Local Charities Benefit from 2017 Big Sur Marathon

87 groups honored at annual grant reception

Big Sur Marathon board members Alice Crawford and Tom Rolander pose with representatives from Boy Scout Troop 43, one of 87 groups honored at the marathonโ€™s annual grant distribution reception. Photo courtesy Big Sur Marathon.

The Big Sur International Marathon distributed more than a quarter million dollars in grants to 87 organizations on the Monterey Peninsula and Big Sur at a reception onย July 31, 2017ย in Monterey.

Scout groups, youth and arts organizations, community service groups and schools were among the many beneficiaries receiving funding from the 32nd annual Big Sur International Marathon held in April.ย  Overall, $265,000 was distributed to 87 groups (see list below). ย Since its inaugural event in 1986, the Big Sur International Marathon organization has distributed more than $5 million in grants, primarily to organizations that have helped stage both the full and half marathons events.

โ€œWeโ€™re incredibly indebted to these groups that help us stage our world class marathon,โ€ said Tom Rolander, board chair of the Big Sur Marathon Foundation. โ€œOur mission statement includes giving back to the community which weโ€™re able to do thanks to these committed volunteer organizations.โ€

In addition to supporting local groups, the marathon is also a vehicle to assist charitable organizations in their own fund raising efforts.ย  Individuals sign up to run the Big Sur race while obtaining sponsors for their cause. Several hundred thousand dollars were raised to benefit 15 national and regional charities from participation in Aprilโ€™s Big Sur International Marathon.

The Big Sur Marathonย Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization funded primarily by race registrations, sponsor contributions, and individual donations.

This yearโ€™s locally-based grant recipients are:

American Red Cross

Apple Pie School

Aria

Big Sur – Friends of the Library

Big Sur Charter School

Big Sur Grange

Big Sur Health Center

Big Sur Historical Society

Big Sur Learning Project/Stage Kids

Big Sur Unified School District

Big Sur Volunteer Fire Brigade

Boosters at Rising Star

Calif Nursing Students Assoc of MPC

Captain Cooper School Parent Club

Carmel High School Track and Field

Carmel Host Lion Club

Central Coast Lighthouse Keepers

CERV Monterey

Child Abuse Prev. Council, Mont Health

Community Partnership for Youth

Del Rey Woods PTA

Delta Omega Rho

DMWR BOSS

Fairview 4-H

FN MOC Fleet Numerical

Friends of Monterey Public Library

Fury Fastpitch (formerly Central Coast Fury)

Girl Scout Artemis Leadership Camp

Girl Scout Destination

Girl Scout Troop 30609

Girls Inc. of Central Coast (Seaside High)

Hartnell College Physics Club

Henry Miller Memorial Library

International School

Japanese Language School

Junior League of Monterey County

Junipero Serra School – Washington Program

Juvenile Impact Program

Kinship Support Unlimited

Kiwanis Club of Pacific Grove

Knights of Columbus Council 4593

La Mesa PTA

MAOS: Monterey Academy of Oceanographic Science

Marina High Honor Society

Marina High School Cross Country

Marina High School Link Crew

Mid-Coast Fire Brigade

Middlebury Institute (MIIS)

Mission Trail Lions of Carmel

Monterey Bay Gymnastics Assoc.

Monterey County Assn of Realtors

Monterey County Habitat for Humanity

Monterey High Cross Country Boosters

Monterey High Wrestling Club

Monterey Peninsula Dental

Monterey Peninsula Voices

MPC Alpha Gamma Sigma

MPC Children’s Center

Naval Postgraduate School Cycling Club

Navy Supply Corps Foundation Monterey Chapter

Old Capitol Lions Club

P.G. Middle School Staff

Pacific Grove Music Boosters

PGHS Breaker Girls

PGHS Lacrosse (payable to PG Kiwanis)

PGHS Spanish Club

PGHS Track & Field

PGHS Wrestlers

Return of the Natives

Rho-Kappa Chapter of Kappa Sigma

Robert Down School PTA

Saint Mary’s Youth Group

San Carlos School

Santa Catalina School

Seaside Dolphins Aquatic Club

Seaside High Cross Country

Seaside High Girls Softball

SPARC Academy

Troop 127 Boy Scouts of America

Troop 2, Boy Scouts of America

Troop 43, Boy Scouts of America

Troop 60, Boy Scouts of America

Troop 90, Boy Scouts of America

UnChained

Ventana Wildlife Society

White Stag Leadership

York School