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The concept of naming a recipient of some of the proceeds from a road race has become so widespread that we are often asked what the Bolder Boulder benefits. The answer is that more than 30 non-profit groups (including boy and girl scout troops; running clubs; church, school and youth groups; and organizations such as the Optimists and Rotary Clubs) earn money from the Bolder Boulder for their involvement in the race.

These organizations become involved in various aspects of the event from sign holding, to course marshaling, to lunch distribution. This not only provides some funding for their activities but, in effect, gives them some "ownership" in the race.

The management of the Bolder Boulder will not name a single beneficiary for our event. How could we choose one organization from the many who would like to receive a donation? And how would we avoid what has happened to some other races in our area?

Regrettably, it seems that often, when a charity becomes the sole beneficiary of an event, it begins to demand more money every year. And, perhaps even more damaging, it tries to gain increasing control over the event itself. One of Denver. s major races in the 1980s folded as a result of these factors. Two others wrested control back from the beneficiary by dropping the charitable organization entirely. One of these races now names a different recipient each year.

This represents the position of the Bolder Boulder on the cons of having a race name a single beneficiary. There are some pros.

• The initial motivations for races naming a donations recipient was to tie the event to a "cause." The thinking seemed to be that this would add some "legitimacy" to the race. But the primary intent was to increase the size of the field by attracting persons who were loyal to the charitable or health-related organization. Initially this seems to succeed.
• Another benefit of naming a not-for-profit organization to receive some race proceeds is that the race should be able to receive in return some volunteers to help with the event.
• Having a named beneficiary also sets up the possibility of making the race a "pledge event." Instead of just relying on sponsorship dollars and entry fees, a race can request that its participants seek pledges as additional donations. At the least a line can be added to fee section of the entry form asking the entrant to pay an additional amount that will be earmarked as a donation to the beneficiary. These two techniques often result in the amount of the donation reaching an impressive amount.