Celebrities / Notable Runners and the Charities they're running for: (as of October 30, 2009)
* indicates official ING New York City Marathon charity
| Edward Norton Oscar-nominated American film actor |
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund* |
| Alanis Morissette Seven-time Grammy Award winner |
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund* |
| David Blaine Illusionist and endurance artist |
Maasai Wilderness Conservation Fund* |
| Anthony Edwards Emmy-award winning American actor |
Shoe4Africa* |
| Sarah Jones Tony-award winning American actress |
Shoe4Africa* |
| James LeGros Actor; currently starring in the new NBC series "Mercy" |
Shoe4Africa* |
| Matthew Reeve Son of Christopher Reeve; documentary filmmaker |
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation* |
| Celebrity running team with many notables in the sports business and entertainment worlds: Pitchmen host Anthony Sullivan, Amazing Race 1 winner Brennan Swain, Bachelorette winner Ryan Sutter, Survivor alumni Ian Rosenberger and Chad Crittenden, (RED) International CEO Seb Bishop, and Major League Soccer executive Neel Shah | Grassroot Soccer* |
| Veronica Webb Model, journalist and TV personality; first African-American woman to sign a major cosmetics contract; co-host of "Tim Gunn's Guide to Style"; will be running her first marathon |
Harlem United Community AIDS Center* |
| Robert Herjavec Billionaire; one of the "sharks" on the ABC hit series Shark Tank; will donate $1 for every person that follows him on Twitter for the marathon |
Team for Kids* |
| Raul Penarandar Formerly the head fashion designer for Oscar de la Renta; recently left to start his own line that is launching during Fashion Week in February |
Team for Kids* |
| Dan Jansen 1994 Olympic gold medalist in speedskating |
ING Run for Something Better* |
| Pat LaFontaine Former hockey player who played his entire career for all three NY State-based teams: NY Islanders (1983–1991), Buffalo Sabres (1991–97), and NY Rangers (1997–98) |
ING Run for Something Better* |
| Caryn Davies Two-time Olympic medalist in rowing; won Olympic gold in 2008 in the eight; moved to New York City this summer to begin law school at Columbia |
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| Peter Sagal Host of NPR's Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me |
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| John Pickard British actor |
The Prostate Cancer Charity (UK) |
| Nicholas Mellamphy Canadian fashion expert; turns 40 this year; in light of the 40th anniversary of the NYCM, will raise $40K for these two charities |
Corsage Project; Princess Margaret Hospital (Canada) |
| Tara Costa Runner-up, The Biggest Loser; the 24-year-old model dropped 155 pounds after starting the show at 294 pounds |
Spokesperson for NYRR Online Trainer |
| Michelle Heaton British pop singer; was a member of the British band Liberty X; in 2009, appeared in the UK celebrity version of Big Brother |
Irish Autism Action (UK) |
| Charlotte Webster Former athlete turned English television sports presenter |
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| Joe Bastianich Chef/winemaker; son of Lydia Bastianich and partner of Mario Batali; TODAY wine expert; ran his first marathon in 2008 in NYC; this year, has recruited six employees from Becco to run as well: Dani Zylberberg: sommelier, Annie Carolina Erazo: sommelier, Julio Vera Alvarez: bartender, David Walter: bartender, William “Billy” Gallagher: chef |
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| Joe Campanale Former sommelier at Babbo; owner and beverage director of two restaurants (dell'anima and L'Artusi) and is opening a small winebar in the coming months; TODAY wine expert |
Team Hole in the Wall* |
| Nir Barkat Mayor of Jerusalem; is running this year’s race along with a dozen or so friends to help celebrate his 50th birthday; made his name and money in founding a software company called BRM in 1988; also helped found the social investment company IVN; was elected Mayor in Nov. 2008 with 52% of the vote; is considered a “secular” politician |
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| Prince Pieter Christiaan Michiel Prince of the Netherlands; is the third son of HRH Princess Margriet of the Netherlands and Prof. Pieter van Vollenhoven; married Anita van Eijk in 2005; resides in Amsterdam where he currently works for the ICT company Shopservices |
World Wildlife Fund |
| Kate Shindle Broadway actress; Miss America 1998; a longtime activist; used her status as Miss America 1998 to push for HIV/AIDS education and prevention; as a Broadway performer, has starred in Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Jekyll & Hyde |
BroadwayImpact (an affiliate of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS) |
| Mark Bittman Author of "How to Cook Everything," "Food Matters," a look at eating, personal and planetary health, and “Kitchen Express,” a book inspired by the “101” articles written for The New York Times’s Dining Section; has been writing The Minimalist column in The Times for 11 years |
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