Record Number of Long Island Companies and Organizations Participate in the 2016 Marcum Workplace Challenge
New York City, NY – A record 223 Long Island companies and organizations fielded teams for the 2016 Marcum Workplace Challenge run-walk for charity at Jones Beach State Park on July 26. More than 12,000 runners, walkers and spectators attended the event, which was presented by Marcum LLP, a top national accounting and advisory firm with an office in Melville, Long Island.
The annual Marcum Workplace Challenge benefits the Children’s Medical Fund of New York, the Long Island Children’s Museum, Long Island Cares – the Harry Chapin Food Bank, and the Nassau County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Total 2016 fundraising proceeds will be announced in the fall. To date, the event has raised nearly $600,000 for charity.
The largest corporate team was fielded by PSEG, with 535 employees, family members and friends. The company edged out PC Richard & Co., which had held the honor since the event’s inception in 2006. PSEG also raised the most of any corporate team for the Beneficiary Fund Challenge, which enables team members to make voluntary contributions to the event’s four beneficiary organizations, in addition to the event registration fees. The PSEG team contributed more than $1,700 toward the nearly $13,000 raised in total for the Beneficiary Fund.
“The Marcum Workplace Challenge continues to be a highlight of the year for everyone at our Firm,” said Carolyn Mazzenga, partner-in-charge of Marcum’s Long Island office and national leader of the Firm’s Family Wealth Services Practice. “It is an honor as well as a sincere pleasure to put our resources behind an event that brings out the entire Long Island business community in support of four such outstanding charitable organizations. It is just a great night of fun and team spirit in every possible way.”
Top Finishers
9,100 participants ran or walked the 3.5-mile course. This year’s top finishers included the following competitors:
(Name / Team / Time)
Top Men
- Alex Arshan / Runner’s Edge / 18:05
- Ben Tuttle / Brookhaven National Lab / 18:24
- Alex Eletto / Runner’s Edge / 19:23
- Andrew Coelho / Runner’s Edge / 19:24
- Lance Fleming / Runner’s Edge / 19:30
Top Women
- Betsy Eickelberg / Runner’s Edge / 20:12
- Victoria Robitaille / Marcum LLP / 20:36
- Sarah Schaefer / Harris Corporation / 22:40
- Christina Machado / Runner’s Edge / 22:45
- Stephanie Bazan / CHS-Mercy Medical Center / 22:48
Top female finisher Betsy Eickelberg also set a new women’s record by capturing the first place slot for the third consecutive year.
Top Wheelchair Athlete
- Greg Durso / Empire National Bank / 19:34
Top Dogs – Corporate Executives
- Male: Tim Lozier / ETQ Management Consultants / 23:20
- Female: Diana Tapper / AON / 29:20
“Over the past 11 years, the Marcum Workplace Challenge has become the largest event of its kind on Long Island. It is really extraordinary and very rewarding to see so many companies participating for the benefit of the community,” said Mindy Davidson of the Greater Long Island Running Club and the event’s race director.
“None of this would be possible without the support of our sponsors, and I want to thank them on behalf of everyone at Marcum, our beneficiary organizations, and all of the companies and participants who turned out for this year’s event,” Ms. Mazzenga said. Lead sponsors for 2016 included Bethpage Federal Credit Union, The Ergonomic Group, Empire National Bank, PSEG Long Island and Telephonics.
