Giving Back
The Greater Wichita Area Sports Commission is a non-profit 501(c)(6) organization. We’re proud of our Prairie Fire Marathon Wichita race series and are excited to see the event grow each year. Additionally, we are doing our best to create the best race experience possible for our participants.
With our success we have been able to bring a lot to the City of Wichita. The event has brought neighbors, family, and friends together in a way that wouldn’t be possible if it weren’t for our event. We have generated revenue for our local businesses, have given back to our local charities, and look forward to continuing to do so for our great city!
Wichita Sponsorships & Charity Support
Compared to races in other cities and states, our fees are very reasonably priced.
Because of sponsorships and community support, we were able to donate a total of $160,000 to charity since our Inaugural Prairie Fire Marathon event in 2010. We donated $15,000 to the Via Christi Burn Center and $5,000 to the Leukemia Lymphoma Society plus smaller amounts to other organizations who supported our event.
For non-profit volunteer groups that donate their time, we make a $10 donation per volunteer to their respective charity/organization.
We also loan and share many of our assets and equipment for other charitable races, such as Girls on the Run, Newman University Gladiator Run, River Run, and more.
Community, Racer, & Volunteer Support
Prairie Fire Marathon has also spent nearly $900,000 in direct spending in the local Wichita community for expenses such as shirts, police, food, security, barricades & cones, hotel rooms, drinks, marketing, signage, printing, awards, timing, port-a-potties, entertainment, fees & applications, and many other expenses.
We have costs for the setup and teardown of tents, transportation, volunteer t-shirts, entertainment, signage, supplies, insurance, fencing, announcer fees, port-a-potties, runner bibs, bib tags, timing personnel & timing equipment.
Prairie Fire also provides each participant with the following:
- T-shirts at a cost of about $10.50 each for Fall and Spring races
- Water and Gatorade for all runners
- Food after the races for each runner
- Awards and medals to runners
- Security and police for the race
- Gu hydration for each marathon runner
We appreciate each person who either runs, jogs, walks, or donates their time to volunteer for our races. With the help of the City of Wichita and the amazing people who live here, we have the ability to showcase our city and hospitality to thousands of runners from across the country. We invite everyone to come experience our growing event.
Wear Blue: Run to Remember
Wear Blue: Run to Remember was founded in 2009 after CEO, Lisa Hallett, lost her husband, Captain John Hallett, in Afghanistan. Lisa turned to running as she worked through her grief and while raising her three children, all under the age of five. Wear Blue stands on three pillars for the fallen, for the fighting, and for the families.
Prairie Fire Marathon race series is proud to partner with Wear Blue, a national nonprofit running community that honors the service and sacrifice of our American military. During the Full and Half marathon races, runners will experience a moving, emotional, and living tribute for over 75 fallen service men and women.
The Wear Blue mile is broken into two phases. Phase One pays tribute through posters that are submitted by family, friends, and comrades in arms. Phase Two is made up of 125 volunteers holding full size American flags, cheering on runners as they continue through the race course.
Link to “Wear Blue Run” page: wear blue: run to remember
