TD Beach to Beacon 2019 Road Race Achieves Prestigious “Evergreen” Level Certification

CAPE ELIZABETH, Maine (October 22, 2019) – The TD Beach to Beacon 10K Road Race’s commitment to sustainability was recognized once again with Evergreen Certification by the Council for Responsible Sport.

In a letter to race organizers, Shelley Villalobos, Managing Director at the Council for Responsible Sport, noted that in 2019, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K implemented 95 percent of the entire set of standards considered for Evergreen Certification, which she called “incredibly impressive and not easy to do.”

Race founder and running icon Joan Benoit Samuelson, a Maine native and 1984 Olympic gold medalist, said, “This is the second time the TD Beach to Beacon 10K has achieved Evergreen Certification and we are part of a very elite and select group of athletic events that have achieved Evergreen status.” Samuelson added,

“The responsibility for being good stewards of our planet belongs to everyone. All of us who are involved with the TD Beach to Beacon 10K are fully committed to doing our part in the effort.” -Joan Benoit Samuelson, Olympic gold medalist and race founder

With the help of Bruce Rayner, Founder and Chief Greening Officer of Athletes for a Fit Planet, the TD Beach to Beacon 10K first attained Evergreen Certification following the 2016 race, by completing a rigorous review of the environmental and social sustainability programs in place at the race, ranging from comprehensive recycling, measuring and reducing carbon emissions, raising money for charities, and building a positive legacy in the community. Rayner led the charge to complete the process for the 2109 certification as well.

A green team volunteer helps sort items at a recycling station at the 2019 TD Beach to Beacon race in Cape Elizabeth, Maine. The event diverted 77% of its waste from the landfill in 2019.

The TD Beach to Beacon 10K is one of only seven mass-participation events to achieve Evergreen Certification from the Council for Responsible Sport, and the first major road race in North America to achieve the top status. (A small road race in La Jolla, Calif., achieved the honor in 2009, but is no longer certified.) The TD Beach to Beacon 10K achieved Silver Certification in 2012 and Gold Certification in 2014 before achieving the highest Evergreen level in 2016. The certification is valid for two years.

The Council for Responsible Sport is an Oregon-based nonprofit, founded in 2007, that provides objective, independent verification of the socially and environmentally responsible work event organizers are performing nationwide. The process is meticulous; event organizers are required to provide detailed measurement and documentation of sustainability efforts and outcomes.

“This renewal of Evergreen status, and the improvements made to an already-strong sustainability program by the TD Beach to Beacon 10K represent world-class integrity in sustainable event design and production, which touches nearly every aspect of the event itself. The entire community that hosts and supports this race has a lot to be proud of." said Shelley Villalobos, managing director of the Council for Responsible Sport.

Highlights that were incorporated into the 2019 TD Beach to Beacon 10K that helped earn Evergreen Certification included:

• Recycled and composted waste at the start and finish and at the volunteer and VIP dinners, for a combined total waste diversion rate of 77%.

• Recycled old running shoes through Nike’s Reuse-a-Shoe program, providing new life for the materials in such things as playgrounds, basketball courts and running tracks.

• Partnered with the Bicycle Coalition of Maine to provide runners, volunteers and spectators with free and secure bike valet parking at Fort Williams. This year, 310 runners, volunteers and spectators used the service, up nearly 50% from 2018.

• Collected a record 4,607 redeemable bottles and cans at the finish in a partnership with redemption service provider CLYNK. The proceeds totaled $387.50, that was donated to The Telling Room, this year’s TD Beach to Beacon 10K charity.

• Offset the carbon emissions of operations vehicles and generators used for the race.

• Runner and volunteer shirts are made from 100% post-consumer recycled plastic

• Eliminated latex balloons from the start line and on the course and replaced them with banners made of used sails by a local company called SeaBags.
  

To learn more about TD Beach to Beacon 10K’s sustainability measures, visit https://www.beach2beacon.org/about/greening-b2b/

The TD Beach to Beacon 10K, which took place August 3, draws runners from throughout the region and the world to picturesque Cape Elizabeth, ME. The race begins near the Crescent Beach State Park entrance on Route 77, winds along tree-lined streets, past breathtaking ocean vistas, and ends in Fort Williams Park at the historic Portland Head Light, the most photographed lighthouse in the world.

More than $90,000 in prize money was awarded to the top finishers and place winners in the various categories for men and women, and a separate $30,000 donation is provided each year by the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank®, to a selected local charity. The Telling Room was the 2019 race beneficiary.

For additional information about the race, visit www.beach2beacon.org, and find the TD Beach to Beacon on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

About the TD Charitable Foundation

The TD Charitable Foundation is the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank ®, one of the 10 largest commercial banking organizations in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, the Foundation has distributed over $199 million and more than 19,400 grants through donations to local nonprofits from Maine to Florida. More information on the TD Charitable Foundation, including the online grant application, is available at TDBank.com.

About TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank ®

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is one of the 10 largest banks in the U.S., providing more than 9 million customers with a full range of retail, small business and commercial banking products and services at more than 1,200 convenient locations throughout the Northeast, Mid-Atlantic, Metro D.C., the Carolinas and Florida. In management services through TD Wealth ®, and vehicle financing and dealer commercial services through TD Auto Finance. TD Bank is headquartered in Cherry Hill, N.J. To learn more, visit www.tdbank.com. Find TD Bank on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TDBank and on Twitter at www.twitter.com/TDBank_US.

TD Bank, America’s Most Convenient Bank, is a member of TD Bank Group and a subsidiary of the Toronto-Dominion Bank of Toronto, Canada, a top 10 financial services company in North America. The Toronto-Dominion Bank trades on the New York and Toronto stock exchanges under the ticker symbol “TD”. To learn more, visit www.td.com.

Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee Pursues First-Ever Sustainable Major Event Certification During 2019 NCAA​®​ Women’s Final Four​®

Tampa, Fla. (​February 5, 2019​) -- ​For the first time in Tampa Bay major event history, the Tampa Bay Local Organizing Committee (TBLOC), TECO Energy and Amalie Arena will team up during the 2019 NCAA​® Women’s Final Four​® in pursuit of the prestigious sustainable event certification, presented by the Council for Responsible Sport.

The Council for Responsible Sport is the world’s leading sustainable sports certification program, offering three core programs that help manage, measure and deliver purposeful events that go above and beyond the bottom line. The certification process recognizes efforts across five pillars of responsible sport; planning and communication, procurement, resource management, access and equity, and community legacy. To lead the efforts, a subcommittee consisting of community partners, local experts and sustainability thought leaders have been chosen to help guide the process and elevate Tampa Bay’s innovative green initiatives. The robust subcommittee consists of representatives from the following organizations: TECO Energy, Amalie Arena, Tampa Bay Sports Commission, City of Tampa, Hillsborough County Parks & Recreation, the University of South Florida Patel College of Sustainability, Strategic Property Partners, Tampa Convention Center, Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, Feeding Tampa Bay, Hilton Tampa Downtown, Grand Hyatt Tampa Bay, Westin Tampa Bay, Westin Tampa Waterside, Renaissance Tampa International Plaza, The Recycling Partnership, and Resource Recycling Systems.

"Sustainability applied to events is much more than recycling. The TBLOC and its partners are going through a robust process of putting systems and plans in place that are tailored to ensure accessibility to the event and ancillary activities, weigh the environmental impacts as part of purchasing decisions for good and services, engage and inspire local youth, and elevate local businesses to maximize positive local economic impact--and to have those efforts verified according to industry best practices put forth by the Council for Responsible Sport,” said Shelley Villalobos, Managing Director of the Council for Responsible Sport.

“We are incredibly grateful to our community partners at TECO Energy and Amalie Arena for helping us to invest in and elevate the sustainability efforts around the premier women’s championship,” said Claire Lessinger, Executive Director of the TBLOC. “The opportunity to team up with the Council for Responsible Sport further highlights the ongoing social impact and lasting legacy that the NCAA​® Women’s Final Four​® continues to have on the Tampa Bay community.”

Over the upcoming months, community partners will provide support and host events designed to achieve the TBLOC’s social and environmental goals. Notably, TECO Energy will provide renewable energy offsets, helping produce a carbon neutral championship at Amalie Arena on April 5 & 7, 2019.

“TECO Energy is excited to be part of the 2019 NCAA Women’s Final Four, supporting sustainability in Tampa,” said Sarah MacDonald, President of TECO Services, Inc. “Their efforts to be environmental stewards matches TECO’s efforts around sustainability as we focus on safely delivering cleaner, affordable and reliable energy to customers everywhere we operate. We have similar interests in building a strong community legacy and taking care of our resources; in fact, some of the six million solar panels we’re installing throughout Tampa will contribute to making the energy the Final Four uses carbon neutral. A community effort that leaves a lasting legacy? We wouldn’t want to miss being a part of that.”

About the Tampa Bay Sports Commission

The Tampa Bay Sports Commission (TBSC), host of the 2019 NCAA​® Women’s Final Four​®​, is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization dedicated to creating social and economic impact through sports and entertainment in the Tampa Bay Area. As part of the championship efforts, the Tampa Bay Sports Commission provides local expertise, marketing and event management, and is responsible for raising the funds required to produce the Women’s Final Four and all supporting events. The 2019 NCAA​® Women’s Final Four​® will be held at Amalie Arena from April 5 -7. For more information on game tickets, please visit ​ncaa.com/womensfinalfour​. For more informationon event festivities, sponsorship, or volunteer opportunities, please visit ​wfftampabay.com​. For news and event information, follow the TBSC on Facebook, TwitterandInstagramorsubscribe to the #WFFTampaBay newsletter.