New York, NY – In one of Zespri Kiwifruit’s many efforts to support the six children’s health charities selected to participate in its Kiwifruit for Kids campaign, Zespri positioned itself at the Chicago Marathon in which 1.5 million people attended to watch the race. Zespri’s goal was to support one of its charities and spread awareness on how Zespri Kiwifruit can help you eat healthy and stay fit. Chicago Run, the charity representing the Midwest region for Kiwifruit for Kids, had a tent at Mile 14 in order to cheer on its 60 runners participating in the Marathon and distribute Zespri information.
Zespri’s Kiwifruit mascot Harry, was on the Marathon’s sidelines to cheer on the forty-five thousand runners. Forty 40 high school student volunteers from Chicago Run distributed Kiwifruit for Kids information to spectators and encouraged them to participate in Kiwifruit for Kids game.
“It was great to be at the Chicago Marathon supporting our Midwest charity’s efforts,” said Michele Hoard, Zespri’s Senior Marketing Manager of North America. “To watch Chicago Run’s runners and to have their teenage volunteers promote our Kiwifruit for Kids campaign really helped promote the message of our campaign: to be fit, active, and to eat healthily. It really brought home the message of how Zespri Kiwifruit is a great, easy addition to our families’ diets.”
Concluding on Sunday, October 21st at midnight, the winning charity of the Kiwifruit for Kids campaign will receive $10K from Zespri Kiwifruit, second place wins $5K, and the other four participating charities will receive $1500 just for playing. Chicago Run is currently in third place with 10,499 points.
ZESPRI Kiwifruit
ZESPRI is the world's largest kiwifruit marketer, with over 2,500 growers producing and exporting more than 100 million trays of kiwifruit a year to over 60 countries. ZESPRI is a grower owned cooperative of New Zealand kiwifruit growers, with the aim of ensuring top quality ZESPRI kiwifruit are provided to consumers around the world. For more health information and easy summertime recipes, please visit www.zesprikiwi.com or check us out on Facebook.
Chicago Run
Founded in late 2007 to aid in the fight against childhood obesity, Chicago Run is a nonprofit organization that operates and supports free running programs for children in the Chicago Public Schools. The organization’s mission is to promote the health and wellness of Chicago children through innovative, engaging, and sustainable youth running programs. Chicago Run currently works in 55 elementary schools, serving approximately 13,400 children, in 32 diverse communities throughout the city of Chicago.
2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon
Celebrating its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $219 million in economic impact to its host city in 2011 according to a report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign’s Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.).
Source: ZESPRI Kiwifruit