Mission 500 Security 5K Race Raises More Than $30,000 At ISC West
The inaugural Security 5K/Mission 500 Charity Run in Las Vegas on the second day of ISC West raised more than $30,000 to benefit Mission 500, a charitable organization engaging security professionals to sponsor children in need through the World Vision organization.
Proceeds from the March 25 event will sponsor 90 children for a full year -- providing food, water, education, healthcare and most importantly, hope. Event proceeds increased the number of sponsored children to more than 360 total. The first-ever Security 5K event also kindled many colorful stories and highlighted the great sense of community and generosity of the security industry.
Despite having little time to prepare, event organizers were overwhelmed by support from across the security industry. More than 312 runners registered for the event, and about 250 ran. Registrants included 65 female runners, and participants hailed from 12 countries and 37 states. The youngest runner was 20 and the oldest 68. First place overall female runner was Karolina Orton of Reston, Va. (21:18.00), and first place overall male runner was Eric Chabin of Chanhassen, Minn.. (18:31.00).
“As security industry professionals, we can leverage our resources and relationships to make this world not only a safer place to live, but also make an ever lasting impact on individual lives and communities across the globe,” said race participant Liz Cohen. “Thank you so much for re-energizing my faith and belief in humankind.” Runner Mark NeSmith added, “I was proud to see this many participants, but I know it will be at least double or triple next year.”
A testimony to the success of the event is that six of the total of seven sponsors in 2010 have renewed their commitments to support the 2011 Security 5K/Mission 500 Charity Run, already scheduled for April 7, 2011, at next year's ISC West in Las Vegas.
Alarm.com also committed itself to sponsor the 2011 event and discussions are under way with numerous companies who expressed interest in adding their support to the event. Two event sponsors this year also promoted special offers tied to the Security 5K.
HID Global, a trusted leader in solutions that deliver security identity, created a Mission 500 donation wall at their booth. Show visitors could take the HID Global Mission 500 card they received in their ISC West registration bag to HID Global’s booth and have their donation badge printed on one of HID Global’s next-generation Fargo DTC branded printers. HID Global donated $1 to Mission 500 for each printed donation badge posted on their Mission 500 donation wall, a total of an additional $681.
Deister Electronics hosted the “The Mission 5K Xbox Giveaway” game at the Mission 500 race registration desk in the lobby of ISC West.
Many show visitors participated in the “Olympic Racing” game, but the highest score was achieved by Nick Spaeth, a 16-year-old up-and-coming security executive and nephew of industry consultant Frank Spaeth. Shadowing his uncle at ISC West to learn more about a future career in security, Nick stopped by the Mission 500 booth around 11 a.m. and earned a score that held up through a full day of racing play. Deister Electronics is also the official racing timer sponsor for the Mission 500 Security 5K.
“The Security 5K was one of the most exciting and rewarding events that we've held in conjunction with any of our trade shows at Reed Exhibitions,” said Amie Cangelosi, Marketing Director of the ISC Events. “Our ISC staff felt fortunate to be a part of something that will affect so many lives in a positive manner.”
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.
“It's the least we can do and a very small contribution,” said Stephen Hagstette Jr., Freeman National Accounts Manager.
However, George Fletcher, Advisory Council Member/Volunteer, Mission 500, noted that the “small contribution” will equate to food, clothing, healthcare and education for three children for a full year.
“It's easy to contribute, and it can even be done by 'gifting' services,” Fletcher said.
At a Reception and Awards Ceremony for Security 5K runners, Mission 500 awarded its first “Mission 500 Humanitarian Award” to Alan Forman, president of Altronix Corporation.
The award honors individuals in the security industry who make important contributions to those in need.
“Overcoming poverty is not a gesture of charity, it is an act of justice,” Fletcher said, quoting Nelson Mandela as he handed the award to Forman. “It is the protection of a fundamental human right, the right to dignity and a decent life.”
Forman reminded everyone how fortunate they are to be in a growing industry and stressed the need to become engaged in some way in social justice.
More than 70 of the runners also set up fundraising Web pages and added more donations to help the cause: Jim Hoffpauir of Zenitel USA was top fundraiser with $2,220, followed by Mark Pickett with $1,805 and Caleb Simonyi-Gindele with $1,095.
Hoffpauir went as far as to print special “Security 5K” business cards with his name and fundraising page and gave them to anyone he met before and during the show.
“In 1999, I traveled to Guatemala City to rescue an infant boy named Pablo from a life of poverty,” Hoffpauir said. “I adopted him into my family and gave him his American name Austin Michael. Without intervention, Austin would have been challenged daily to find enough nutrition to simply sustain his life. It is sad to know that every day there are still thousands of children just like him around the world that awake to a life of poverty.”
Other race winners in various age categories included Lori Walker of Orem, Utah (23:26.00) among females ages 20-30, and David Paul of Ft. Collins, Colo. (19:50.00) among males ages 20-30.
Alison Slavin of Vienna, Va. (23:16.00) was fastest among females ages 31-40, and Ken Zemach of Sioux Falls, S.D. (19:16.00) was fastest among males ages 31-40.
Martha Entwistle of Yarmouth, Maine (25:20.00) won the race among 41-50-year-old females, and Eric Taylor of Pacheco, Calif. (19:03.00) won among males ages 41-50.
In the 51-plus age categories, Leslie Baker of Woburn, Mass. (29:25.00) won among females and Alberto Penaranda of Caracas, Venezuela (22:10.00) won among males. Louise Nesterenko of Calgary, Alberta, Canada, participated in the race despite having a broken knee-cap that was wired -- and finished in 39:20.00.