12.11.2007 - 11:59pm ET

(CSRwire) RYE, NEW YORK - December 11, 2007 – The executives who enable millions of runners, walkers, cyclists, swimmers and hikers to raise billions of dollars to fight disease, hunger and other social ills will hold their annual conference in Atlanta this February.

It's the second gathering organized by the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (RWRF) . Information on the conference, to be held at the Renaissance Waverly Hotel on February 27 & 28, is available at www.runwalkride.com/conference.asp.

"Athletic event fundraising has grown into a multi-billion dollar industry, but in some ways it's still in its infancy," said David Hessekiel, the Council's founder and president. "This meeting gives event managers access to the hard data, best practices and expert counsel they need to produce programs that deliver stronger bottom-line results for the worthy causes they support."

The event's keynote presentation will analyze the 25-year history of the Komen Race for the Cure, one of America's best known athletic event fundraising series. Other conference highlights include presentations on untraditional event formats that attract new participants (such as running dressed in nothing but underwear), sponsorship, event analysis, online fundraising and legal issues.

Making news at the conference will be the release of the Council's "Run Walk Ride 30", the second annual ranking and foremost study of America's largest athletic fundraising events.

Conference information and registration is available at www.runwalkride.com/conference.asp or by calling (914) 921-3914.

The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Conference is produced by Rye, New York-based Cause Marketing Forum, Inc., a company dedicated to helping business and nonprofit professionals succeed at doing well by doing good.

About the Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (RWRF)
www.runwalkride.com

The Run Walk Ride Fundraising Council (RWRF) was launched in May 2007 to support the professionals who manage events that raise in excess of $1 billion a year for American charities. RWRF seeks to fill the communications gap that has left thousands of event managers without easy access to the statistics and best practice information that could help them improve and expand their programs.

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Commitment to Transparency: This organization is committed to transparency and stakeholder dialogue and encourages your comments and feedback.

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