(3-30-10) From Press Release - The Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month, a major sports-marketing initiative scheduled for May 2010, named The Michael J. Fox Foundation's Team Fox program as its official charity partner and beneficiary. Together, Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners’ Month and Team Fox will inspire runners across the country this spring to raise awareness and funds to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. The initiative includes a Facebook campaign, in-store promotions, racing opportunities and online donation vehicles.
"We're excited to partner with Team Fox in the race to find a cure for Parkinson's disease," said Jeffrey Hennion, executive vice president and chief marketing officer, Dick's Sporting Goods. "Team Fox is an exceptional organization that shares our company's belief that running can make a positive difference in people's lives," said Hennion.
"As every runner knows, running is a sport that requires not only your body, but your heart, mind and soul. That may be part of the reason runners gravitate to Team Fox," said Michael J. Fox. "We're incredibly grateful to the thousands of people who have already laced up their sneakers with the goal of making a difference in the millions of lives touched by Parkinson's - and we thank Dick’s Sporting Goods for helping us spread the word to athletes across the country who may not know that their passion can be part of the solution to PD."
Officials for the Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month kicked off the partnership by pledging to donate at least $50,000 to Team Fox and to motivate individual fundraising to Team Fox using the Web, social media, and Team Fox's own large community of members.
The Facebook campaign will run from April 6 through June 6, 2010 during which Dick's Sporting Goods will donate one dollar to Team Fox for every running photo uploaded or tagged by runners on the Dick's Sporting Goods Facebook page. Runners who upload or tag photos will not only raise funds for Parkinson's, they will automatically be entered into weekly prize drawings. Each week in May, one lucky runner will win a $100 gift certificate valid at any Dick's Sporting Goods store.
Individuals will also be able to donate to Team Fox through the Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month website and donations page on TeamFox.org. Additionally, Team Fox will have teams running at each of the ten official Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month events across the country in May and early June, raising funds for Parkinson's research.
About Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month
Dick's Sporting Goods has declared May as Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month, an initiative to promote running and highlight the retailer's deep commitment to serving runners. Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month includes major event sponsorship, Web, social media, mobile marketing, store promotions, and other activities aimed at helping runners enjoy their sport. The official Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month Event Calendar includes the following ten races:
Alexandria Running Festival, Washington, D.C., May 2
Dick's Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, May 2
Chuy's Hot to Trot, Austin, Texas, May 8
Palos Verde Marathon, Los Angeles, California, May 15
Strawberry Festival, San Diego, California, May 30
Brentwood 10K, Los Angeles, California, May 30
Stillwater Marathon, Stillwater, Minnesota, May 30
Ridge Run 10K, Chicago, Illinois, May 31
Dick's Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, May 31
Starlight Run, Portland, Oregon, June 5
Dick's Sporting Goods National Runners' Month benefits Team Fox to raise funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease research. www.teamfox.org/2010/dickssportinggoods.
