TAMPA, Fla. – The IRONMAN Foundation® Community Fund will distribute $45,000 in grant funding to initiatives and groups in the greater Cambridge, Maryland community in conjunction with the 2014 IRONMAN® 70.3® Eagleman and IRONMAN® Maryland triathlons. IRONMAN Maryland recently became the 12th U.S. location in the IRONMAN Series, with the inaugural IRONMAN Maryland triathlon taking place Saturday, Sept. 20. This event will become the first IRONMAN race in the Mid-Atlantic region. The IRONMAN Foundation’s contribution will provide support to non-profit needs and initiatives within the local community.

The IRONMAN Foundation will give back $45,000 in volunteer and community grants in and around Cambridge, Maryland through The IRONMAN Foundation’s Community Fund. The proceeds from the Community Fund provide grant opportunities to non-profit organizations in the communities where U.S. IRONMAN events are held. $35,000 of this funding will support non-profit organizations with a volunteerism component in and around Cambridge, Maryland. One $10,000 community grant will be awarded to the Dorchester County Family YMCA to support the cost of replacing the ceiling of the organization’s gymnasium. This YMCA is 29 years old, has over 4,000 members, offers over 60 group fitness classes per week, and is the only YMCA in the entire county.

“In the current economic climate, it has been extremely difficult to continue to meet the growing needs of children, families and seniors in our community while maintaining a high quality facility,” said JoAnn Hansen, Chief Executive Officer of the Dorchester County Family YMCA. “Since the Dorchester County Family YMCA’s inception nearly 30 years ago, our facility has been our greatest challenge. We are so grateful to The IRONMAN Foundation for their support in shoring up our facility’s infrastructure enabling us to provide the types of high quality programs and services so needed in and deserving of this community.”

Since inception, The IRONMAN Foundation® has provided more than $30 million in charitable contributions to support global non-profit initiatives. “Grant funding is one way that The IRONMAN Foundation leaves a lasting legacy in the communities where IRONMAN races take place,” said Dave Deschenes, Executive Director of The IRONMAN Foundation. “We are thrilled to support the Dorchester County Family YMCA with this community grant award, which will allow their organization to meet the health and social service challenges in their community. Through this grant, the YMCA will be able to continue to provide a safe place where children and families can build relationships and find the support needed to build stronger families and communities for a better tomorrow.”

For more information on IRONMAN and The IRONMAN Foundation, please visit www.ironman.com and www.ironmanfoundation.org. For media related inquiries, please contact press@ironman.com.