2013
03/18/2013 - The Perlman Music Program Cocktails, Dinner and a Chamber Music Concert in Palm Beach
03/15/2013 - Asia Week New York Kick-off Reception at the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum,
03/12/2013 - Third Annual Fountain House Associates Spring Breakfast: “Between The Sheets”
03/05/2013 - NYU LANGONE MEDICAL CENTER’S FACES GALA HONORING LEON CHARNEY RAISED $4.5 MILLION
02/23/2013 - "I Have A Voice" fundraiser for Gigi's PLAYHOUSE
02/23/2013 - Eleventh Annual “Thanksgiving in February” Feeds over 500 of New York’s Needy
02/21/2013 - The French Heritage Society's Annual Palm Beach Gala Dinner
02/21/2013 - 24th Annual Gala of Heart & Soul Charitable Fund Auction at Christie’s
02/21/2013 - Eva Longoria Hosts Benefit for “Food Chains” Documentary - Exposes Exploitation in Am’s Farm Labor
02/13/2013 - Verdura hosts a fundraiser for“The Michael Feinstein American Songbook Initiative”
02/13/2013 - Lost and Found: The Pinajian Discovery, a benefit preview for the Fund for Armenian Relief
02/08/2013 - 56th Annual Red Cross Ball in Palm Beach
02/07/2013 - Lost and Found: The Pinajian Discovery benefit preview for the Fund for Armenian Relief
02/06/2013 - All Star Orchestra’s Preview Screening of their New Classical Music and On-line Education Television
01/29/2013 - Urban Greenwalk
01/23/2013 - The Perlman Music Program Fourth Charity Wine Auction
01/20/2013 - Budapest Festival Orchestra
2012
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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