KEFLEZIGHI LAUNCHES CHARITABLE FOUNDATION
By David Monti
(c) 2010 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved - used with permission
NEW
YORK (21-Apr) -- Reigning ING New York City Marathon champion Meb
Keflezighi announced here today that he is forming a charitable
foundation which will support varied causes in health, fitness and
education. Called the MEB Foundation, which the Olympic Marathon
silver medalist said stood for "Maintaining Excellent Balance," the
announcement was made at the RUN store by Foot Locker just off of Union
Square in Manhattan.
"We like to think he began his running
career with us," said Foot Locker U.S. CEO and president Dick Johnson
who introduced Keflezighi today. Johnson recalled how Keflezighi
watched the Foot Locker Championships high school cross country meet in
San Diego playing soccer in 1987; he had no interest in running at the
time. But in 1993, he raced those same championships finishing second
to Adam Goucher, the true beginning of Keflezighi's racing career.
"Yes,
20 years ago as Dick mentioned, I was in Morely Field in San Diego
playing soccer," said Keflezighi. He continued: "There was runners
and, I'm like, why are these people running for? That was 1987 when
Marc Davis, who happened to go to San Diego High School, won the race.
I said, well, these people are crazy. Six years later I was on the
starting line."
Keflezighi said the he does not yet have
specific projects where the foundation will be making donations.
However, he said that his connection to his native Eritrea would be an
influence. He also announced that the ING New York City Marathon had
granted his foundation 20 charity entry spots in this year's race where
he will defend his title on November 7.
"Our goal is to use those spots to fund raise," he said.
One
guest was so inspired by Keflezighi, who finished fifth at last
Monday's Boston Marathon, that he made a $10,000 pledge on the spot.
ENDS