Half Marathon Donates $10,000 to Charity Partner

Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay exists to empower women, inspire girls

Officials from the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon presented the event’s charity partner, the Women’s Fund of Greater Green Bay, with a $10,000 donation during a brief Dec. 9 ceremony at Bellin Hospital.

A fund of the Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, the Women’s Fund is in its second year as the charity partner for the 13.1-mile individual and relay event. Half marathon participants can earn a free entry by raising $400 for the organization, which in turn provides volunteers to assist with pre-race and race-weekend activities.

The Women’s Fund’s focus on empowering women and inspiring girls makes it the perfect charity partner for the female-focused Bellin Women’s Half Marathon, which is the only event of its kind in the area, said race director Linda Maxwell. The event exemplifies its tagline, “a race to empower women,” through training support, a mentorship program, inspiring speakers and a focus on health and wellness issues specific to women.

“We’re proud to support the Women’s Fund’s amazing efforts on behalf of women and girls in our communities,” Maxwell said. “The organization’s mission dovetails perfectly with the objectives of our female-focused race, and we couldn’t ask for a better or more apt charity partner.”

Women’s Fund president Susan Baranczyk accepted the $10,000 check from Maxwell during the Dec. 9 event. Others present included Women’s Fund vice president Kate Hogan, Bellin Women’s Health vice president Deborah Fischer and Bellin executive vice president and chief operating officer Chris Woleske.

“We are tremendously grateful to Bellin for continuing to choose the Women’s Fund as the charity partner for the Bellin Women’s Half Marathon,” Baranczyk said. “Not only does the half marathon itself empower women and inspire girls, but through this donation, the Women’s Fund is able to provide grants to a growing number of programs focused on increasing leadership skills and self-esteem among local women and girls.”

The Women’s Fund offers donors and sponsors the opportunity to directly help women and girls in the greater Green Bay community by funding the organizations and programs that research has shown are of greatest local need. Since 1995, the organization has awarded grants totaling more than $550,000 to more than 80 initiatives and community programs, including educational and character development programs for girls; skill-building initiatives for women to help them overcome barriers and move out of poverty; and leadership programs for women and girls. More information is available at www.womensfundgb.org/.

Held Saturday, Oct. 8, the 2016 Bellin Women’s Half Marathon drew 1,300-plus participants who ran, walked or relayed the 13.1 miles from Bay Shore Park in New Franken to Bay Beach Amusement Park in Green Bay. The third annual event will take place Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017. More information is available at www.bellinwomenshalf.com.