Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Stephen Snyder, Lance Armstrong Foundation
David Stakel, Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Steve Vrchota, Children's Cancer Research fund
Richard Wicklund, Eco-Animal Allies
Special recognition also goes to Joseph Van Veen who raised funds for the Casey House, a Canadian based nonprofit. Although as an international nonprofit Joseph's beneficiary is not eligible to receive any additional funds through the Janus Charity Challenge, he still dedicated his race to this important nonprofit and raised $11,000.00.
*(All totals are unaudited. Results will be official upon verification of receipt of funds by each beneficiary.)
For a Janus Charity Challenge registration or donation form,
visit http://www.januscharitychallenge.com.