Fourth Mission 500 Security Race at ISC West Breaks Participation and Fundraising Records
Mission 500, a charitable organization engaging security professionals to sponsor children in need through the World Vision organization, raised more than $90,000 at the fourth Security 5/2K Mission 500 Charity Run at ISC West in Las Vegas. Proceeds from the April 11th event will sponsor over 240 children for a full year − providing food, water, education, healthcare and most importantly, hope. Event proceeds bring the number of sponsored children to over 500.
The organizers were overwhelmed by support from across all facets of the security industry. A record 667 runners and walkers registered for the event and over 520 participated - registrants hailed from 15 countries and 40 states. First place overall female runner was Juli Morse (21:06) of Portland, Oregon, and first place overall male runner was James Goddard (18:40) of Fishers, Indiana. The Security 5/2K event also featured its second 2K walk and over 125 people signed up to participate.
Aided by LRG Marketing Communications, Mission 500 continued its integrated marketing campaign that began in January 2013, aimed at increasing its child sponsorships and promoting wider Security 5/2K participation. For the second time, Mission 500’s media partners joined in offering their support in the form of over $250,000 US in print and electronic media placements to support this important cause. Media for the marketing program was supported by SDM, Security Magazine, Security Dealer & Integrator, Security Management, Security Products, Security Sales & Integration, Security Systems News, Security Director News, Security Technology Executive, Campus Safety, Ventas de Seguridad, Seguridad en America (two Spanish language Security publications) and their respective web pages and portals.
In recognition of LRG Marketing Communications’ outstanding support of Mission 500, a trophy/statuette was presented to the LRG team at the post-race reception on April 11th. At the same reception for Security 5K runners, Mission 500 awarded its fourth “Mission 500 Humanitarian Award” to Mike Keegan, Vice President of Magnasphere Corporation. The award honors individuals in the security industry who make important contributions to those in need. Convergint Technologies Inc. was also honored as the third recipient of Mission 500’s Corporate Social Responsibility Award.
More than 260 participants in the Security 5/2K set up fundraising websites that added more than $30,000 to the proceeds from the event. Mike Perkins of Anixter was the top individual fundraiser with $3,796, which actually totaled $7,592 since his employer matched donations made by their employees. Jesse and Nicole Foglio followed with $2,350 in donations and Bob McKee with $1,685. Mike Perkins will participate in a trip to a World Vision project in Tanzania later this year, and the Foglios won a trip to Mexico.
Exhibitors and attendees were also surprised by performers dressed like CIA agents who converged on unsuspecting attendees “Flash Mob” style to the “Get Smart” theme song. The tagline was “Get Smart About the Mission,” and the performance ended with a request to support the Mission 500 cause. This initiative was sponsored by Axis who also had over 70 participants in the Security 5/2K, the largest team participation since the event started. Angela Kendall Dempsey helped create the flash mob, along with the choreography.
The Security 5/2K Race at the 2013 ISC West Expo in Las Vegas was a collaboration between United Publications, publishers of Security Systems News and Security Director News; Reed Exhibitions, producers of ISC Expos; and Mission 500. Sponsors of the event included Alarm.com, Altronix Corporation, AXIS Communications, Ditek, HID, Honeywell, LRG Marketing Communications, Panasonic, Pelco (by Schneider Electric), Stanley Security Solutions, and Safety Technology International, Inc. The tee-shirt sponsor was DMP, Bolide sponsored the race banner, Qolsys the race bibs and bag insert sponsors included Brivo & Vitek. SIA (Security Industry Association) also became the official Association sponsor for the first time in 2013.
Freeman, contractor of services to ISC West and its exhibitors, waived staff costs and fees for using audio-visual equipment during the 5K race and the awards ceremony, and Starbucks generously donated coffee to complement the post-race refreshments and food.
Other race winners in various age categories included:
- MALE AGE GROUP: 20 – 30: Gustaf Lonaeus in 20:55
- FEMALE AGE GROUP: 20 – 30: Ashley Block in 21:29
- MALE AGE GROUP: 31 – 40: Adam Stroud in 20:17
- FEMALE AGE GROUP: 31 – 40: Karen Salerno in 23:40
- MALE AGE GROUP: 41 – 50: Jeff Bedell in 20:13
- FEMALE AGE GROUP: 41 – 50: Sarah Semerjian in 23:13
- MALE AGE GROUP: 51+: Nigel Ball in 22:03
- FEMALE AGE GROUP: 51+: Martha Entwistle in 25:43