SAN RAFAEL, CA – They walk in groups of friends, run solo for speed, or roll in wheelchairs and strollers…however, when they cross the finish line, the participants of the 23rd Annual Marin Human Race are dedicated to one thing – to help local nonprofits and schools raise money for their programs. The Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership created the Human Race as a way to involve the community, as a whole, in the act of fundraising and volunteerism. And, last year’s totals of nearly $300,000 raised with a record attendance of over 4,000 community member shows that Marin County has the spirit to help. For many, it has become a fun and easy way to augment slashed budgets with a revenue stream coming from donations to runners and walkers in the four-mile track, which loops around the lagoon and fairgrounds at the Marin Center. Participants collect donations for a local community organization or school of their choice. The designated nonprofit then receives 90% of the collected donations, with the remaining 10% going toward other nonprofits and underwriting the event. This year, the Marin Human Race will be held on Saturday, May 7, 7:00 am to 11:30 am. Following the race, everyone is invited to visit the Family Fun Fair, featuring music, snacks, beverages, kids’ activities and over 100 nonprofit booths. For more information, visit www.marinhumanrace.org or call the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin at 415-479-5710. “Every year, we try to add a new element to keep the race fresh for the participants,” said Linda Davis, CEO of the Center. “One year we added live entertainment along the course and this year, in addition to the entertainment, we’re going to have a Chinese dragon open the race, to ward off evil spirits. We want to make sure that this event is a shared-fun experience for everyone. We are on a serious mission to raise money, but we want to encourage everyone to have fun along the way.” According to Davis, corporate sponsorships have already exceeded last year’s totals and non-profits have started signing up, with figures matching last year’s numbers at this time. “There’s plenty of time to sign up and we encourage everyone to become a part of this wonderful and community engaging event,” continued Davis. “Giving back to our community is what this event is all about and we want this to be a county-wide event that not only raises funds but also brings the community together for a common goal.” The Marin Human Race not only offers groups an economic opportunity, it also encourages the spirit of volunteerism across all age groups. “Involvement in volunteering is one of the key values that everyone walks away with,” said Davis. “Connecting with friends and neighbors during this very unsettled time is an important byproduct of the Marin Human Race. We encourage everyone to be a part of it on some level and experience a real sense of accomplishment. Volunteering to run, walk or just come out and cheer on the participants can make people feel they are doing something to help someone.” 2005 Champion Sponsors include the Marin Community Foundation, Marin County Board of Supervisors, Marin Independent Journal and United Way of the Bay Area; Marathon Sponsors include Autodesk, Fireman’s Fund, Marshall Arts and Wells Fargo; Kid Races Sponsor is Frank Howard Allen; Pacesetter Sponsors include Bank of Marin, Bregante+Company LLP, Fidelity Investments, Morgan Stanley, Redwood Credit Union, Tamalpais Bank and Westamerica Bank. Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership of Marin serves the nonprofits and volunteers of Marin community by offering a range of programs and services to strengthen nonprofit organizations and the volunteers they rely upon.
