Allen, Texas – The New Years Double held a check presentation ceremony and press conference on February 16. With city staff, city council-members, race sponsors, race participants, and beneficiaries in attendance, Libby Jones, founder and race director for the New Years Double, presented checks to the 9 beneficiaries of this year’s inaugural event. While the event had only a few sponsors, good expense management resulted in being able to present checks totaling $10,275 to the various charities.
The Allen Parks Foundation was the primary beneficiary of the event and received $7,600. The list of other charities that benefitted from the event, with their donated amounts, are Berry Family 5K ($450), Genesis Women’s Shelter ($400), iCare ($375), Allen Lady Eagles Lacrosse Booster Club ($300), Allen Sports Association Girls Lacrosse ($300), Back On My Feet Dallas ($300), Scott Sullivan Scholarship Fund in Honor of Frisco Running Club ($300), Scott White Marrow Donor Program in Honor of Miracle Match Marathon ($250).
Pictured from Left To Right: Dr. Lezlie Maloy [Spring Valley Spine and Sportscare], Janeen Browning [Baylor Regional Medical Center], Mary Krawietz [Next Step Orthopedics], Lanay Stokes [Cinemark Theatres Inc], Libby Jones [Founder/Race Director, New Years Double], Jim Waldbauer [President, Allen Parks Foundation], Joey Herald [Allen City Councilman & Allen Parks Foundation], Stephanie Brittain [Allen Parks Foundation], Ross Obermeyer [Allen City Councilman & Allen Parks Foundation], Gary Caplinger [Allen City Councilman], Cyndi Baldwin [Allen Parks Foundation].
The event would not have been possible without great community partners in its sponsors. The event sponsors were Next Step Orthopedics, City of Fairview, Spring Valley Spine and Sportscare, Cinemark Theatres, and Baylor Regional Medical Center of Plano.
Jones announced at the press conference that next year’s New Years Double will again be
limited to 2,000 participants over the two days of the event, so an even earlier sell out is expected this year. Registration will open March 1st. Jones used this opportunity to debut a new area race, The Showdown Half Marathon and 5K, which will be held in Fairview, the town right next to Allen, to benefit their parks and recreation projects. The Showdown Half Marathon and 5K will be Saturday, October 13, and registration will also open March 1st for that event.
Allen Parks Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization with the primary purposes to assist the City of Allen and other local organizations in enhancing the overall park system through expanded development of parks and recreational programming and to accept land, bequests, rights of way, and other donations.
New Years Double in its inaugural year was a full weekend of run events. Two days of races, from 5K up to a marathon, at beautiful Celebration Park in Allen. This event was Collin County’s first marathon. By offering back-to-back days of marathons and half marathons, this put Allen on the national radar for the distance running community. Each day’s race sold out with 1,000 participants. The next event will be Monday, December 31, 2012 and Tuesday, January 1, 2013. Registration will open for 2012/2013 on March 1st. For more information on the event go to www.newyearsdouble.com.
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