First Four Hartford Marathon Foundation Events of 2017 Collected 1,268 Pounds of Food

The nonprofit Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) is encouraging runners to donate non-perishable foods at races with a goal to collect 13,000 pounds in 2017. Introduced in 2015, the “HMF Can” initiative encourages runners to bring donations on race day to be provided to food banks within the communities that race events are held. The 2017 effort is well underway after collections at HMF’s four St. Patrick’s Day themed O’races in March collectively brought in 1,268 pounds of food. More than 12,000 pounds in 2016 and 10,000 pounds in 2015 have been donated through HMF Can and post-race food collections.

Hartford Marathon Foundation race season kicked off on March 11 with the first of the four O’races over the course of two weekends. Race collections and beneficiaries were:

• O’Shenanigans 5K collected 289 lbs for Bread for Life in Southington
• O’Putnam 5K collected 285 lbs for Interfaith Human Services of Putnam - Daily Bread Food Pantry
• O’Niantic 5K collected 239 lbs for the Gemma E. Moran United Way/Labor Food Center in New London
• O’Hartford 5K collected 455 lbs for the Fern Street Food Pantry

“We’re happy to rally runners to give back to the towns and cities who so generously open their roads up to our races. We’re committed to producing races that celebrate these communities and highlight their assets,” said Beth Shluger, CEO and President of Hartford Marathon Foundation. “It’s important to us that the only thing we leave behind after an event is a positive impact.”

The next race and HMF Can collection will take place at the Harvard Pilgrim Middletown Half and Legends 4.5 in Middletown, held on April 9. The food collected will benefit the Amazing Grace Food Pantry. More than 1,265 pounds have been collected for the organization between the 2015 and 2016 events.

In addition to hosting HMF Can drives, HMF also donates food leftover from race events to local groups. The 2016 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, HMF’s largest event with approximately 12,000 participants, produced a total donation of 3,332 pounds, from apples and bagels to loaves of bread and bananas.

Hartford Marathon Foundation is committed to sustainability efforts and proactively seeks opportunities to donate, reuse or repurpose as part of post-event operations. Approximately 355 pounds in compost materials and 7,200 pounds of recycling were produced at the Eversource Hartford Marathon. Clothing donations from the event totaled 1,110 pounds and were donated to Goodwill to be distributed to almost 20 store locations across Connecticut.

For more information on the HMF Can initiative or to register for 2017 events, please visit www.hartfordmarathon.com.

About the Hartford Marathon Foundation
The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be healthy and fit. Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes approximately 42 annual athletic races, including the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, and training programs for young runners. For more information, visit www.HartfordMarathon.com and follow on Facebook at HMF Events, Twitter at @runHMF and Instagram at HMF_Events.