Sep. 21, 2018
Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon on Sept. 21 presented a total of $10,000 in grants to five local organizations that support healthy living in East Tennessee through its Community Contribution Program.
Grant recipients include Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville, Knoxville Sled Bears, Bike Elf, Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge and PJ Parkinson’s.
Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon officials present $10,000 in grants to local organizations at Cool Sports in Farragut on Sept. 21. Pictured from left: David Black of Knoxville Track Club, Lana Burl of Bike Elf, Isabell Senft-Daniel of PJ Parkinson’s Support Group of Blount County, Jason Altman of Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, Jackie Clay DuBose of Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge and (front) Carly Pearson of Knoxville Sled Bears (not pictured: Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville).
“These five programs make a difference in the community’s overall health and well-being” Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon Race Director Jason Altman said. “Reinvesting in our community is part of the mission of the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon, and we applaud these groups for the work they do every day to encourage a better quality of life.”
Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville received $3,000 for its “Limitless Potential” campaign, which provides scholarships at schools that serve at-risk children. The scholarships are used for enrollment of girls in grades 3-8 in a transformational youth development and physical activity program.
The Knoxville Sled Bears received $2,600 to help provide individuals with physical disabilities the opportunity to play hockey and engage in a team sport. The funds will be used to purchase the necessary equipment.
Bike Elf received $1,750 to help provide bicycles to children and young adults in East Tennessee who might not otherwise have access to one. The funds will cover the cost of parts and materials to refurbish donated bicycles.
Free Medical Clinic of Oak Ridge received $1,650 to help support its “Healthy Habits, Healthy Lives” program. The funds will provide participants with wellness resources and participation incentives and help cover the cost and supplies of smoking cessation classes.
PJ Parkinson’s Support Group of Blount County received $1,000 to support its ballroom dance class initiative for individuals with Parkinson’s disease and those facing dementia. The group partners with the Alzheimer’s Association to provide the classes to adults free of charge.
In addition to the Community Contribution Program, the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon partners with several local charities, including the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank of East Tennessee and Knox Area Rescue Ministries.
The Covenant Health Marathon and the Knoxville Track Club have a longstanding history of giving back to the community. From 2005 to 2018, a total of $170,000 has been donated to support projects, including the placement of mile markers along local city and county greenways, the addition of trails in South Knoxville’s Urban Wilderness and a golf cart to patrol and clean the greenways. Past grant recipients include Knox County Schools, Appalachian Mountain Bike Club, YWCA Knoxville, The Muse Knoxville and Sunshine Ambassadors.
For additional information, please visit www.knoxvillemarathon.com.
About the Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon
The Covenant Health Knoxville Marathon is a premier event organized by the Knoxville Track Club, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization dedicated to the encouragement of physical well-being through running and walking.
