Posted: March 1, 2006

Athletics: Charity Partner Selection Now Open For 2007 OC Marathon

Orange County Children's Charities Encouraged To Submit Applications Now Through March 23rd

Newport Beach, CA – The OC Marathon establishes a unique relationship between runners, volunteers, race spectators and Orange County Children's Charities. In fact, the OC Marathon Board of Directors distributed $300,000 to the benefiting charities in its inaugural year, with approximately $125,000 also generated through individual fundraising pledge programs specific to the OC Marathon. The Third Annual OC Marathon takes place Sunday, January 7th, 2007 and event organizers are now accepting Official Charity Partner Application Forms from eligible Orange County Agencies now through March 23rd, 2006. Interested agencies are encouraged to visit: www.ocmarathon.com to review and download application forms for benefactor consideration for the 2007 event.

WHO CAN APPLY?
• The charities must be a non-for-profit public benefit corporation exempt from federal income taxes under Section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Codes, because they are 501 (c)(3) organizations.
• Applicants must be located in or have programs operating within the service area of the County of Orange and/or its incorporated cities.
• Applicants must benefit children.

REQUIRED CRITERIA
• Strong agency involvement in planning, execution and evaluation of event.
• Agency recruitment of a minimum of 100 volunteers
• Ability for charity to raise at least $10,000 thru ActiveGiving for their Pledge Program
• Demonstrates the likelihood that this event and the agency together can attract other resources.

WHEN TO APPLY
Agencies can apply to become one of the 2007 Official OC Marathon Charity Partners between now and March 23rd, 2006. Late or incomplete applications will not be accepted. For more information or to download the official Charity Partner Application Form visit: www.ocmarathon.com

PURPOSE
The OC Marathon is a not-for-profit association which provides a world class running event to both the local and national community. The event attracts over 10,000 participants annually with over 2,000 volunteers and over 25,000 spectators. Participants range from the elite world class athlete traveling to Orange County from Kenya, to the first time six year old training and running the OC Marathon Kids Race. The OC Marathon selects between 9-10 benefiting charities per year as Official Charity Partners. The Official Charity Partners receive a donation from the Board of Directors, which is raised through corporate sponsorships and participant registration fees. The amount of the Board donation is not a guaranteed dollar figure. The funds are donated within approximately 4 months post event. The Official Charity Partners also have the opportunity to raise additional funds through their own fundraising drive, referred to as a Pledge Program. All funds raised through the Pledge Program are done through their own efforts and resources. Charities will work directly with an online fundraising program called ActiveGiving, and will receive their donations directly from ActiveGiving. Combined figures, for the 2004 and 2006 event, with the Board donation and the Charity Pledge Programs is over $800,000.

Grant funds are for Orange County, CA, Children’s Charities. Funds are discretionary and may be used for any project, program, training, or community outreach effort that the agency board has approved. Grant funds may not be used for lobbying or for a required assessment to national headquarters if the agency is a national non-profit. Funded charities will be asked to reapply each year. The OC Marathon may contact the organization and request more materials if there is insufficient information on the application form. Final decisions and announcements will be made no later than May 31, 2006.

For more information on the Third Annual OC Marathon on Sunday, January 7th, 2007, please visit: www.ocmarathon.com or call: (949) 222-3327.

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