JANUS LAUNCHES PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS AS PART OF THE JANUS CHARITY CHALLENGE

JANUS LAUNCHES PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARDS AS PART OF THE JANUS CHARITY CHALLENGE

$20,000 charity prize purse added to the 2011 Race to the Toyota Cup

CHANHASSEN, MINN – Five of the most prominent professional triathletes participating in the 2011 Race to the Toyota Cup have been invited by Janus, a Denver-based global investment company, to compete for a special $20,000 charitable prize purse in a program called the Janus Charity Challenge People’s Choice Awards. The $20,000 charity prize purse will be divided among five charities chosen by the athletes based on the number of votes each athlete/charity receives by October 1st. Votes can be cast and donations can be made to the charities at www.januscharitychallenge.com/peopleschoice, as well as at the remaining Race to the Toyota Cup events.

The charities below are being supported by the following participating professional triathletes:

• World Bicycle Relief (http://www.worldbicyclerelief.org/) supported by DAVID THOMPSON
• Jenny’s Light (http://www.jennyslight.org/), supported by BECKY LAVELLE
• Eleonore Rocks (http://www.eleonorerocks.org/) supported by ANDY POTTS
• Blazeman Foundation for ALS (http://www.waronals.com/), supported by MATTY REED
• A-T Children’s Project (http://www.atcp.org/), supported by HUNTER KEMPER

 “The Janus People’s Choice Award allows fans of triathlons to connect to some of the best professional triathletes in the world to support some very noble charitable causes,” said Kenneth Cooper, vice president of Life Time Athletic and Endurance Events. “This is an exciting enhancement to our Janus partnership, the Life Time Triathlon Series and the Race to the Toyota Cup.”

Janus introduced the People’s Choice Awards as part of the Janus Charity Challenge, the firm's signature national giving initiative, which for 10 years has inspired thousands of people –athletes and non-athletes—to meet the needs of their own communities. The Janus Charity Challenge fundraising program has helped raise more than $49 million for hundreds of charities—each one hand-picked by athletes inspired to turn their passion for triathlon into a passion for their favorite charitable cause.

“The People’s Choice Awards is unique in that it is the voice and choice of the people that determines which pro and which charity wins,” said Casey Cortese, vice president of Sponsorships & Community Relations at Janus. “This program allows us to extend the reach of the Janus Charity Challenge and gives a greater number of people the ability to help raise money for great causes.”