MARCH THE MART 2009 DATE: MONDAY, JANUARY 19, 2009 MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY THE MERCHANDISE MART 222 MERCHANDISE MART PLAZA CHICAGO, IL 60654

Walk: 8:00 am to 10:30 am
Post-Party: 10:30 am to 12:00 pm

Special Children's Charities is a fundraising arm of Special Olympics in Chicago. Their mission is to promote, foster and encourage physical and mental health through athletics, recreational, and social activities for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Special Olympics provides year-round sports training and competition for their participants in a variety of Olympic type sports. The program gives them continuing opportunities to develop physical fitness, demonstrate courage, experience joy, and participate in a sharing of gifts, skills and friendships with their families, other Special Olympics athletes and the community.

What it is:
A walk at The Merchandise Mart in Chicago to raise money for Special Children’s Charities. This 3-mile walk will be similar to other Chicago building walk events such as: Hustle Up the Hancock or Go Vertical at the Sears Tower. It is an opportunity for youth and adults who are not in school or working on Martin Luther King Jr. Day to observe this day by providing a service to their community.

The walk-a-thon will begin on the 18th floor and wind down stairwells and through the stunning showroom corridors of the famed Merchandise Mart. Because of the relaxed nature of this walk, there are several opportunities to reach this audience as a sponsor. We are going to place sponsor tables throughout the corridors where walkers can stop, sample products, or pick up more information. The walk will conclude with a celebration in The Merchandise Mart Food Court.

Walkers may begin from the Mart Food Court on the second floor from 8:00 am to 10:00 am.

A minimum of $25 must be raised.