On Saturday, September 15, 2018, The IRONMAN Foundation® made a $10,000 donation to the Navy SEAL Foundation in conjunction with the IRONMAN® 70.3® SUPERFROG triathlon which was held on Sunday, September 16, in Imperial Beach, California. Since the inception of the program, this donation will bring the total amount awarded to the Navy SEAL Foundation by the IRONMAN Foundation to $184,000! The check presentation took place at 11:00 a.m. at the Portwood Pier Plaza in Imperial Beach, CA. In addition, the IRONMAN Foundation will distribute an additional $15,000 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the Imperial Beach region.
The original and longest running half-distance triathlon race, the SUPERFROG™ Triathlon was founded in 1979. The challenging course was designed by a group of Navy SEALs stationed at the U.S. Navy SEALs center in Coronado both to prepare them for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i and to enhance their training.
“SEALs, SWCCs, and our Naval Special Warfare (NSW) teammates are continuously working to keep our nation safe,” said Sara Berry, Director of Marketing and Communication at the Navy SEAL Foundation. “They and their families make sacrifices every day so that we can live in peace and security. Events like the IRONMAN 70.3 SUPERFROG triathlon bring our communities together in support of these warriors and families, and the Navy SEAL Foundation is honored to be a part of this historic event. On behalf of the Foundation and those we serve, thank you to the IRONMAN Foundation, the triathlon participants, and the Imperial Beach and Coronado communities for supporting our mission of service to the NSW community with this generous donation.”
“The IRONMAN Foundation is truly honored to partner with the Navy SEAL Foundation,” said Michael Lynn Sills, Community Relations Manager for the IRONMAN Foundation. “It is extremely important for us to support those who put their lives on the line day in and day out, as well as their families that remain at home.”
The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund provides community and volunteerism grant opportunities to non-profit organizations where IRONMAN events are held. In 2018, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute more than $1.7 million in grant funding to support the needs of IRONMAN race communities across North America.