HOUSTON – January 8, 2025 – Discovery Green Conservancy honored the Houston Marathon Committee with a commemorative paver at the finish line of the Chevron Houston Marathon. The paver celebrates the 30th anniversary of the Run for a Reason charity program and marks DGC’s 16th year hosting the official post-race party, RunFest, presented by Michelob Ultra.
Discovery Green and the Houston Marathon launched the Make Your Mark campaign, inviting runners to purchase commemorative pavers. The entire section of pavers are reserved for runners and their families to commemorate their achievements. Proceeds benefit Discovery Green Conservancy’s mission to provide health, happiness, and year-round arts, cultural, and educational events for Houstonians. You can purchase your paver here: www.discoverygreen.com/marathon-paver/
A paver unveiling ceremony took place at 10 a.m. on January 8, 2025, at the Lamar and Crawford intersection, where the Andrea and Bill White Promenade stretches along Discovery Green. This promenade connects the start of the We Are Houston 5K to the finish lines of all races during the Houston Marathon Weekend of Events. Andrew Abendshein, Discovery Green Conservancy Board Chair, Wade Morehead, Executive Director of Houston Marathon Committee and Houston Marathon Foundation, and Amber Tierce, Houston Corporate Affairs Manager of Chevron Houston gave remarks during the ceremony.
“We are proud to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the Run for a Reason program with a permanent tribute at Discovery Green,” said Kathryn Lott, President of Discovery Green Conservancy. “As a nonprofit, we understand the impact of mission-driven initiatives. This program’s long history of supporting Houston charities, including ours, is something to be celebrated.”
Launched in 1995, the Chevron Houston Marathon’s Run for a Reason program has raised millions for local charities. The Chevron Houston Marathon itself began in 1972, followed by the addition of the Aramco Houston Half Marathon and the We Are Houston 5K. These races attract top international athletes and 34,000 participants from around the world to Houston’s welcoming and culturally rich community.
“The opportunity to receive this gift from Discovery Green Conservancy to honor the Run for a Reason program, which raised over $38 million for local charities over the last 30 years, is truly humbling. We’re grateful to unveil our commemorative paver alongside 40 others, right next to the finish line of our world-class races in downtown Houston,” said Morehead, Executive Director of Houston Marathon Committee and Houston Marathon Foundation.
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ABOUT DISCOVERY GREEN®
Discovery Green® is a highly acclaimed 12-acre park in downtown Houston, Texas that is operated by the nonprofit Discovery Green Conservancy. Since opening in April 2008, the park has welcomed more than 20 million visitors. Discovery Green® features sprawling lawns, a one-acre lake, an interactive fountain, a playground, public art installations, gardens and an allée of century-old live oaks. The Discovery Green Conservancy works with hundreds of programming partners to present artistic, musical, educational, family-friendly and health-focused events each year, most of which are presented free to the public. The park also features two on-site restaurants, the award-winning destination restaurant The Grove and the fast-casual The Lake House, providing visitors with an array of dining options. As a nonprofit organization, the Conservancy raises all the funds needed for the programming that Houstonians enjoy. For more information, please visit www.discoverygreen.com. Arts programming is made possible in part by the City of Houston through the Houston Arts Alliance.
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About Houston Marathon Committee, Inc. (HMC) – Founded in 1972, the HMC is a founding member of Running USA and organizes the nation’s premier winter marathon, half marathon, and 5K hosting over 300,000 participants, volunteers, and spectators on race day. Recognized by World Athletics, the Gold Label Chevron Houston Marathon has been the race site for three U.S. Olympic Trials Marathons. The Gold Label Aramco Houston Half Marathon has hosted 16 U.S. Half Marathon Championships. The HMC received Gold Label Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport from 2011 to 2020. The event also garnered the 2015 AIMS Green Award for industry-leading sustainability initiatives. Race weekend generates over $50 million in economic impact for the region annually and has raised over $38 million through the Run for a Reason Charity Program since its inception in 1995. The event is broadcast live on ABC13 and syndicated nationally and internationally on ESPN3.
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