IRONMAN Foundation providing $75,000 in charitable giveback to the greater St. George region.
None of the funds are designated for cycling-related organizations or programs, such as the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance (SUBA) or the St. George location of the Bicycle Collective
ST. GEORGE, Utah. / TAMPA, Florida (October 25, 2022) – The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute $75,000 in giveback to charitable initiatives and groups in the greater St. George region in conjunction with the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship. Combined with the giveback for the 2021 IRONMAN World Championship that took place in May, the IRONMAN Foundation’s overall 2022 giveback in St. George will be over $190,000, bringing the total amount awarded to the region to over $655,000 since IRONMAN started conducting events in St. George in 2010.
Community Grants
In IRONMAN host cities worldwide, The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund provides community and volunteerism grant opportunities to nonprofit organizations. In all of 2022, the IRONMAN Foundation will distribute more than $2 million in grant funding to support the needs of race communities around the world.
In conjunction with the 2022 IRONMAN 70.3 World Championship, the following six local nonprofit organizations will receive Community Grant awards:
- Building Character Troop 1830 to assist with the acquisition of troop equipment which will further the troops mission to build and teach youth character, service, and work ethic.
- City of St. George to further efforts by the city to expand the community’s capability to host community events, by assisting with construction costs for a performance stage at Worthen Park.
- Friends of Snow Canyon State Park to assist with the building of a 20×26 ft shade and picnic pavilion at the Chuckwalla Trailhead in the Paradise Canyon Management area of the park. The welcomed respite place and picnic area will provide seating and tables with a para-soleil top to protect visitors from the elements.
- Rotary Club of Hurricane Valley to aid in the building of an “All Abilities Playground” at the Dixie Springs Park next to Sand Hollow Reservoir. The playground will give everyone, including those with physical limitations, as well as those on the autistic spectrum a place to play together.
- St. George Children’s Museum for a Desert Discovery Room, meant to excite visitors’ minds about St. George’s local desert environment, its many living things, and the interaction and impact of humans both past and present.
- St. George Elks Lodge 1743 to support charitable giveback programming, including scholarships for local St. George High School students.
“We are thankful for the opportunity to give back to these amazing organizations within the St. George community,” said Audra Tassone, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “Our goal is to leave a positive lasting impact in the communities where IRONMAN athletes live, train, and race long after race day. We are very excited about the programs and projects we are able to support through this year’s Community Grants.”
It is unclear why the IRONMAN Foundation has chosen to ignore those organizations which help make St. George and the Greater Zion are such a great place for cyclists and triathletes to race and train. For example, the Southern Utah Bicycle Alliance’s mission is to promote the infrastructure, policies, attitudes, behaviors, and knowledge necessary to make bicycling safe, convenient, and inviting for residents of and visitors to southern Utah. SUBA endeavors to help local communities reap the economic, health, and transportation benefits of increased bicycling. SUBA members also volunteered to help on race days to make IRONMAN events in St. George a success.
