OC Marathon’s New Corporate Challenge is a Win-Win-Win
Employers, employees and their charities gain lasting benefits through fitness, fellowship and fun!
Julie Karges contributed to this story
Newport Beach – Start training your teams! Organizers of the 13th annual U.S. Bank OC Marathon are thrilled to announce the addition of the “Corporate Challenge” to this year’s world-class event that spans three races in two days: the Wahoo’s OC 5K, the half marathon and the full marathon. The OC Marathon Corporate Challenge (or OCMCC) is an extraordinary opportunity for businesses of all sizes to go head-to-head in friendly competition and reap immeasurable benefits along the road: improved employee fitness and overall workplace wellness, a swell of company goodwill through fundraising, increased business branding and positive exposure in the community, not to mention a truly memorable time as a team! Awards will be handed out for the fittest and most philanthropic businesses in each of the three size divisions and there is no fee to participate.
“Training together for the Corporate Challenge is a great way for companies to promote employee camaraderie,” says long-time OCM Director, Gary Kutscher, an avid runner himself. “Healthier, fitter employees take fewer sick days, and team building helps them grow closer to each other which naturally makes for a better work environment.” Past teams have enjoyed workouts and dinners together, and have kept each other pumped up for the big weekend.
With the Corporate Challenge, employees can bond over another shared purpose: Fundraising for causes that are near to their hearts. Companies can run for one of OCM’s 30 official charities or one of their own choosing. Corporate Challenge and the event’s CrowdRise pages bring employees together to raise money for deeply meaningful causes – and in turn raise each other up in the process.
“It’s one thing to feel good about yourself by finishing a marathon, and it’s another to know you’ve just raised $2000 to help someone in need,” Kutscher says. “Imagine if a company raises $50,000 together. That creates a lot of goodwill and can make a real difference to an organization.” With over 30 official charities, the OCM 2017 has a goal to raise over $1,000,000. Nearly $5,000,000 has been generated since the first event in 2004. (For more information about charities, email charities@ocmarathon.com).
How can businesses get even more involved? The OCM is an event attended by up to 40,000 active lifestyle consumers, offering an ideal venue for businesses seeking widespread exposure. From setting up a booth at the event’s Expo to signing on as a title sponsor, the OCM directly connects businesses with the community – and beyond.
- Awards up for grabs! OCMCC winners will be trumpeted at a special ceremony on Thursday, May 4th at the OC Marathon VIP Awards reception, as well as in emails and on social media. The following awards will be given in each of the three size divisions:
- The “OCM’s Fittest Firm Award” will be given to the company with the highest level of participation — including direct family members on the company team roster.
- The “OCM’s Most Philanthropic Firm Award” will be bestowed upon the awe-inspiring company who manages to raise the most funds by May 1, 2017.
Registration is now open! Go to www.ocmarathon.com for more details and to peruse the Corporate Challenge booklet, or email us at corporatechallenge@ocmarathon.com. Event dates Friday, May 5 through Sunday, May 7, 2017
In its 13th year, the U.S. Bank OC Marathon and Half Marathon (May 7, 2017) welcomes runners from more than 20 countries and all 50 states. The course is considered one of the best destination races on the West Coast with its diverse terrain, changing vistas and majestic ocean views beginning in Newport Beach, CA, traversing four Orange County cities and finishing with the Ultimate Finish Line Festival at the OC Fair and Event Center. With a goal of $1,000,000, the U.S. Bank OC Marathon is on pace to post its biggest year yet.
The three-day event also includes the OC Lifestyle and Fitness Expo, the Kids Run the OC — one of the largest youth running days in the country with 10,000 children finishing their “Final Mile” on Saturday morning — and the Wahoo’s OC 5K on Saturday, May 6th at 5:00 p.m. Come “Catch the OC Wave”!
For more information about the event or how to get involved, please visit ocmarathon.com or email us at info@ocmarathon.com.
