Boilermaker and Beyond

The Boilermaker has had a history of giving back to the community we call home. Scholarships, grants awarded via the Corporate Cup, Pasta Dinner proceeds to our local United Way and literally dozens of donations to support efforts to make this a better place.

This year we have embarked on a program that potentially will raise significantly more to support the efforts of the local not for profit community.

Two hundred bibs for this year’s race were reserved to support the Boilermaker Charity Bib Program. The race will be donating these coveted slots to not for profits that fit the mission of the Boilermaker.

If a runner is willing to raise $500 in pledges for one of the charities selected by the Boilermaker they will get a place in this year’s race. The bib is good for the 15k or 5k races or the 3 Mile Walk. The runner will not have to pay the traditional registration fee.

The selected charities will be responsible for securing the pledges from the runners.

I’ve already had a number of inquiries from runners to participate. One of the funniest email I received basically said ‘Hey, I’m coming in from California; just tell me who I’m running for.’

We will be having prizes for the top three individual overall pledge raisers.

I’d love to say that this was our brainchild but can’t. The Boston Marathon sets a minimum pledge at $5,000. As a result Boston raises many, many millions of dollars.

I certainly realize Utica is not Boston!  Saying that, how cool is it to generate a minimum of $100,000 to support an area that admittedly has a number of challenges.

If you are a local not for profit interested in submitting an application email me at treed@boilermaker.com and I’ll get the application and ‘rules of the road’ to you.

Deadline for submissions is February 22^nd and charity selection will be done no later than March 15^th.

Selected charities will be featured on a special charity page on boilermaker.com providing a hotlink for runners to register.

For those runners who found themselves shut out of this year’s race and don’t want to try and secure a bib through the transfer program (which begins in April) this might be a great way to get in.