2012
04/30/2012 - THE BREAST CANCER RESEARCH FOUNDATION’S HOT PINK PARTY
04/26/2012 - Grand St. Settlement's Taste of the Lower East Side
04/02/2012 - 2012 Skating with the Stars Gala
04/02/2012 - Strokes of Genius to benefit Autism Spectrum Disorders
03/29/2012 - The American Classical Orchestra 2012 Spring Gala Concert & Benefit
03/24/2012 - United States launch of the Seol Won Foundation
03/21/2012 - Kick-off event for The Perlman Music Program’s May 3rd Spring Benefit
03/16/2012 - Asia WeekNY kick-off reception at the Morgan Museum & Library
03/10/2012 - Toby and Itzhak Perlman and The Perlman Music Program hosted by Jim and Kristy Clark in Palm Beach
03/08/2012 - National Committee on American Foreign Policy Hosts the 2012 Gala Awards Dinner
03/06/2012 - 2nd Annual Fountain House Associates Spring Breakfast
03/05/2012 - School of American Ballet's Winter Ball 2012
03/03/2012 - AMIT NewGen Wine Tasting
03/01/2012 - American Cancer Society Honors Grace Hightower De Niro, Diane Reidy-Lagunes MD, Emily Sonnenblick MD
03/01/2012 - New York School of Interior Design Kick-off Reception
02/25/2012 - GiGi’s PLAYHOUSE NYC, Down Syndrome Awareness Centers, opened its doors for the first time
02/25/2012 - CARON LIGHTS UP MAR-A-LAGO WITH “AFTER DARK” GALA
02/19/2012 - Blitz Build 2012
02/07/2012 - 2012 Annual High School Counselor’s Breakfast
02/06/2012 - The Breast Cancer Research Foundation’s ® (BCRF) annual Hot Pink Luncheon and Symposium
02/04/2012 - The 2012 Hope Gala
02/03/2012 - North Texas Super Bowl XLV Host Committee Presents Checks to Local Food Banks
02/03/2012 - American Cancer Society’s 54th Annual Black and White Gala
02/02/2012 - Cut 25 Flagship opening - an event to benefit Project Paz
01/29/2012 - KiDS of NYU Langone Foundation hosted its 6th annual KiDS Play to Win!
01/28/2012 - Girls Bite Out for the North Texas Food Bank
01/26/2012 - French Heritage Society’s New York ChapterKicked Off its 2012 Cultural Season
01/26/2012 - Annual Event to benefit The Samuel Scheck Hillel Community Day School
01/26/2012 - 2012 Plates for Pediatrics Benefit
01/24/2012 - New York Philharmonic Chinese New Year Gala
01/20/2012 - 2012 Wishmaker's Ball
01/20/2012 - Silence! Silent Art Forms
01/19/2012 - UJA-Federation of New York Generosity Signature Event
01/19/2012 - JDRF Central Jersey Chapter Events
01/17/2012 - TIFFANY & CO. HOSTS CARON SUPPORTERS TO SPECIAL PREVIEW OF 2012 TIFFANY LEATHER COLLECTION
01/16/2012 - 2nd Annual San Diego Breast Cancer Fundraiser
01/13/2012 - "Cycle Without Limits" Specialized Bike Program
01/12/2012 - Salvatore Ferragamo Hosts and Evening of Shopping to Benefit the Paradise Fund in Support of St. Jud
01/12/2012 - JDRF Central Jersey Chapter Walk to Cure Diabetes Awards Party
01/09/2012 - Museum of American Finance 2012 Gala
2011
2010
2009
2008
2007
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USMC Ultimate Challenge Mud Run
10/15/2010 - By Columbia, SC

USMC Ultimate Challenge Mud Run

In 1993, the Greater Columbia Marine Foundation conceived the idea to host an event where enlisted personnel and civilians would have the opportunity to compete side-by-side.

History of the USMC Mud Run
This group of retired Marines decided that a military-style obstacle course was the perfect challenge for both groups of participants and thus, the Mud Run was born.
Over the past 18 years the USMC Mud Run has welcomed participants from all over the country who are anxious to get dirty, challenge themselves and support military organizations that provide services to soldiers returning from war and their families. Some compete to win, others are just hoping to survive, but all are willing to get in the trenches to honor the sacrifices made by the military men and women that serve our country.
In September of 2010, the Mud Run set a record and was named the largest Mud Run in North America hosting more than 14,400 participants. It also became the second largest race in the state, second only to the Cooper Bridge Run. Because of the popularity of the event and the demand for more teams to be able to compete, the Foundation decided to hold the event twice a year going forward – in April and October. The number of total teams allowed to compete in each event will be capped at 2,400, or 9.600 participants.
Registration for the October 15, 2011 USMC Mud Run will opened on May 1 at 12:01 a.m. and organizers anticipate a sellout weeks before the actual event.
The Leatherneck
For many years the USMC Mud Run was held at Fort Jackson but outgrew the location with the swell of teams in 2009. The Foundation researched and found a new location for the event in Gaston, South Carolina on a farm owned by a hard-working, caring family who was willing to open up their home to perfect strangers wanting to play in the mud. The course was named the Leatherneck, which is the term used for a Marine in the 1700s.
The permanent course that is now located in Gaston is a 5.2 mile all-terrain test of endurance complete with 36 challenging obstacles. Teams of four must compete over walls, through mud holes, and in trenches to be able to say they survived the Leatherneck!
Teams
Teams of four compete in one of several categories:
• JROTC
• Military
• Corporate
• Homeland Heroes (Police, Fire, Medical)
• Open Male
• Open Female
• Open Coed
Registration fees start at $140 per team. Participants must be at least 14 years old to compete in the Mud Run and teams must have at one member who is at least 18 years old. Registration runs from May 1 until October 13.
Pollywog
Adults aren’t the only ones getting muddy at the Mud Run. Kids ages 5-13 can participate on one of two Pollywog courses, miniature versions of the real thing. Participation is only $10.
Volunteers
An event of this magnitude would not be possible without the support of volunteers. In April 2011 volunteers logged more than 31,000 hours, making the event the single largest volunteer effort in the Columbia area. The Foundation has been proud to partner with Columbia Opportunity Resource (COR) to provide volunteer support and management.
The Festival
Family members, friends and other people not interested in competing are invited to the site for day to watch the race and enjoy the Mud Run Festival. Games and rides are available for the kids while adults enjoy merchandise vendors, music and more. The Festival opens at 9:00 am and closes at 7:00 pm
Beneficiaries
The Greater Columbia Marine Foundation is a non-profit organization that sponsors injured Marines and their families through community outreach programs in the Greater Columbia Area. Proceeds from the Mud Run are used to advance this mission and provide support to those organizations that are in need.
Over the past 17 years, the Foundation has contributed nearly $500,000 in support to charities that provide services to the families of military men and women injured or killed while serving our country including but not limited to Sea Cadets, White Knoll High School JROTC, Honor Convention, Honor Flight, Dorn VA Hospital, and various scholarships.

Photos: Gregg Martin Photography


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