Easton Town Center
website: www.eastontowncenter.com
August 26, 2010
An Inspiring Summer Ride at Easton
Easton Town Center took its industry-leading charitable initiatives and innovative community partnerships to a new level this summer, as an inspired collaboration with the
Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute brought heightened awareness, renewed energy and additional resources to support an extraordinary institution and a longtime Easton charitable partner. The summer program, Easton Salutes The James, was first announced at Easton’s annual Celebration for Life event in May and ran through the end of July, highlighted by a special charitable event, Pelotonia –Rally for the Ride! on Sunday, July 18th.
Easton Salutes The James is an expansion of a longstanding partnership between two Columbus institutions. The partnership is highlighted by the Celebration for Life, an annual high-profile fundraising event to raise funds in support of research and technology and contribute directly to the James Fund for Life. The Celebration for Life dinner is among a select few high-profile annual Cornerstone Events at Easton that increase awareness and raise funds for specific charitable causes. While The James Cancer Hospital and Solove Research Institute has long been one of the Easton Community Foundation’s Cornerstone partners, the Summer 2010 Easton Salutes The James initiative took that collaboration to a new level.
“Our goal all along was to educate our guests and create a sense of pride that we have this great facility in our city,” explains Easton General Manager Bob Ziegler.
The Pelotonia – Rally for the Ride! recruitment ride and fitness fair on July 18th was part of the buildup to the August 20th-22nd 2010 Pelotonia event, a much-anticipated weekend of cycling, entertainment and volunteerism. A grassroots bike tour that takes riders across central and southeast Ohio (riders begin in Columbus or Canal Winchester and travel one of several routes southeast toward Ohio University in Athens), Pelotonia donates 100% of every dollar raised to fund life-saving cancer research.
Participants in Pelotonia – Rally for the Ride! – which lasted from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. ¬– were treated to a complimentary breakfast and enjoyed a morning bicycle ride before returning for an afternoon fitness fair, rider registration and other activities. Nashville-based singer/songwriter Dave Clo was on hand to entertain the fairgoers, and Sbarro’s Pizza, Brio Tuscan Grille, Fado Irish Pub and other Easton tenants provided delicious food at a discount for event attendees. Participants were even treated to complimentary product provided by Easton’s C.O. Bigelow!
Easton tenant roll:, self-described as “a bicycle and equipment store with great selection and service,” was very instrumental in the programming of Pelotonia, helping to design the course itself and having a very visible and participatory presence at the event.
While the Pelotonia – Rally for the Ride! event was a summer highlight, Easton Salutes The James also featured a creative twist on a popular Easton fundraising initiative: decorative meter wraps on the more than 300 parking meters across Easton Town Center. While six annual charitable partners benefit from the Easton Community Foundation’s popular Change For Charity meter donation program, Easton decided to go the extra step of decorating its parking meters this one time for a very special cause.
With its track record of community partnerships and charitable events and programming, the Easton Community Foundation exemplifies the Steiner + Associates' commitment to promoting community connection and charitable giving. And while Easton’s inspired array of special events, charitable initiatives and community outreach programs have raised more than $2.4 million over the past decade for deserving regional charities, Easton Salutes The James demonstrates quite clearly that when it comes to the ability to innovate, inspire and expand successful programs, Easton Town Center is at the head of the peloton.