Chicagoans Support Local Children and Families Through 14th Annual Wrigley Start Early Run.

Proceeds Benefit Prevent Child Abuse America and Voices for Illinois Children

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CHICAGO April 15, 2011 – On Saturday, April 23, thousands of people from all over Chicagoland will show their support for Child Abuse Prevention Month by participating in the 14th annual Wrigley Start Early Run in Grant Park’s Hutchinson Field. The event will feature 5K and 10K runs, one-mile pledge walk and free kids dash for children eight and under.

Proceeds will benefit two leading children’s charities: Prevent Child Abuse America, which works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide while recognizing that child development is a building block for community development and economic development; and Voices for Illinois Children, which works with families, communities and policymakers to help the development of children in Illinois.

In addition, through a new financial partnership model that will broaden the base of beneficiaries, at least 16 other child-focused organizations throughout the Chicagoland area will also participate and benefit, making it a true community event.

“Wrigley is a proud sponsor of the Wrigley Start Early Run, bringing thousands of Chicagoans and Wrigley associates together to benefit organizations that contribute to the strength and vitality of our city” said John Webb, senior-vice president of people, learning and development at the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company. “We are proud to continue our tradition of working with our local communities to make a difference.”

NBC Channel 5 Sports Anchor Paula Faris will emcee the event, which will bring more than 3,000 participants who will step out for children and families. The event will also offer a variety of family activities, including appearances from the Berenstain Bears and the Chicago Blackhawks mascot, and a kids’ area with bounce houses and games.

Interested runners or walkers are encouraged to register on-line by noon April 20 here; walk-ins are also welcome on race day.

“Every one of us has a role in supporting healthy child development and preventing abuse and neglect,” said Prevent Child Abuse America President and CEO Jim Hmurovich. “Participating in the Wrigley Start Early Run is an important step in the right direction, and we are thrilled that Chicagoans are committed to this cause, and are helping to raise awareness about the importance of prevention. We also greatly appreciate the Wrigley Company’s ongoing sense of corporate social responsibility.”

Wrigley Start Early Run & Walk Event Details

WHEN: Saturday, April 23rd

9:00a.m. – 1-mile pledge walk

9:10a.m. – 5K Run

9:15a.m. – 10K Run

Kids Dash starts after the runs are completed

WHERE: Hutchinson Field in Grant Park (Columbus at Balbo)

DETAILS:

Register here.

ABOUT PREVENT CHILD ABUSE AMERICA

Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in 1972, works to ensure the healthy development of children nationwide while recognizing that child development is a building block for community development and economic development. We believe that communities across the country are doing innovative things with great results to prevent abuse and neglect from ever occurring, and what we need to do as a nation is commit to bringing this kind of ingenuity to communities everywhere. Based in Chicago, Prevent Child Abuse America has chapters in 48 states and 385 Healthy Families America sites in 32 states.

ABOUT VOICES FOR ILLINOIS CHILDREN

Voices for Illinois Children works as a catalyst for change across issue areas to improve the lives of children throughout our state so they can grow up healthy, happy, safe, loved and well educated. For 20 years we have helped parents, business and community leaders and policy makers understand and respond to the issues facing children and families.

ABOUT WM. WRIGLEY JR. COMPANY

Wrigley is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, and lollipops. The company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands - Wrigley's Spearmint®, Juicy Fruit®, and Altoids® - have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint®, Life Savers®, Skittles®, Big Red®, Winterfresh®, Extra®, Starburst®, Orbit®, Airwaves®, P.K.®, Cool Air® and 5™. Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, IL and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, based in McLean, VA. Mars is a $27-billion, family-owned company that produces some of the world's leading confectionery, food and pet-care products and has growing beverage and health & nutrition businesses.

The 2011 Wrigley Start Early Run. We have CTA bus ads. And we are just one month away.

This year's Wrigley Start Early Run will be held on April 23, 2011 at Chicago's Grant Park. Run. Walk. Join us. Spread the word. Register. Learn more here. We are live and we look forward to having you join us.

The 2011 Wrigley Start Early Run. We are live.

This year's Wrigley Start Early Run will be held on April 23, 2011 at Chicago's Grant Park. Run. Walk. Join us. Spread the word. Register. Learn more here. We are live and we look forward to having you join us.

2010 Wrigley Start Early Run. April 10th. Please join us, you can make a difference.

Chicagoans will try to raise more than $200,000 during Child Abuse Prevention Month at the 13th annual Wrigley Start Early Run & Walk on April 10, 2010. The event will help build awareness and raise money to keep children safe and prevent abuse and neglect. In addition at least 16 other child-focused organizations through-out the Chicagoland community will participate and benefit from the event’s proceeds, making it a true community event. Please join us, you can make a difference.

A lot of cool Wrigley Start Early Run stuff, including a nice shout-out from A Hen and Three Chicks and our first ever "UNRUN."

We are excited to share two pieces of Wrigley Start Early Run information with you. First, many thanks to Caitlin Giles of the blog A Hen and Three Chicks for her very kind Wrigley Run shout-out.


And second, for those of you who want to support Prevent Child Abuse America, but can't, or simply don't want to, come out for the race, maybe you would like to try out our first ever UNRUN where you can help us by doing nothing! It's true, you register for the race, you receive an event shirt and Wrigley products, but you never even leave the house. Cool, right? We think so, so please take a look and please consider joining us, whether to walk, run or unrun if that is your preference.

Doublemint® Gum Teams with NBA All-Star Dwight Howard to Raise Money for Prevent Child Abuse America.

Launches “Double-Double” Challenge with Unique Consumer Promotion To Tip-Off Second Season as the Official Chewing Gum of the NBA

CHICAGO (November 19, 2008) –Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, makers of Doublemint^® gum, today announced it will partner with Dwight Howard of the Orlando Magic in the second annual “Doublemint Gum Double-Double Challenge,” a charitable program benefiting Prevent Child Abuse (PCA) America – a national non-profit organization and long-time NBA Cares community partner that concentrates on public policies and community-based programs focusing on child develoment and child abuse and neglect prevention.

The campaign, in partnership with NBA Cares – the National Basketball Association's social responsibility initiative – runs throughout the regular season to raise funds for PCA America via a $250 donation each time Howard records a double-double, which occurs when a player accumulates a double-digit total in two statistical categories (points, rebounds, assists, steals and blocked shots), up to $20,000. With a previous season double-double high of 69, Howard is the reigning National Basketball Association (NBA) leader for double-doubles.

“Doublemint is once again proud to support its ongoing commitment to PCA America through the Double-Double Challenge to help this wonderful organization as well as thousands of people around the country” said Paul Chibe, Wrigley’s Vice President Consumer Marketing – North American Gum. “We are delighted to partner with the double-double champion, Dwight Howard, and are looking forward to some ‘superhuman’ efforts both on and off the court this season.”

The "Doublemint Gum Double-Double Challenge" will then open to fan participation during Child Abuse Prevention Month in April. Fans will be invited to partner with Doublemint to make a donation, with all funds raised going to directly support the research, advocacy and outreach efforts of PCA America.

Wrigley will also run a unique consumer promotion, called the “Leaders of the Pack™,” that capitalizes on the popularity of fantasy sports. Between now and April 15, 2009, specially marked Slim Packs™ of Doublemint gum and the other Wrigley’s Brands – Big Red^®, Juicy Fruit^®, Winterfresh^® and Wrigley’s Spearmint^® -- will include an NBA player’s name. Fans that have Slim Packs with the name of the player who accumulates the most points, rebounds or assists at the end of the regular season will be entered into a drawing to win a V.I.P. trip to the NBA Finals or thousands of other prizes. More information and a complete list of rules can be found here.

About Prevent Child Abuse America

Prevent Child Abuse America, founded in Chicago in 1972, is the nation’s leading organization working solely to prevent the abuse and neglect of our nation’s children. Through its chapters in 47 states and leading direct service program, Healthy Families America®, in more than 400 communities nationwide, Prevent Child Abuse America helps provide healthy, stable and stimulating experiences for more than 100,000 families every year. For more information, please PCA America's website here.

About NBA Cares

NBA Cares is the league's social responsibility initiative that builds on the NBA's long tradition of addressing important social issues in the United States and around the world. Through this umbrella program, the NBA, its teams and players have donated more than $90 million to charity, provided more than 750,000 hours of hands-on service to communities around the world, and created more than 340 places where kids and families can live, learn or play. NBA Cares works with internationally recognized youth-serving programs that support education, youth and family development, and health-related causes, including: KaBOOM!, Special Olympics, Boys and Girls Clubs of America, UNICEF, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, and the Global Business Coalition on HIV/AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis.

About Wrigley

Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company is a recognized leader in confections with a wide range of product offerings including gum, mints, hard and chewy candies, lollipops, and chocolate. The company has operations in more than 40 countries and distributes its world-famous brands in more than 180 countries. Three of these brands – Wrigley’s Spearmint^®, Juicy Fruit^®, and Altoids^® – have heritages stretching back more than a century. Other well-loved brands include Doublemint^®, Life Savers^®, Skittles^®, Big Red^®, Boomer^®, Pim Pom^®, Winterfresh^®, Extra^®, Starburst^®, Freedent^®, Hubba Bubba^®, Orbit^®, Excel^®, Creme Savers^®, Lucas^®, Eclipse^®, Airwaves^®, Solano^®, Sugus^®, Lockets^®, P.K. ^®, Cool Air^® and 5®. Wrigley is headquartered in Chicago, IL., and operates as a subsidiary of Mars, Incorporated, based in McLean, VA. Mars is a $27-billion, family-owned company that produces some of the world’s leading confectionery, food and petcare products and has growing beverage and health & nutrition businesses.

For more information you may also contact Jennifer Jackson-Luth at jennifer.jacksonluth@wrigley.com or Matt Feldman at mfeldman@preventchildabuse.org.