Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, India’s largest charity raising platform registers a record breaking performance!
United Way of Mumbai, official charity partner for the 10th edition of SCMM, has already logged Rs 14.5 crore for 232 NGOs. Expects the figure to cross Rs 17.5 crore
Over nine years, the charity drive associated with the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has seen a phenomenal growth and the event now stands unsurpassed and unchallenged the country’s largest charity raising platform.
Over nine years the event has helped raise around Rs 71.07 crore towards charity, benefitting hundreds of NGOs and touching the lives of countless individuals. What began as a novel and unique concept in 2004 was soon embraced by people from all walks of life who, in their own way, made efforts to raise money for charity.
The figures raised for charity through the event has seen a meteoric rise, from Rs 1.44 in 2004 to Rs 4 crore in 2005, Rs 4.5 crore in 2006, Rs 7.94 crore in 2007, Rs 8.05 crore in 2008, Rs 7.75 crore in 2009, Rs 9.16 in 2010, Rs 12.16 crore in 2011 and Rs 16.07 in 2012.
The year, through the 10th edition of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, United Way of Mumbai expects the figure raised for charity to cross Rs 17.05 crore. This confidence stems from the fact that they have already logged Rs14.4 crore for 232 NGOs and this been possible through the support of 166 companies, fielding 257 teams, 2620 charity fund raisers and above 24,000 donors. United Way of Mumbai serves as the cause neutral credible charity facilitator for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
Jayanti Shukla, Executive Director, United Way of Mumbai says, “as charity partners for the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, we are witnessing an amazing response from Mumbaikars. Corporate czars, film stars, students and working professionals – people across the spectrum have shown enthusiasm in running for a cause they truly believe in and raise funds for it. It is a proud moment for the city and brilliantly showcases it philanthropic spirit.”
“It gives us at Procam International an immense sense of satisfaction and fulfillment to have created a property that can inspire so many individuals and companies to make selfless efforts towards raising money for causes of their choice. Over the years the money raised through charity has helped alleviate the difficulties of thousands of individuals and, along with United Way, all efforts will be made to keep raising the bar with every edition,” says Vivek Singh, Jt. Managing Director, Procam International, the promoters of the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.
Some of the most inspirational stories around the charity effort are showcased below:
Rahul Kadri for Save the Children, India
For Dream Champion, Rahul Kadri, Managing Director, Kadri Consultants Pvt Ltd, this is the 5th year of his association with SCMM. “It has been a great focal point in my life and a catalyst to raise my fitness level from near zero to having a target of running the half marathon this year in less than 2 hours, barefoot. It’s a wonderful opportunity for collecting funds for my favourite charity – ‘Save The Children India’. Over the years I have raised over 60 lakh, benefiting thousands of children. The organisation of the Marathon is just amazing in its smoothness and a celebration for the entire city. The strong association with United Way of Mumbai and hundreds of charities is indeed truly inspiring! The benefit of the marathon goes far beyond the fitness levels of the participants to innumerable less privileged citizens greatly benefiting from the event.”
Shaantanu Mukherji For Salaam Bombay Foundation
Shaan, has been associated with the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, since 2011, when he was approached to record the event theme song which was used for the 8th edition of the race. Having raised Rs. 17 lakh last year Shaan says, “this year, for its 10th edition, I along with Salaam Bombay Foundation am raising funds to fulfill a 1000 Dreams of students who are pursuing their academics. We are raising funds to empower young minds and also give them enough strength to stay away from tobacco and other forms of substance abuse. I am running to create a stronger and healthier future for the next generation! “
Sunil Rawlani for Childline India Foundation
Taking his passion for running marathons to even a higher level is Sunil Rawlani, for whom it is the 8th year of participation. Training 6 days a week he plans to better his past record of 2 hours and 20 minutes for the half marathon. Supporting Childline India Foundation, he believes that every child belongs in a playground, a home and a school. He says, “I decided to work for underprivileged children and touch as many lives as possible in the most meaningful way. The cause keeps me committed. It’s great to be part of about 500 people training from Marine Drive to Worli Seaface or Juhu beach on Sunday morning at 6 a.m. It is inspiring when you find senior citizens making the effort.” He has raised over Rs. 26 lakh through these years.
Suranjana Ghosh for The Association of People with Disability
Courage personified is Dream Maker Suranjana Ghosh, a cancer survivor. An above knee amputee herself since she was 18, she is running and raising funds for ‘The association of People with Disability’, this year. “I never gave up on my dream of being a successful professional. I did an MBA & went on to work for several multinationals, both in India & in the UK. The cause of education for physically disabled children from underprivileged backgrounds is of special importance to me. I believe that education & opportunities for employment for the physically challenged, help mainstream them into self-reliant, confident achievers – putting them on an even keel as the physically able.
Today, a successful senior executive, Suranjana is aiming to challenge her own physical limits. She believes, “the number of things you can do, will always be more than what you can’t, despite physical limitations. What matters is the access to opportunities.” This is her small way of making a difference.
Isha Jain for Isha Vidya
Into her third year, running the Dream Run, Isha Jain, a 15-year-old student, influenced by her parents, has decided to raise funds this year. She says, “I organized myself for the Dream Wizard challenge. With the help of my parents, I wrote to about 300 people, called dozens of them, followed up constantly on email, Facebook and met many for a face to face talk. The convenience of having an online donation page by United Way was a boon for closing on the collections! To make sure I’m doing everything I can to help these children, I have asked all of my friends to donate to Isha Vidhya, instead of giving me a gift on the 20th of January 2013, which happens to be my 16th birthday. I could not ask for a better birthday gift for myself than being instrumental in changing the lives of even a few of rural kids at Isha Vidhya.”
Siddhartha Dev for Center for Hearing Impaired Children
An employee of KPMG, Mr. Dev has been associated with SCMM and United Way for the last three years, and has raised around 17 lakh for Center for Hearing Impaired Children (CHIC), Jamshedpur. He says, “I wish to transform a child labeled ‘deaf & dumb’ into a talking youngster leading an independent and productive life. This can be done through concerted and committed efforts and use of modern day technology. Many people want to help but they just don’t know how to go about it. United Way and SCMM provides the platform, comfort and security that the money will not be misused and will reach the real beneficiaries. Most importantly, it gives me an opportunity to give back to the society and provides me with a goal to help me keep fit to a certain degree.
Meera Mehta for Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care
The youngest Dream team participant of last year and this year, Meera has registered as a Dream Wizard this year. She says, “Last year I raised funds totaling to Rs. 1.5 lakhs. I saw the changes that the funds raised made to many lives and this inspired me to raise the bar for fund raising to Rs. 5 lakhs this year. What was amazing in my experience of fund raising this year was that many of my friends, relatives and people who were inspired by my efforts last year came forward on their own on their special occasions and pledged funds for Shrimad Rajchandra Love and Care. “ Her inspiration is her Guruji, Pujya Guruvevshri Rakeshbhai, who has instilled in her since childhood to help others in need.
They are just a few among the 2000+ fundraisers championing the cause of the various participating charities. United Way Mumbai in its role as the charity partner serves as the philanthropic exchange bringing together charities, corporate and individuals in a credible platform for giving. Each participating NGO undergoes a background due diligence process.
United Way of Mumbai is a premier non-profit organization that endeavours to leverage corporate, employee and leadership talent for community development. Through corporate gifts and employee giving campaigns, United Way of Mumbai seeks to successfully engage the corporate sector into meaningful Social Responsibility structures bringing about a positive and lasting change in the communities.
United Way of Mumbai is part of the 125 year old United Way worldwide movement of nearly 1,800 community-based United Ways in 41 countries and territories. The United Way movement mobilizes millions to action—to give, advocate and volunteer—to improve conditions in their communities
