Home Martha's Run Awards Bill Giarla Acknowledgments
On Sept. 10, 1994 Martha was married at St. Anne Church in Castle Shannon, PA, just 10 weeks before her interment in its cemetery. Children were a major part of her life. To honor her values, Martha's family developed the Martha Fund shortly after her death. The immediate mission of the Martha Fund is to build a playground in Martha's home town, where she can watch from above children playing, laughing, growing--what she would have loved for her life. After Martha's Run was held on April 10th, 2004, the race was followed by the unveiling of the architectural renderings of the long awaited, much heralded Martha's Playground. That dream became a reality on April 7, 2007, the Playground was opened to the public after the running of Martha's Run. The Playground becomes the greatest success of the Martha Fund, preserving her memory in the laughter and fun of children and families. Thanks to the overwhelming emotional and financial support of Mount Lebanon, Martha's Playground has been built in Mount Lebanon Park, in the shadow of the high school where Martha graduated, in 1977. The Municipality of Mount Lebanon accomplished this project with partial funds from the Martha Fund exceeding $50,000. We are deeply grateful for the ongoing professional and personal support of those in the Mount Lebanon community who have given so much to preserve the memory of one of its finest neighbors.
The primary fund raising function affiliated with the Martha Fund has been a 10K run, 2 mile run, a fun walk and children's races through Mt. Lebanon, PA. The Martha's Run begins at the Horsman Drive entrance to Mount Lebanon High School, near Mt. Lebanon stadium and finishes at Dixon Field. If you cannot attend the race, you may register and receive a tee shirt with the classic Jeannie McGuire original logo.
After reaching the primary goal of building Martha's Playground, the Fund serves to assist in development or renovation of other new or established playground projects. Some of those projects already benefiting from the Martha Fund include:
Assistance in the renovation of the Dixon Field dugouts was also provided from the Martha Fund.
The Martha Fund is located at 933 Rockwood Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15234, and can be e-mailed at Martha Fund e-mail.
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