Ironman Briefs

• IRONMAN Foundation to distribute $70,000 to local groups this year

Charitable givebacks to total $575K since first race in 2003

The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund will distribute $70,000 in grant funding to nonprofit needs in the Coeur d'Alene area in conjunction with Sunday's triathlon.

With the 2014 donations from the IRONMAN Foundation, a total of $575,000 will have been given to support the needs of the community since the first race in 2003.

The IRONMAN Foundation will donate $35,000 to the Coeur d'Alene community to support local nonprofit beneficiaries that will use the funds toward local initiatives to better the area. Two recipients of these funds are the city of Coeur d'Alene for sports and recreation activities and The Salvation Army Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center for their Third Grade Swim program.

"The IRONMAN Foundation made the difference in this year's Third Grade Swim program at The Kroc Center, helping teach more than 1,000 Kootenai County students water safety and swim basics," said Christy Markham, development director from The Salvation Army Kroc Center. "The grant from The Foundation helped increase enrollment by 50 percent and provided the needed funds to invite schools who had never been able to participate."

A third organization to benefit from those funds will be identified at the Athlete Welcome Ceremony on Friday in the Bandshell at City Park as part of the new community grant application initiative. Nonprofits in the Coeur d'Alene community who were interested in a community grant through The IRONMAN Foundation were able to submit applications to the foundation with one recipient being selected.

In addition to donating funds to these community organizations, The IRONMAN Foundation will provide the additional $35,000 in grant donations to local nonprofit groups who have a volunteerism component to their organizations.

The IRONMAN Foundation also provides registered athletes with the platform to fundraise for the foundation or a nonprofit beneficiary of their choice as they train for their IRONMAN event. Fifteen registered IRONMAN Coeur d'Alene athletes have signed up to participate in The IRONMAN Foundation's "Your Journey, Your Cause" fundraising program.

Through their participation with the foundation these athletes have been touched by something greater than themselves and are giving back to nonprofit organizations to make their race experiences more than just crossing the finish line - they are racing for a cause.

Collectively, they have raised nearly $50,000 for their respective causes. Athletes have now raised more than $200,000 as part of this initiative in 2014.

• IRONKIDS fun run tonight

COEUR d'ALENE - The IRONKIDS Coeur d'Alene Fun Run presented by Regence will be held tonight at 5:30 at City Park.

The one-mile event for children ages 14 and younger costs $5.

Entrants can register today from 10 a.m. to 5:15 p.m. at the Ironman Village at City Park.

For more information, contacts Chenoa Dahlberg 769-2252 or [email protected] or Monte McCully at 292-5766 or [email protected].