United Bank motivates employees to get moving with Challenge

People arrive at our start line in Hartford from many different paths.  Some have run for years, some are taking their first crack at racing, others may be taking their first steps toward a walking or running goal. 

Welcoming walkers to the Charity 5K at the Eversource Hartford Marathon has allowed more people who never thought it possible to experience finishing under the Arch. We’re grateful to partners like United Bank that motivate their employees to get moving and provide incentives and encouragement along the way.

Currently, 198 United Bank employees are involved in the company’s Walking Challenge. Participants track their steps and activity from spring through fall and there are regular check-ins on progress and goals, including the million step benchmark.

For Paula Jackson in the South Windsor branch, the Challenge truly motivated her to get walking. She started with a goal to walk 10,000 steps a day, then pushed herself to 15,000 steps and reached her million step goal in 211 days.  Paula will be at the start of the 5K in Hartford for the third straight year and looks to best her time from last year. This year, she’ll have a little extra motivation; her granddaughter, Miya Rowland, will be joining her!

Casey Pepin works at United Bank downtown, but has never run in Hartford before. She did a 5K a few years ago and is excited to run on October 13 with good friends and colleagues.  The Walking Challenge inspired her with friendly competition and was a great motivator for her to keep active despite her busy schedule.  

“I love being involved in any of our Bank sponsored events. It’s great to get out into the community and represent such a great place to work - Casey Pepin

Nicholas Harris, also in United Bank’s Hartford location, has done 5Ks before but this will be his first attempt at the half marathon.  Since the start of the Challenge, he’s averaged over 13,000 steps a day and 20,000 on days that he hikes, walks or runs.  He has been focusing on strength and endurance to optimize his training, working to make sure that his legs can endure the 13.1 miles and the hills and finishing sprint. 

Keith Evans started running in 2012 and ran his first half marathon in Hartford later that year.  After a break, he came back to the Eversource Hartford Half Marathon in 2016.  But it was 2018 that really catapulted his running, motivating him to the start line to achieve a 26.2 mile finish on October 13.

The United Bank Walking Challenge started shortly after Keith ran the O’race 4-event series in March.  With the excitement building among employees as they tracked their steps, he followed his own plan but felt the Challenge helped bring people together.  

He took on the Harvard Pilgrim Middletown 10 Mile in April and kept his momentum going, running the Mystic Half Marathon and Surftown Half Marathon among other races.  Having United Bank involved in the marathon is a great perk that Keith enjoys, combining his work life and passion for running to take on his biggest running challenge yet!

United Bank is a presenting sponsor of the 2018 Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.

Eversource Commits to Title Sponsorship Through 2022

On the verge of the 25^th running of the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, the Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) is celebrating its extended partnership with Eversource. HMF and the energy company announced the continuation of the title sponsorship of the signature event through 2022 at last night’s kick-off reception for the 2018 event, which takes place on October 13. 

Since 2014, Eversource has been title sponsor of the annual event that draws more than 10,000 participants, tens of thousands of spectators and more than 2,100 volunteers.  Since the event began in 1994, more than $7.2 million has been raised for local charities and millions annually are provided in economic benefit - $14.5 million in local economic value was generated in the region in 2017 alone.

“We’ve enjoyed a strong partnership with Eversource since 2014 and are thrilled to further efforts together to support local communities, charities and the participants who run or walk with us each year,” said Beth Shluger, CEO of the Hartford Marathon Foundation and Race Director of the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon.  “As we celebrate our 25^th running this month, we are grateful for the support and deep commitment Eversource has made, engaging employees across the region to participate with us and share our dedication and pride in producing such a quality community experience for so many.”

 

“We couldn’t be more pleased with our Hartford Marathon Foundation partnership and we’re thrilled to extend our sponsorship through 2022,” said Eversource Chairman, CEO and President Jim Judge. “Working side by side with the Hartford Marathon Foundation, we’re empowering New England with this premiere event which contributes substantially to the local economy and dozens of charitable organizations.  Along with more than 250 Eversource employees – runners and volunteers – I am excited to see the success of this signature road race continue well into the future.” 

According to a report by Witan Intelligence, Inc., the 2017 event generated an estimated $14.5 million of economic value - approximately 71,780 spectators, participants and volunteers visited the Hartford area for the race, spending an estimated $9.66 million on lodging, shopping and dining, which in turn, supported jobs and “indirect spending” on payroll, goods and services.

Thousands of runners are motivated to use the race to raise funds on behalf of variouscharities and causes. Through these efforts more than $288,000 was raised and reported by the 2017 event’s 20 official charities and other groups (note, charity fundraising is not required to be reported). The $7.2 million raised for charity through the event has benefited community and philanthropic initiatives across the region.

Registration is currently open and more information about the Eversource Hartford Marathon, Half Marathon, Team 26.2 Relay, Charity 5K and HMF FitKids events can be found at www.HartfordMarathon.com, on Facebook, Instagram or via Twitter. 

About the Hartford Marathon Foundation

The Hartford Marathon Foundation, Inc. is a nonprofit organization founded in 1994 to create and manage fitness events that inspire people to be healthy and fit.  Located in Glastonbury, Connecticut, the Hartford Marathon Foundation organizes more than 30 annual athletic races, including the Eversource Hartford Marathon and Half Marathon, and training programs for youth runners.  For more information, visit http://www.HartfordMarathon.com and on Facebook at HMF Events, Twitter at @RunHMF and Instagram at HMF_Events.

About Eversource

Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity to 1.2 million customers in 149 cities and towns, provides natural gas to 232,000 customers in 73 communities, and supplies water to approximately 197,000 customers in 51 communities across Connecticut. Recognized as the top U.S. utility for its energy efficiency programs by the sustainability advocacy organization Ceres, Eversource harnesses the commitment of about 8,000 employees across three states to build a single, united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy and water with superior customer service. For more information, please visit our website (www.eversource.com) and follow us on Twitter (@EversourceCT) and Facebook (facebook.com/EversourceCT).For more information on our water services, visit www.aquarionwater.com.

MEDIA CONTACTS

Hartford Marathon Foundation                  Eversource

Elizabeth Cowles                                            Tricia Modifica

ecowles@cjpr.com                                          tricia.modifica@eversource.com

860-426-9991 ext 20                                       860-665-4605