Ironman Wisconsin athletes raise more than $1,000,000 for charity through the Janus Charity Challenge
MADISON, Wisc.-Forty-four athletes who competed in the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin in mid-September raised a record $1,099,756.83 for charity through the Janus Charity Challenge program.
The total represents the most ever raised through the Challenge at a single Ironman event and brings the year’s total to more than $2.4 million dollars after three events (Ironman USA Coeur d’Alene, Ironman USA Lake Placid and Ironman Wisconsin) with two events, the Ironman World Championship and Ironman Florida remaining. Last year’s total of $2.5 million dollars raised in total at all five events will easily be bested in 2004.
As presenting sponsor of Ironman North America events in the United States, Janus Capital Group, the Denver-based investment management firm created the Janus Charity Challenge to encourage athletes to use Ironman North America events as a way to raise money for their favorite nonprofit organizations. In just over three years, the Janus Charity Challenge has raised more than $7.2 million for hundreds of nonprofit groups throughout the country.
The top fundraiser at Ironman Wisconsin was Bob Seemuth (New York, N.Y.) who raised $278,342.18 for the Center for Bioethical Reform, an organization working to establish prenatal justice and the right to life for the unborn, the disabled, the infirm, the aged and all vulnerable peoples through education and the development of cutting edge educational resources.
Janus Capital Group is proud to give an additional contribution of $10,000 to Seemuth’s nonprofit.
All athletes who compete in Ironman North America full-distance U.S. events in 2004 are eligible to participate in the program. For the top five individual fundraisers at each race, Janus will make a donation to their designated charity in the following amounts: First place, $10,000; second place, $8,000; third place, $6,000; fourth place, $4,000 and fifth place, $2,000.
Janus will also contribute $750 to the beneficiaries of the next highest 25 fundraisers (athletes must raise a minimum of $750 to qualify). In addition, the top fundraiser at each race will have the entry fee waived for the Ironman North America race of his or her choice within the following 12 months. As a special bonus at Ironman Wisconsin, Janus made a one-time donation of $250 to all other participants in the Janus Charity Challenge who weren’t in the top 30 fundraisers as well.
“Janus continues to be extremely proud of this incredible partnership,” said Casey Cortese, sponsorship marketing director for Janus. “What the program has achieved in such a short time is truly amazing, and it only makes us aware of the tremendous untapped potential still in front of us. We hope one day a minimum of 10% of the field at each race embraces this chance to establish their own personal Ironman legacy.”
Based in Denver, Colorado, Janus Capital Group Inc. is a leading asset manager offering individual investors and institutional clients complementary asset management disciplines through the firm’s global distribution network. Janus Capital Group consists of Janus Capital Management LLC, Enhanced Investment Technologies LLC (INTECH), Bay Isle Financial LLC and Capital Group Partners.
To make a donation or sign up for the Janus Charity Challenge, or for more information, log onto www.januscharitychallenge.com.
Janus Charity Challenge Results-2004 Ironman WisconsinThe following athletes are all eligible for a $750.00 contribution to their beneficiary.
To express their gratitude for the amazing success and dedication to all of our participating athletes, Janus is pleased to extend a special one-time gift of $250.00 to each beneficiary of those who were not among the top 30 fundraisers at this race.
The following athletes will earn this contribution for their nonprofits:
In all 44 athletes raised $1,099,756.83 at the 2004 Ironman Wisconsin triathlon-a new Janus Charity Challenge record!