Navy SEAL Foundation to Receive $34,000 Donation from The Ironman Foundation

The Ironman Foundation will provide a $34,000 donation to the Navy SEAL Foundation in conjunction with the IRONMAN 70.3 SUPERFROG triathlon taking place on Sunday, September 24 in Imperial Beach, California, bringing the total awarded to $174,000. In addition, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute $15,500 in charitable giveback to non-profit initiatives and groups in the Imperial Beach region, including the Optimists Club of Coronado and the Islander Sports Foundation.

The original and longest running half-distance race, the SUPERFROG Triathlon was founded in 1979. The challenging course was designed by a group of Navy SEALs stationed at the US Navy SEALs center in Coronado to both prepare them for the IRONMAN World Championship in Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i and to enhance their training.

“Today’s world is a safer place thanks in large part to our U.S. Navy SEALs and the Naval Special Warfare (NSW) community, but not without a significant sacrifice from those warriors, support personnel, and their families. Our job at the Navy SEAL Foundation is to support this amazing community, and we could not do it without the generosity of the IRONMAN Foundation and the participants of this event. Thank you to everyone who has participated in the historic IRONMAN 70.3 SUPERFROG triathlon,” said Sara Berry, Director of Marketing and Communication at the Navy SEAL Foundation.

The Navy SEAL Foundation provides immediate and ongoing support and assistance to the NSW community, their families, and the families of the fallen, wounded and also transitioning NSW veterans. U.S. Navy SEALs have been in sustained combat for over 16 years, performing hazardous work in unforgiving environments at an unrelenting pace. SEALs can spend up to 270 days each year away from their families. The Navy SEAL Foundation stands behind these warriors and their families by delivering comprehensive, world-class programs that specifically address the community’s unique needs.

“Navy SEALs are the elite warriors who put their lives on the line every single day, taking on some of the most perilous missions to protect our country,” said Sarah Hartmann, Community Relations Manager for The IRONMAN Foundation. “It’s important for us to do our part to support those in the field and their families at home. The IRONMAN Foundation is honored to support the Navy SEAL Foundation and our other local nonprofit partners to create long-lasting and tangible impact.”

IRONMAN Foundation race entries were made available to athletes participating in the event, with $175 from each of those entries serving as a tax-deductible donation towards The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund. The IRONMAN Foundation Community Fund provides community and volunteerism grant opportunities to non-profit organizations where IRONMAN events are held. In 2017, The IRONMAN Foundation will distribute more than $1.5 million in grant funding to support the needs of IRONMAN race communities across North America.