(1888PressRelease)
April 24, 2008 - Rs 28 lakh more than last year. The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2008, Asia’s largest marathon, has generated a staggering amount of Rs 6.75 crores in clearly tracked funds towards charity, emerging the single largest charity generating event in the country across all fields. This was announced at a special function held at the Trident, Nariman Point on Thursday. Also present at the function were the city’s leading functionaries like Hon PWD Ministers Shri Chhagan Bhujbal, Shri Anil Deshmukh, Municipal Commissioner Shri Jairaj Pathak and Jt. Police Commissioner (Administration) B D More. The title sponsor Standard Chartered Bank was represented by Neeraj Swaroop, Regional Chief Executive, India and South Asia, while the Associate Sponsor TCS was represented by Jayant Pendharkar, Head Global Marketing.
The figure of Rs 6.75 crores in clearly tracked funds through GiveIndia, the Official Charity Partner to the event, is Rs 28 lakh more than the 2007 figure of Rs 6.47 crores in clearly tracked funds. Budgeting for the fact that a lot of small organizations would have raised funds through the event directly, along with contributions from Event sponsors and partners, the final total is now over Rs. 8 crores!
A total of 104 non-profit organizations benefited from the selfless spirit of Mumbaikars, which emerged on the platform provided by the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, which celebrated its fifth anniversary on January 20, 2008, saw 33,000 people participate in the run.
“This year, we focused on a new avenue for people to raise funds through the online mechanism, iGive”, said Jasmine Wadhawan, of GiveIndia, the Official Charity to the event. “The volume of donations received through the iGive pages set up by individual runners was very high. 230 people set up pages out of which 136 people raised over Rs 50 lakh together. Ms. Wadhawan added, “While 2008 has shown us the potential that can be achieved, a much higher level of support from all concerned is required to make this a Rs.50crore event five years hence.”
“The Marathon is an incredible sporting platform with a huge social dimension. It has quickly become the country’s largest charity generator and the driving force for a healthier and fitter India,” said Vivek B. Singh, Joint Managing Director of Procam International, the promoters of the event.
GiveIndia’s Dream Team runners, consisting of 59 high achieving individuals, raised a total of Rs 2.8 crores. Dr. Nachiket Mor, President, ICICI Foundation for Inclusive Growth, raised over Rs 38 lakh. The youngest runner in the Dream Team, 14-year-old Aaran Patel raised more than Rs 1 lakh for the second successive year.
The GiveIndia Corporate Challenge saw an unprecedented number of companies take part in both running and raising funds. More than 115 companies representing the who’s who of the corporate world ran. Out of these, 48 companies raised pledges to the tune of Rs. 74.82 lakh.
Amongst the NGO’s which raised most funds were Childline India Foundation with Rs. 54 lakh and Indian Council for Mental Health (Hygiene) with Rs. 48.lakh. In all there were 20 NGOs who used the event to raise Rs.10 lakh or more for their cause.
GiveIndia, the Official Charity partner to the event since its inception in 2003, acts as the umbrella charity to ensure that all NGO’s have equal opportunity to use the marathon as a fundraising vehicle. By doing this, GiveIndia ensures that every runner can run for a cause and NGO of his choice and that his pledges will be made public through the credible and transparent medium that GiveIndia provides.
Apart from credibility and transparency, GiveIndia works efficiently to ensure that the overall cost of fundraising is as low as 5%, and in some cases, as low as 25 basis points (one BP= 0.01%). This low cost of fundraising, coupled with increased visibility and support to people running for a cause, will be a major factor in the sustainability and growth of the Marathon in years to come.
About GiveIndia
GiveIndia is a non profit organization established in 2000. GiveIndia believes that sustainable change can only be realized by first promoting a giving culture in India. For this reason GiveIndia helps individual donors to donate money easily to a NGO of their choice. NGOs registered with GiveIndia have undergone extensive due diligence and meet the Norms for Nonprofit Accountability set up by the Credibility Alliance. Donors to these NGOs through GiveIndia are assured feedback on how their contributions are used.
About Procam International
Procam International is a full-fledged sports and leisure management company, involved in sports consultancy, innovative television programming, celebrity endorsements and brand management.
In 1988, with a vision to provide a more holistic spend to the advertising rupee and a burning desire to ameliorate the prevailing professional standards for sportsmen, Anil Singh and Vivek Singh created Procam International.
Procam International has promoted and conducted over 30 world events in the last 20 years. These prestigious events have elicited player participation of the highest calibre as well as huge public interest. This has established Procam International as the leading sports events creator in India. The professionalism, attention to detail and dedication has won the company the faith of its sponsors and resulted in long-term associations.
o Rs. 6.75 crores in clearly-tracked funds raised for charity.
o Dr Nachiket Mor is the highest individual pledge raiser among the Dream Teamers with over Rs 38 lakh.
14-year-old Aaran Patel, the youngest Dream Teamer raised more than Rs 1 lakh for the second consecutive year.
o 20 NGOs used the event to raise Rs 10 lakh or more for causes of their choice.
Amongst the NGOs which raised the most funds were Childline Foundation with Rs 54 lakh and Indian Council for Mental Health (Hygiene) with Rs 48 lakh.
For more information
Contact:
Samir Phadnis
Mobile: +91 98337 11437
Email: samir&hanmerpr.com
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