'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014 motivated a cross section of the city’s citizenry, young and old, from all walks of life, to come together and generate a whopping Rs. 20.11 crore in charity for causes of their choice. This edition of SCMM had already broken all previous charity records with the highest number of donors, donations and participants supporting a cause.
SCMM 2014 helped raise Rs. 20.11 crores, benefiting 269 NGOs, that took the funds raised for charity since the event’s inception in 2004 beyond the 100-crore mark. The SCMM has now cumulatively raised over Rs. 109 crore for charity since its inception.
This year’s figure was made possible through the support of 171 participating companies and their employees, 1254 fundraisers and 14,742 individual donors.
The charity figures were announced by Jayanti Shukla, Executive Director of United Way of Mumbai at a special function held to felicitate the fund raisers at the Trident, Nariman Point on Thursday. Gracing the occasion was K Sankaranarayanan, Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra along with J S Sahariya, Chief Secretary, Govt. of Maharashtra.
Also in attendance were Sunil Kaushal, Chief Executive Officer of India & South Asia Operations at Standard Chartered (the title sponsor), and Vishal Jhunjhunwala, Head Corporate Brand at Tata Consultancy Services (the associate sponsor), besides representatives of the various partners to the event.
“The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has become the single largest platform for charity funds raising in India. From what started as a dream, over the last decade, the enthusiasm, participation and commitment from all quarters of the society has grown manifold and has enabled the realisation of our vision to create a cornerstone event. Over the last 11 years the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon has helped raise 109 crore, benefiting 350 NGOs. We are confident that the people of Mumbai will keep supporting this event with equal zest and vigour as it moves into its second decade of being a catalyst for social change,” said Sumeet Singla, Regional Head Corporate Affairs, India & South Asia, Standard Chartered.
“In the past seven years, the involvement of our employees in this unique event have increased manifold as has the positive impact on charitable causes. This is very encouraging as it reinforces TCS’ commitment to giving back to the communities in which we operate as well as helping promote a healthy, active lifestyle. We are delighted that this year too Mumbaikars have contributed generously and extended support to worthwhile programmes by participating in The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon, which brings this city together in many ways,” said N. Chandrasekaran, Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director, Tata Consultancy Services.
As many as 241 NGOs will benefit monetarily from the fundraising effort associated with the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon 2014, with Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care emerging the highest fund-raising NGO for the fourth year running, having generated Rs. 1.59 crore. Save the Children India was the second highest, generating Rs. 1.04 crore, while Isha Education was a close third, raising Rs. 1 crore.
13-year-old Sumer Punjabi emerged as the youngest Dream Teamer, raising Rs. 2.52 lakh for Concern India Foundation. while 16-year-old Meera Mehta was the youngest Dream Champion raising Rs. 10 lakh for her NGO, Shrimad Rajchandra Love & Care. The oldest Dream Teamer was 83-year-old Rumi Taraporevala who raised Rs. 11.97 lakh for his NGO, Society for the education of the crippled.
The Corporate Challenge had 265 teams running from across 171 participating companies who contributed Rs. 10.34 crore, amounting to a major chunk of the total funds generated. The highest fund-raising company in the Corporate Challenge was Kotak Mahindra Bank which, along with its employees, raised Rs. 37.64 lakh for the four causes it supports – SOPAN, ICMH, CPAA & Kotak Education Foundation.
Godrej & Boyce Mfg. Co, Ltd was the second highest, generating Rs. 32.31 lakh in support of the War Wounded Foundation, Republican Sports Club and Vasantha Memorial Trust. K V S Manian & Shanti Ekambaram, both from Kotak Mahindra Bank, emerged as the two highest individual fund-raisers in the corporate challenge category.
In the special Dream Team category which is composed of three sub-categories of individual fund-raisers committing to raise above Rs. 1.50 lakh, Sadashiv Rao was the highest fund-raiser among the Dream Champions, raising Rs. 18.07 lakh for Isha Education, followed by Sankara Raman Srinivasan, who raised Rs. 17.50 lakh in support of Amar Seva Sangam.
Rumi Taraporevala raised the highest amount of Rs. 11.97 lakh among the Dream Wizards in support of SEC, while Anisha Johri raised Rs. 8.36 lakh in support of Family Service Center.
The highest fund-raiser in SCMM 2014 was Dream Maker Mrs. Ramani Sankara Raman who raised Rs 28.77 lakh for Amar Seva Sangam.
Speaking on the occasion, Jayanti Shukla, Executive Director, United Way of Mumbai said, “The SCMM has transcended its sporting nature to become one of the most important philanthropy events in the country and the world. At United Way of Mumbai we have the privilege of being at the crest of this extraordinary platform for giving and being witness to the most remarkable stories of human generosity towards the well-being of others lesser privileged. The SCMM is over within a few hours in the morning of a very exciting third Sunday of every January but the life altering impact of the event reverberates in the improved lives of the beneficiaries long after the event.”
“The Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon is an incredible sporting platform with a huge social dimension. It has quickly become the country’s largest charity generator and the driving force for a healthier and fitter India,” said Anil Singh, Managing Director of Procam International, the promoters of the event.
