The Dick’s Sporting Goods National Runners Month, a major
sports-marketing initiative scheduled for May 2010, named The Michael J.
Fox Foundation’s Team Fox program as its official charity partner and
beneficiary. Together, Dick’s Sporting Goods National Runners Month
and Team Fox will inspire runners across the country this spring to
raise awareness and funds to find a cure for Parkinson’s disease. The
initiative includes a Facebook campaign, in-store promotions, racing
opportunities and online donation vehicles.

“Were excited to partner with Team Fox in the race to find a cure for
Parkinson’s disease,” said Jeffrey Hennion, executive vice president and
chief marketing officer, Dick’s Sporting Goods. “Team Fox is an
exceptional organization that shares our company’s belief that running
can make a positive difference in people’s lives,” said Hennion.

“As every runner knows, running is a sport that requires not only your
body, but your heart, mind and soul. That may be part of the reason
runners gravitate to Team Fox,” said Michael J. Fox. “Were incredibly
grateful to the thousands of people who have already laced up their
sneakers with the goal of making a difference in the millions of lives
touched by Parkinson’s and we thank Dick’s Sporting Goods for helping
us spread the word to athletes across the country who may not know that
their passion can be part of the solution to PD.”

Officials for the Dick’s Sporting Goods National Runners Month kicked
off the partnership by pledging to donate at least $50,000 to Team Fox
and to motivate individual fundraising to Team Fox using the Web,
social media, and Team Fox’s own large community of members.

The Facebook campaign will run from April 6 through June 6, 2010 during
which Dick’s Sporting Goods will donate one dollar to Team Fox for every
running photo uploaded or tagged by runners on the Dick’s Sporting
Goods Facebook page. Runners who upload or tag photos will not only
raise funds for Parkinson’s, they will automatically be entered into
weekly prize drawings. Each week in May, one lucky runner will win a
$100 gift certificate valid at any Dick’s Sporting Goods store.

Individuals will also be able to donate to Team Fox through the Dick’s
Sporting Goods National Runners Month website and donations page on TeamFox.org. Additionally, Team Fox will have teams
running at each of the ten official Dick’s Sporting Goods National
Runners Month events across the country in May and early June, raising
funds for Parkinson’s research.

Dick’s Sporting Goods has declared May as Dick’s Sporting Goods National
Runners Month, an initiative to promote running and highlight the
retailer’s deep commitment to serving runners. Dick’s Sporting Goods
National Runners Month includes major event sponsorship, Web, social
media, mobile marketing, store promotions, and other activities aimed at
helping runners enjoy their sport. The official Dick’s Sporting Goods
National Runners Month Event Calendar includes the following ten races:

  • Alexandria Running Festival, Washington, D.C., May 2
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods Pittsburgh Marathon, Pittsburgh,
    Pennsylvania, May 2
  • Chuy’s Hot to Trot, Austin, Texas, May 8
  • Palos Verde Marathon, Los Angeles, California, May 15
  • Strawberry Festival, San Diego, California, May 30
  • Brentwood 10K, Los Angeles, California, May 30
  • Stillwater Marathon, Stillwater, Minnesota, May 30
  • Ridge Run 10K, Chicago, Illinois, May 31
  • Dick’s Sporting Goods Bolder Boulder, Boulder, Colorado, May 31
  • Starlight Run, Portland, Oregon, June 5