Posted: May 6, 2005

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

TEMPE, Ariz.-Thirty-four athletes who competed in the 2005 Ironman Arizona Triathlon in April raised $622,257.46 for non-profit organizations through the Janus Charity Challenge program. The total was a record for a first-time Ironman North America event.

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 $8.7 million for hundreds of nonprofit groups throughout the country.

The top fundraiser at Ironman Arizona was Bob Seemuth (Vancouver, Wash.), who raised $ 268,470.50 for the Center for Bioethical Reform. This is the fourth time that Seemuth has participated in the Janus Charity Challenge and his third time as the top fundraiser.

Seemuth's nonprofit will receive an additional $10,000 contribution from Janus, and he will also gets 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.

”Our Ironman Arizona athletes have certainly led the way for a very successful program in 2005.” said Casey Cortese, director of community relations for Janus. “We hope more athletes will understand the simplicity of the program, and realize that racing for a cause will only add value to their Ironman experience.”

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.

Outside the U.S. it has offices in London, Hong Kong, Tokyo and Milan. Janus Capital Group consists of Janus Capital Management LLC, Enhanced Investment Technologies, LLC (INTECH) and Capital Group Partners, Inc. Janus Capital Group owns 30% of Perkins, Wolf, McDonnell and Company, LLC.

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-2005 Ironman Arizona

A total of 34 athletes raised $622,257.46 at Ironman Arizona for non-profit organizations through the Janus Charity Challenge.

1st place- Bob Seemuth (Vancouver, Wash.)-Seemuth raised $ 268,470.50 for the Center for Bioethical Reform. Seemuth’s nonprofit will receive an additional $10,000 contribution from Janus, and Bob also gets a complimentary entry in the Ironman North America race of his choice in the next 12 months.
2nd place - Bobby Bostic (Oakland, Calif.)-Bostic has also been a part of the Challenge in the past, raced in support of the Challenged Athletes Foundation. With a total of $86,865.99, CAF will receive an additional $8,000.
3rd place - Steve Economos (Coto de Caza, Calif.)-Economos raised $43,018.00 for the Twin to Twin Transfusion Syndrome Foundation. The Foundation will benefit from an extra donation of $6,000.
Due to a technical computer problem in reporting, Janus is giving two fourth-place awards.
4th place - Colin Wallis (Austin, Texas)-Wallis dedicated his race to the Ullman Cancer Fund. Raising $36,610.00, his nonprofit will receive and additional contribution of $4,000.00
4th place - JR Rosania (Phoenix, Ariz.)-Rosania raced on behalf of the Pat Tillman Foundation. His $27,760.00 contribution will garner an extra $4,000 for his beneficiary.
5th place - James Frondorf (Fairfield, Ohio)-Frondorf supported the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, and raised $21,470.00, qualifying his beneficiary for an additional $2,000.00

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

Jason Adler, ALS Association, Arizona Chapter
Leslie Ann Bull, Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation
Stephanie Burns, Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation
Jocelyn Cascio, The Jimmy Fund/Dana Farber Cancer Institute
Craig Davidson, Cancer Treatment Research Foundation
Matthew Evans, Challenged Athletes Foundation
Richard Getzen, Andre House
John Giles, Banner Children's Hospital
Rob Hogan, Make a Wish Foundation of Orange County
Jim Moseley, Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation
Jim Naroski, The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Britt Norwood, Leukemia and Lymphoma Society
Ray Perez, Concerns of Police Survivors
Christopher Phillips, University of AZ Foundation/Sarver Heart Center
Robert Pizzurro, Challenged Athletes Foundation
John Ransweiler, Greater Bay Area Make-A-Wish
Alan Romania, Phoenix Children's Hospital Foundation
Hal Rosenberg, Phoenix Children's Hospital
Bryan VanMeveren, Boys & Girls Clubs of Larimer County
Martha Vidal, Florida Disabled Outdoors Association
Jun Watanabe, ITP Foundation, Inc.
Alexandria Wiercigroch, Happy Strays Rescue

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 did not meet the program minimums. The following athletes will earn this contribution for their nonprofits:

Bjorn Svensson, Orangutan Foundation International
Mike Wares, Banner Children's Hospital
Linda Miller, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Jeff Rush, Banner Children's Hospital
David Rhodes, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
Kyle Scoresby, Banner Children's Hospital