World-class Event Invites Athletes to Run for Charity and Help Change the Culture of Mental Health

Los Angeles, CA, Oct. 16, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Give an Hour and the Campaign to Change Direction announced today that it will participate as an official charity partner in the 2019 Los Angeles Marathon, March 24, 2019,- one of the four largest marathons in the U.S and one of the top 10 worldwide.

 

As an official LA Marathon Charity Partner, Give an Hour is recruiting team members to run on behalf of its public health initiative, the Campaign to Change Direction. Team members will raise funds to support the Campaign and will have the opportunity to train and run together. They will receive team benefits, including a team shirt, training tips, group training runs and a chance to win a FitBit.

 

Give an Hour currently consists of approximately 7,000 mental health professionals, providing free and confidential mental health care to those in need; to-date, the organization has donated over 265,000 hours of free care, valued at more than $26 million. In addition to providing free and confidential mental health care to those in need, Give an Hour leads the Campaign to Change Direction (changedirection.org), a public health effort with the goal to change the culture of mental health so that all of those in need receive the care and support they deserve. Using a collective impact approach, the Campaign and its 600+ partners encourages everyone to pay attention to their emotional well-being and reminds us that our emotional well-being is just as important as our physical well-being.   

 

“This is a wonderful opportunity to educate more people about our free mental health services and to share the Campaign to Change Direction’s mission to change the culture around mental health,” said Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, Founder and President of Give an Hour. “The Los Angeles Marathon has an impressive track record of amplifying important causes and raising significant funds! We are honored to be one of the organizations participating in 2019.”

 

Last year, the Los Angeles Marathon’s cohort of official charity partners raised more than $3 million – just a portion of the nearly $50.5 million that has been raised since the founding of the event.

 

“Our charity partners bring a special component to the marathon by bringing their causes to the course.  It’s even more exciting when it’s a natural fit between the mission and the marathon.  Running for Give an Hour allows people the opportunity to experience the physical and mental benefits of running while also having a direct impact on their public health effort to change the culture of mental health in our country,” said Melissa Christian, Manager, Nonprofit & Community Partnerships, Conqur Endurance Group.  

 

To learn more about joining Give an Hour’s team for the Marathon, go to http://bit.ly/runtochangementalhealth.

 

To learn more about Los Angeles Marathon’s charitable impact and to find out more about the race, you can visit: https://www.lamarathon.com/charities/run-for-charity/our-impact

 

ABOUT GIVE AN HOUR

Founded by Dr. Barbara Van Dahlen, a psychologist in the Washington, D.C., area- Give an Hour’s mission is to develop networks of skill-based volunteer professionals capable of responding to both acute and chronic conditions prevalent within society. Since 2005, the nonprofit organization has provided free mental health services to U.S. service members, veterans, and their families.  In 2015, Give an Hour expanded efforts to address the mental health needs of other populations including at-risk teens, survivors of gun violence, victims of human trafficking and those affected by natural and man-made disasters. In addition, Give an Hour is now working internationally to provide information and services to address the needs of those who are in emotional pain around the world. Through the generosity, compassion, and expertise of Give an Hour’s skilled volunteers, we are able to increase the likelihood that those in need receive the support and care they deserve. Thus far, the U.S. network of nearly 7,000 licensed mental health professionals has provided more than 265,000 hours of care and support to those in need. Learn more at www.giveanhour.org and www.changedirection.org.

 

ABOUT THE LOS ANGELES MARATHON OFFICIAL CHARITY PROGRAM

We are committed to improving the community by offering nonprofits the opportunity to use our world-class event to increase awareness and raise funds for their causes through the Official Charity Program. Each organization’s mission is special and unique – just like our 25,000+ runners and our amazing 26.2 mile marathon course. This program is a chance for nonprofits to show the cities of the greater Los Angeles area who they are and what they stand for.

Lauren Jenkins
                  ScoutComms
                  (202) 596-5669
                  ljenkins@scoutcommsusa.com