The Boston Marathon has already raised over $50 million for charity before the 26.2-mile race gets underway.
Bank of America’s official charity program is set to top last year’s record fundraising level of $50.4 million, 80 years after the iconic race saw its first philanthropic runner complete the marathon.
In 1946, Stylianos Kyriakides, of Greece won the 50th edition of the Boston Marathon.
Kyriakides survived Germany’s occupation of his homeland during World War II, using his first-place finish to raise awareness — and, most importantly, money — for war-ravaged Greece.
Eighty years later, 193 nonprofits will have runners toeing the starting line in Hopkinton on Monday morning, carrying Kyriakides’ philanthropic spirit.
The marathon’s official charity program launched in 1989 and has raised more than $600 million since then.
Speaking to the Herald, Stylianos’ son, Dimitris Kyriakides said he’s “very proud” that his father is the one “who started it all.”
Dimitris recounted how MGM Studios in Hollywood offered his father a $400,000 contract to become an actor after his Boston Marathon victory.
“He said, ‘No, I am not here for that.’ For him, money meant nothing,” Dimitris said at an event kicking off marathon weekend. “What was important was what he could give to society.”
Dimitris said he encourages people of all abilities to run at least one marathon in their lifetime, “if their health allows it.”
“You’re going to change as a person,” he said. “You become more philanthropic.”
“Why?” he added. “Most marathon runners hit the wall at (mile 21). What happens? The guys behind them, who they don’t even know, they say, ‘Come on, friend. Let’s do it together.“
At an expo inside the Hynes Convention Center, nonprofit leaders spoke about the “huge impact” that the Boston Marathon has on their causes.
Meb Keflezighi, an American who won the 2014 Boston Marathon, touched on how his foundation awarded four organizations $6,000 for athletic and academic programming across Greater Boston in 2024.
Matt Brown, who became paralyzed in 2010 while playing hockey for Norwood High School, highlighted how his marathon team raised $238,000 last year.
Those funds helped create an adaptive playground at a Norwood elementary school.
“There is not this tension between qualifiers and the nonprofits that are participating,” Boston Athletic Association President Jack Fleming said. “It really is harmonious and one big happy family.”
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