Birmingham, AL – Birmingham mayor, William A. Bell, Sr., together with Birmingham native and former American Idol winner Ruben Studdard, announced today the first annual Ruben Studdard Celebration weekend featuring the BHAM Marathon. The event weekend, including a marathon, will take place downtown in the fall of 2011. The exact dates have not been finalized. The race will be one of a series of weekend events to benefit the Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts.
“The City of Birmingham is so very pleased to work with Ruben and his event organizers on this exciting new weekend of events including the marathon,” stated Birmingham, AL Mayor William A. Bell, Sr..
“The event weekend will make a great economic impact on the city and help support all the kids benefiting from the great work of the Ruben Studdard Foundation.”
The race will include both a full and half marathon. Both events are set to start and finish at Railroad Park in downtown Birmingham.
“Running has become a very important part of my health and wellness plan,” said Ruben Studdard. “The City of Birmingham has always been an important part of me becoming the person I am today. I’m looking forward to being a part of something so exciting that helps the city and the kids who benefit from the foundation.”
Studdard plans on enlisting friends from the entertainment community and marketing the event nationally.
The event weekend will include a benefit concert, running expo and meet and greet opportunities with Ruben and other celebrities. Graduates and current members of the Ruben Studdard Foundation will provide musical entertainment for runners on the course. More information can be found at www.bhammarathon.com..
Studdard has chosen Crichton & Partners, a national marketing firm with extensive marathon and event marketing and production experience, to organize the event weekend and secure corporate partners. C&P is working in concert with the City of Birmingham, AL on all aspects of the event weekend.
The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in the Music Arts promotes the essential role of the arts in education through learning initiatives for the development of its students. The Ruben Studdard Foundation for the Advancement of Children in Music Arts is committed to:
- Supporting music education programs of schools within the Greater Birmingham Area
- Offering students opportunities to showcase and further develop their musical talents
- Providing college scholarships to Greater Birmingham music education students
- Exposing students to the various music career options
- Promoting advocacy and public awareness initiatives to support music education
The City of Birmingham is the largest city in the state of Alabama. The city is the county seat of Jefferson County. According to an estimate by the U.S. Census Bureau in 2009, the Birmingham Metropolitan Area had a population of about 1,212,848. The Birmingham Metropolitan Area contains about one-quarter o fthe entire population of Alabama.
Crichton & Partners strategically matches companies and organizations with event properties and athletes for the growth and betterment of all clients and sponsors. C&P offers event marketing, sponsorship sales and activation, integrated design, public relations, contract negotiations and EMMY Award winning television production for its clients. For more information, please visit www.crichtonpartners.com.