Posted: November 26, 2004

Triathlon: Ironman Florida athletes raise more than $600,000 for charity through the Janus Charity Challenge

PANAMA CITY BEACH, Fla.-Thirty-eight athletes who competed in the 2004 Ironman Florida Triathlon in early November raised $657,908.16 for non-profit organizations through the Janus Charity Challenge program.

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. Since the inception of the program back in 2001, the Janus Charity Challenge has raised more than $8.1 million for hundreds of nonprofit groups throughout the country.

The top fundraiser at Ironman Florida was Tracy Lorenz (Algonquin, Ill.) who raised $151,876 for SIDS of Illinois. Sudden Infant Death Services is dedicated to supporting family members and others who have been touched by the tragedy of SIDS, educating the public and professionals about support opportunities and eliminating SIDS through the support and implementation of medical research. Janus Capital Group is proud to give an additional contribution of $10,000 to Lorenz’s nonprofit.

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. As a special bonus at Ironman Florida, 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.

"At Janus, we believe that investing goes both ways,” said Casey Cortese, sponsorship marketing director for Janus. “Our partnership with Ironman has been an ideal way to not only give back as a company, but to help inspire others to help meet the needs of their own communities. We applaud all of the athletes who participate in the Janus Charity Challenge as they are the heart and soul of this program."

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 Florida

1st place-Tracy Lorenz (Algonquin, Ill.)-Lorenz raised $151,876.00 for SIDS of Illinois. Sudden Infant Death Services is dedicated to supporting family members and others who have been touched by the tragedy of SIDS, educating the public and professionals about support opportunities and eliminating SIDS through the support and implementation of medical research.

2nd place - Nina Bell-Bell supported the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Western PA and Southern West Virginia by raising $109,184.34.00. The Make-A-Wish Foundation's mission is to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy.

3rd place - Tod Tiezen-Tiezen raised $64,193.00 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to funding blood cancer research, education and patient services. The Society's mission is to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and to improve the quality of life of patients and their families.

4th place - Russ Smith- Smith raised $39,135.00 in support of the Life Management Center of NW Florida that restores quality of life through a continuum of community-based mental health, family counseling and child protection services, regardless of one’s ability to pay.

5th place - Jennifer Pharr- Pharr raised $37,928,32 for Camp Joy, a summer camp that serves adults with disabilities.

The following athletes raised more than $750 dollars for their charity and are therefore all are eligible for a $750.00 contribution to their beneficiary.

Todd Anderson-Troy and Alana Pack Foundation
Scott Atkinson-Springfield Public Schools Foundation
John Brutsche-National Transplant Assistance Fund
Mike Burke-Challenged Athletes Foundation
Stanton Cadow-Theta Xi Foundation
Brian Cantel-The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Larry Dowd-Histiocytosis Association of America
Mark Evans-Tennessee Baptist Children's Homes
Rob Hill-Challenged Athletes Foundation
Page Johnson-Lenscrafters Foundation
Nick Kennedy-Angel Tree Ministries
Bernard Kim-Massachusetts Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation
Pat LaFontaine-Companions in Courage Foundation
Dave Mandelkern-Challenged Athletes Foundation
Dave Mandelkern-The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
Dave Mandelkern-World T.E.A.M. Sports
John Morse-Salesian Lay Missioners
Jim Mosely-Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
Spencer Punter-National Multiple Sclerosis Society
Jonathan Roche-The Travis Roy Foundation
Phil Rosenstein-Friends of Somerset Regional Animal Shelter
MaryBeth Shaw-The Ovarian Cancer Research Fund, Inc
Steven Strimpfel-A Special Wish Foundation
Brian Washburn-Cystic Fibrosis Foundation of Raleigh North Carolina
Michael Weaver-Ephesus Baptist Church for Crisis Pregnancy Services of Central Mississippi
Rick Zurbriggen-Lee Memorial Health System Foundation

Janus is pleased to extend a special one-time gift of $250.00 to each beneficiary of those athletes who did not meet the program minimums. It is our small way of showing our appreciation for their contributions and recognizing that no donation is too small and every dollar helps make a difference for people in need. The following athletes have earned this contribution for their nonprofits:

 Marty Atkins-Stop the Hunger
Alain DeLeon-Make A Wish
Steve Fried-Make A Wish Foundation of Southern Florida
Elaine Gower-Challenged Athletes Foundation
Daren Keller-Make-A-Wish of Maine
Ben Pennington-Children International
Charles Poe-American Cancer Society 
Jene Popper-Asthma & Allergy Foundation of America
Fyonna Vanderwerf-West Niagara Family Centre

A total of 38 athletes raised 657,908.16 at Ironman Florida for non-profit organizations through the Janus Charity Challenge.