Webster Bank Named Presenting Sponsor of Inaugural RiMaConn Relay

The Hartford Marathon Foundation (HMF) is proud to announce Webster Bank as the Presenting Sponsor of the RiMaConn Relay, its first-ever team relay on the East Coast Greenway. The sold-out event will engage over 700 participants in a day-long race spanning 21 communities in Rhode Island, Massachusetts and Connecticut on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

HMF will employ wide-ranging sustainability measures—one of the most proactive efforts among the HMF calendar of events—including:

• Race shirts made of recycled plastic water bottles (more than 5,700 water bottles will be recycled in the process)
• Reusable water bottles—replacing 10,000 disposable plastic bottles and cups
• Compost-friendly food, plates and napkins at the post-race party
• Locally sourced food and drinks

“Webster’s deep ties to the community throughout Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island make them a natural partner in the RiMaConn Relay, a new endeavor that utilizes our region’s trail system in an exciting way,” said Beth Shluger, HMF CEO and founder. “Their generous support helps us deliver the top-notch race experience participants have come to expect at our events while positively impacting the communities involved.”

Eighty-five percent of the RiMaConn course utilizes the scenic trails of the East Coast Greenway. In addition to being the Presenting Sponsor, Webster Bank will donate $5,000 to help protect and preserve the race trails.

“Webster has a long-standing commitment to supporting the communities where we live and work,” said Brian Runkle, executive vice president, Operations, Webster Bank. “This regional race is another example of our leadership on sustainability and being a good corporate citizen.”

Runkle is the captain for Webster’s relay team and has participated in multiple long-distance relay races across the country for almost ten years.

The RiMaConn sponsorship is the latest example of Webster’s commitment to sustainability. In 2018 alone, Webster entered into approximately $47 million in loans for renewable energy and energy-efficient components. Webster also invests in energy-efficient solutions at its facilities, including curbing paper and fossil fuel usage, and remains active in financing commercial loans for renewable and clean energy and LEED construction.

In addition to its sponsorship, Webster Bank will engage its RiMaConn relay team and employee volunteers in HMF’s "plogging" event on Wednesday, August 14, 2019, in East Hartford, Conn. “Plogging” is a Swedish term referring to picking up litter while jogging. The group run and cleanup is free and open to the community.

For more information about the RiMaConn Relay, visit www.runthegreenway.com.

For partnership opportunities, contact shan@hartfordmarathon.com.