J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge to Celebrate 35th Running

NEW YORK, April 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge® will celebrate its 35th running this year as a sold-out crowd of 30,000 participants from nearly 900 companies celebrate corporate camaraderie and healthy living on two exciting race nights, Wednesday, June 15 and Thursday, June 16, in New York's Central Park. Since the race was first run in New York on July 13, 1977 with a modest 200 runners from 50 companies, J.P. Morgan has expanded the event – bank owned and run since day one – to a series of races run in 12 cities on five continents by nearly a quarter million participants each year.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110411/NE79630LOGO )

"The night of our first running 35 years ago was the same night as the infamous New York City Blackout," remembered Barbara Paddock, Senior Vice President of JPMorgan Chase and Race Coordinator since 1977.  "Perhaps symbolically, that was a real 'lights on' moment for the bank. We knew we had something special when those inaugural 200 runners crossed the finish line and we've made a commitment to growing this special event and bringing it to more cities each year."

In addition to the exciting 3.5 mile course participants can run, jog or walk through Central Park, a special part of the evening comes in the hospitality tents where New York's business community gathers post race for out-of-office team bonding.

"We consistently hear that participants – from the CEO to the newest employee at a corporation – look forward to the Corporate Challenge as one of the most special nights of the year," continued Paddock. "The informal and camaraderie-filled setting lets coworkers bond in a very unique way."

To honor the host of the event and to give participants another tangible reason to feel good about their participation, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation will make a donation to the Central Park Conservancy, in honor of the Corporate Challenge.

Once again, the fastest team in each of three divisions – men's, women's and mixed – over the two nights will earn an invitation to the 2012 JPMorgan Chase Corporate Challenge Championship, at a location to be determined.  The 2011 Championship event will be held on April 21, 2011 in Singapore.

Additionally, the J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge has created a Facebook page this year for each of its races. The New York race page can be found at: http://www.facebook.com/CorporateChallenge. For further information, please visit http://www.jpmorganchasecc.com/.

About J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge

The J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge is a Series of 12 road races held in six countries on five continents.  Each event features an all-inclusive 3.5-mile (5.6km) race and a festive post-race party.  The mission of the Corporate Challenge is to provide a night of healthy camaraderie and team-building that can contribute positively to workplace productivity and morale and can also influence healthy lifestyle choices.  In addition, the JPMorgan Chase Foundation makes donations to worthy not-for-profit organizations in each market on behalf of the Corporate Challenge and the Series executes best environmental practices through our Teaming Up for a Greener Tomorrow initiative.  

Media Contacts:
Brittany Welch, 360 Public Relations, 617.585.5785; [email protected]
Caitlin McNamara, 360 Public Relations, 617-585-5760; [email protected]

SOURCE J.P. Morgan Corporate Challenge