HOUSTON MARATHON COMMITTEE   720 N. Post Oak Rd., Ste. 200   Houston, Texas 77008   713-957-3453   www.chevronhoustonmarathon.com
E-mail: media@houstonmarathon.com

For Immediate Release: Thursday, March 7, 2019

Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Program Surpasses $30 Million Raised

HOUSTON (March 6, 2019) –The Houston Marathon Committee announced that the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Charity Program has surpassed the $30 million fundraising mark since its inception in 1995. The charity program, designed for runners to annually raise funds and awareness for local Houston charitable organizations, celebrated the achievement at its annual charity program luncheon where more than 60 official Run for a Reason charities were recognized for their contributions to both the communities they serve and the Chevron Houston Marathon Program.

“Surpassing $30 million raised is a huge accomplishment for the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Program, as well as the city of Houston,” said Wade Morehead, Executive Director of the Houston Marathon Committee and Foundation. “We are astounded by the generosity and philanthropic nature of our runners and the Houston community. It is their dedication in conjunction with our sponsor support that we were able to achieve this milestone.”

For the second year in a row, Chevron generously donated $75,000 to the Chevron Houston Marathon Charity Challenge to be split three-ways by official winning charities in the amount of $25,000 each. The challenge recognized and awarded organizations in the following three categories over a two-week voting period:

  • Charity Organization Who Received the Greatest Number of Contest Votes During the Voting Period

           The Arbor School

  • Most Money Raised by a Single Charity Organization During the Voting Period

          Living Water International

  • Highest Number of Donations Made by Individual Donors During the Voting Period

          Bo’s Place

“The Run for a Reason program has connected thousands of Chevron Houston Marathon runners with local charities since 1995,” said Jeff Shellebarger, president of Chevron North America Exploration & Production. “We are honored to stand alongside participants as they move across Houston’s tree-lined streets, past our bayous and skyscrapers, and finally, over the finish line – raising funds nearly every step of the way.”

The 48th running of Chevron Houston Marathon race weekend, also featuring the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and We Are Houston 5K, will take place January 17-20, 2020. Charity Registration is currently open.

For more information on the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason Charity Program, visit chevronhoustonmarathon.com.

About the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc.

Established in 1972, the Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) is a founding member of Running USA and annually organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half-marathon and 5K. Over 300,000 participants, volunteers and spectators make Chevron Houston Marathon Race Day the largest single-day sporting event in Houston. Recognized by the IAAF, the Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon has held 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships and the Silver Label Chevron Houston Marathon has been the race site for three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. For six consecutive years, the events have garnered Gold Certification from the Council of Responsible Sport and were also awarded the 2015 AIMS Green Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race Weekend generates over $50 million in economic impact for the region annually. In addition to its economic impact, the HMC facilitates social responsibility through its Run for a Reason Charity Program which has raised over $30 million since its inception and the Houston Marathon Foundation, which serves the greater Houston area through support of youth and community organizations that promote access to and participation in running. The event is televised annually through local broadcast partner ABC13 – KTRK, with national and international syndication airing on ESPN3 and the Longhorn Network.