Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene athletes raise more than $500,000 through the Janus Charity Challenge

BOULDER, Colo.-Sixty-three athletes who competed in the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene Triathlon in June raised $559,000 for non-profit organizations through the Janus Charity Challenge program.

As presenting sponsor of Ironman North America events in the United States, Janus, the Denver-based investment management firm, created the Janus Charity Challenge to encourage athletes to use Ironman events as a way to raise money for their favorite nonprofit organizations.

Since the inception of the program back in 2001, the Janus Charity Challenge has raised more than $9.2 million for hundreds of nonprofit groups throughout the country.

The top fundraiser at the 2005 Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene was Michael Pluimer (Raymond, Minn.), who raised $72,913 for the Central Minnesota Christian School. Pluimer's nonprofit will receive an additional $10,000 contribution from Janus, and he will also receive a complimentary entry in the Ironman North America race of his choice in the next 12 months.

All athletes who compete in Ironman North America full-distance U.S. events in 2005 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.

“This race set a new record in the number of athletes participating in the Janus Charity Challenge to date”, said Casey Cortese, director of community relations for Janus. “We are incredibly excited to see more athletes engaging in the program and hope this is a trend that continues throughout the year.”

To make a donation or sign up for the Janus Charity Challenge, or for more information, log onto www.januscharitychallenge.com.

In total, just over $559,000 was raised at this year's Ford Ironman USA Coeur d'Alene triathlon through the Janus Charity Challenge.

1st place: Michael Pluimer (Raymond, Minn.) raised $72,913 for the Central Minnesota Christian School. The school will also receive an additional $10,000 from Janus

2nd place: Aaron Scheidies (Farmington, Mich.) raised $43,271 for the “C Different Foundation,” and the organization will be the recipient of an additional $8,000 donation.

3rd place: Doug Evans (Coeur d'Alene, Idaho) raised $32,146.99 for the Lance Armstrong Foundation through the Coeur d’Alene Cancer Challenge. Doug's efforts have brought an extra $6,000 contribution to his beneficiary.

4th place: Cherie Gruenfeld (Cathedral City, Calif.) raised $31,416.78 for the Active Awareness Fund. The Active Awareness Fund will also receive an extra $4,000 from Janus.

5th place: Beth Steinberg (Saratoga, Calif.) raised $26,070 for the Collective Roots Garden Project, and her efforts have brought an extra $2,000 contribution to her beneficiary.

As the next top 25 fundraisers, the beneficiaries of the following athletes will receive an additional $750.00 contribution from Janus.

Gamal Balady, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Bryan Bower, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Kevin Bradshaw, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Nicole Carr, Arthritis Foundation, Gulf Coast Region of Florida Chapter
Brian Conaghan, Holy Redeemer Catholic School
Dusty Davis, New Beginnings Community Church
Chris Fiacco, Marine Corps Scholarship Foundation, Inc.
Molly Gerster, Blythedale Children's Hospital
Laurie Hahn, Best Friends Catnippers
Cheryl Iseberg, Lance Armstrong Foundation
Daniel Manka, Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy
Chris Newman, The Hole in the Wall Gang Fund, Inc.
Erica Pedron, The Children's Hospital Burn Camps Program
Elizabeth Peterson, Arthritis Foundation Massachusetts Chapter, Inc.
Jason Puerto, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Phil Randall, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Robert Rudolph, Central PA Leukemia/Lymphoma Society
Paul Ruggerio, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Will Schaub, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Brenda Smith, The Women's Center
Stephen Steinke, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Michael Sullivan, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Richard Vorick, Riley Children's Foundation
Barbara Waring, National Parkinson Foundation
David Weingard, New York Chapter of the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation

Because it is important to Janus to make sure all participating athletes understand the significance of their contributions no matter what the level, Janus is making a one-time award of $100.00 to the beneficiary of those athletes who were not among the top 30 fundraisers. The following athletes will earn this contribution for their nonprofits:

Daniel Andersen, Canines For Disabled Kids
Sylvia Angel , Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Hugh Ayles, Lance Armstrong Foundation
Tim Carlson, Diabetes Action Research and Education Foundation
Erica Clark, Erica's Ironman for First Descents
Randy Colee, Christmas Wish
Bill Conway, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Suncoast Chapter
Neil Cooper, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Suncoast Chapter
Steve Cramer, Children's Hospital & Research Center at Oakland
Charles Dart, Partners in Health
Carlos Fernandez, Dan Marino Foundation
David Fitzgibbons, Challenged Athletes Foundation
Mari Fridenmaker, Georgia Eye Bank, Inc.
Lori (Loretta) Geiger, Pancreatic Cancer Action Network
John Gerster, The Armed Forces Foundation
Janna Gillick, The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinsons Research
Amanda Harris, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Larry Hengl, Sarcoma Foundation of America
Barbekka Hurtt, Diabetes Exercise & Sport Association
Barbara Larrain, Armed Forces Relief Trust
Steve Marsheck, Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties
George Ostrander, The Regents of the University of Michigan
Kim Pribanic, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Lindsay Rutherford, A Better Chance of Lower Merion
Lindsay Rutherford, St. Vincent de Paul
Cynthia Smith, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation
Clif Stargardt, St. Jude's Children's Hospital
Christopher Stinson, IU Foundation/IU Cancer Center
Alison Talarcek, ALS Association- Northeast Ohio Chapter
Bill Thompson, Phoenix Children's Hospital - In memory of Zach Stalls & Davy Luna
Matthew Walters, ALS Race for Research
Mike Wasserman, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Richard Woodcock, Breakfast for Homeless persons at First Presbyterian Church of Atlanta