Marathon Energy supports Ronald McDonald House of NY; 20th Annual Niki Sedaris Memorial Walkathon

"As a family owned and operated business, we feel it is our duty to give back to the families in our communities," said Jerry Drenis, co-founder and president of Marathon Energy, a family-owned business that has been providing high quality energy products and services to customers in New York and New Jersey for nearly two decades. "That's why we've created Marathon Cares, a program dedicated to helping those less fortunate." Through this arm of the company, Marathon supports a range of organizations that help provide medical care, housing, vocational training, education and life-supporting services to those in need. In May, Marathon helped sponsor two New York fundraising events for organizations dedicated to treating childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases: Ronald McDonald House and St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. On May 16, Marathon supported the 20th annual Niki Sedaris Memorial Walkathon to benefit the Greek Division of Ronald McDonald House New York. According to Kostas Antonopoulos, chairman of the event, "The Greek Division of Ronald McDonald House New York serves as a lifeline to families from Greece, Cyprus and Greek Americans traveling to New York City to find life-saving medical treatments for their children." The Walkathon was dedicated to the memory of Niki Sedaris, founder of the Greek Division and a supporter of the New York Ronald McDonald House since it opened in 1978, who died in October 2011. As the largest RMH in the world, the facility has 84 rooms that provide housing, programs and social services for the families of children being treated for cancer and other serious illnesses or injuries. This year's event, which began at East 73rd Street, drew over 500 participants who donated $15 each and walked three miles carrying red, white and blue balloons. Marathon participated at the Philanthropist level, along with numerous sponsors, helping to raise $85,000. The event culminated with a brief ceremony, food, music and a performance of Greek Dances. Supporting St. Jude Children's Hospital On May 30th, another important fundraising event took place in New York, drawing hundreds of visitors, contributors and sponsors. This year's annual Kids for Kids Family Day for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital raised over a million dollars. The festivities took place at the Floyd Bennett Field in Brooklyn, and featured rides, carnival games, food trucks, ice skating, face painting, raffles, a silent auction and a BBQ lunch. "In 2013, we raised a million dollars, a record for the hospital," says Michael Borrero, Chairman of the event, who worked hard this year to enlist enough support to break that record. Since the Kids for Kids Committee was established in 2008, they have raised $3 million for the patients and families of St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Located in Memphis, Tennessee, the hospital was founded in 1964 by actor and comedian Danny Thomas, and in the five decades since has provided free treatment, travel, housing and food for the children being treated for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses, and their families. The hospital's groundbreaking research has helped push the survival rate for childhood cancer from less than 20 percent in 1962 to over 80 percent today. Connie DeBartolo, Business Development Manager, represented Marathon Energy at the event. Marathon supported the cause by sponsoring lunch and advertising in the event journal. Marathon Energy is an oil, gas and electricity supply and service company that serves residential and commercial properties throughout the Metropolitan area. With their own fleet of fuel and service trucks, and a constant eye on market fluctuations in fuel costs, they have earned a reputation for consistently and reliably delivering fuel to their customers on time, and at the most competitive rates available. Their service technicians are on the job 24/7 to ensure that heating equipment is functional properly at all times. Marathon provides flexible pricing options to all customers, including variable, fixed and indexed plans. As their customer at David Associates says, "Two years ago I decided to give all my heating fuel business to Marathon solely for their competitive pricing. Surprisingly enough, I also got better and swifter service for boiler maintenance issues. Their attention to detail and response to specific requests is a refreshing change from my prior, larger fuel company."