AUGUST 27, 2014 - On behalf of the Houston Marathon Foundation (HMF), the Houston Marathon Committee (HMC) announced today that Executive Director Wade Morehead will also assume the duties of Executive Director for the Foundation. In addition to this announcement, the HMF is getting a new look by changing its logo to include the iconic star footprint associated with the Houston Marathon Committee since its inception.
"Both the HMC and HMF Board of Directors have been extremely pleased and impressed with Wade's leadership and the direction of the Houston Marathon Committee since his arrival in 2010," stated Houston Marathon Foundation President Maddie Bunch. "We are extremely pleased that Wade will take on this additional role because the collaboration between both organizations can be mutually beneficial and the new logo was created to make it visibly clear that the HMF is the philanthropic arm of the Committee."
The mission of the Houston Marathon Foundation is to support the advancement of running as an element of a balanced and healthy lifestyle in the Houston community and nationally. In 2013, the HMF educated and helped train more than 500+ Houston area middle and high school students, teaching running and exercise fundamentals while also providing mentorship. The Foundation was also one of the top funding partners for the Memorial Park stretching area rebuild.
"Both the HMC and HMF Board of Directors have been extremely pleased and impressed with Wade's leadership and the direction of the Houston Marathon Committee since his arrival in 2010," stated Houston Marathon Foundation President Maddie Bunch. "We are extremely pleased that Wade will take on this additional role because the collaboration between both organizations can be mutually beneficial and the new logo was created to make it visibly clear that the HMF is the philanthropic arm of the Committee."
The mission of the Houston Marathon Foundation is to support the advancement of running as an element of a balanced and healthy lifestyle in the Houston community and nationally. In 2013, the HMF educated and helped train more than 500+ Houston area middle and high school students, teaching running and exercise fundamentals while also providing mentorship. The Foundation was also one of the top funding partners for the Memorial Park stretching area rebuild.
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Additionally, the HMF has teamed with Texas Children's Hospital for seven years to host its annual Family Fun Run. For the first time in 2013, the Fun Run was conducted as a stand-alone event in the Spring at TCH's West Campus in Katy instead of on race weekend downtown. The change has proven to be a success, featuring over 3,300 family participants in April of this year.
"The HMC hosts an event weekend that has grown in scope over the years and includes the largest single-day sporting event in Houston, generating over $50 million in economic impact for the region and featuring 250,000 participants, spectators, and volunteers; but the event transcends race weekend by impacting the region year-round and the Houston Marathon Foundation plays an important role in these legacy efforts," said Morehead. "We take a great deal of pride in this community and are committed to several initiatives which includes the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity program that generates over $2 million annually for local charities; a sustainability program that garnered gold certification in 2013-14 from the Council of Responsible Sport; and a Foundation that will expose hundreds of new runners to the sport and support local runners of all levels."
The Foundation was created in 2007 and guided by the HMF Board of Directors and employee Ally Walker, who has worked for the Foundation since 2010. Walker was promoted to Sr. Manager, HMF Community Development and will now report to Morehead, who will report to the HMF and HMC Board of Directors.
In 2010, Morehead became the first Executive Director in the history of the Houston Marathon Committee. A graduate of both the University of Tulsa (BA, '91) and Tennessee (MS, '94), he helped lead the organization to host the nationally-televised 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. Morehead is a founding member of the endurance event public safety steering committee for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), and currently volunteers on the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. An adjunct professor at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College, Morehead also volunteers for Special Olympics International.
In addition to the staffing change, the HMF's new logo was launched today. It was designed to increase compatibility with HMC branding to make it more instantly recognizable.
"The HMC hosts an event weekend that has grown in scope over the years and includes the largest single-day sporting event in Houston, generating over $50 million in economic impact for the region and featuring 250,000 participants, spectators, and volunteers; but the event transcends race weekend by impacting the region year-round and the Houston Marathon Foundation plays an important role in these legacy efforts," said Morehead. "We take a great deal of pride in this community and are committed to several initiatives which includes the Chevron Houston Marathon Run for a Reason charity program that generates over $2 million annually for local charities; a sustainability program that garnered gold certification in 2013-14 from the Council of Responsible Sport; and a Foundation that will expose hundreds of new runners to the sport and support local runners of all levels."
The Foundation was created in 2007 and guided by the HMF Board of Directors and employee Ally Walker, who has worked for the Foundation since 2010. Walker was promoted to Sr. Manager, HMF Community Development and will now report to Morehead, who will report to the HMF and HMC Board of Directors.
In 2010, Morehead became the first Executive Director in the history of the Houston Marathon Committee. A graduate of both the University of Tulsa (BA, '91) and Tennessee (MS, '94), he helped lead the organization to host the nationally-televised 2012 U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon. Morehead is a founding member of the endurance event public safety steering committee for the National Center for Spectator Sports Safety and Security (NCS4), and currently volunteers on the Greater Houston Convention & Visitors Bureau Board of Directors. An adjunct professor at the University of Houston Conrad N. Hilton College, Morehead also volunteers for Special Olympics International.
In addition to the staffing change, the HMF's new logo was launched today. It was designed to increase compatibility with HMC branding to make it more instantly recognizable.
By: Editor
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