RESOLUTION
WHEREAS, Steve Ginsburg and Paul Rosenblum, lifelong friends and college classmates, opened the retail running store, Running Away Multisport, in 2002; and
WHEREAS, After opening the store, they were tasked with organizing a neighborhood fun run, the Bucktown 5K; and
WHEREAS, Ginsburg and Rosenblum then founded RAM Racing, a race-production company, to host racing events; and
WHEREAS, RAM Racing introduced the Hot Chocolate Series to Chicago in 2008; and
WHEREAS, The Hot Chocolate race has become renowned for the post-race sweet treats and an award-winning goodie bag that includes a hooded sweatshirt; and
WHEREAS, The Hot Chocolate Series has grown into one ofthe largest races in the Midwest and has races in 15 cities including Atlanta, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Seattle and Las Vegas; and
WHEREAS, Since 2008, over 200,000 participants have participated in the Series; and
WHEREAS, The 7th annual race took place in Chicago on November 9lh, 2014; and
WHEREAS, An estimated 45,000 runners and walkers participated in the Chicago race this year; and
WHEREAS, Over 31,000 runners from other cities traveled to Chicago to participate in the race; and
WHEREAS, A 3k walk also took place on November 9th benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities and Little City Foundation raising over $500,000; and
WHEREAS, It is estimated that the Hot Chocolate Series has an economic impact of $40 million on the local economy including the creation of 1,000 jobs; NOW THEREFORE
BE IT RESOLVED, That we, the Mayor and members of the Chicago City Council do hereby congratulate Steve Ginsburg, Paul Rosenblum and RAM Racing for producing the wildly successful 7lh Annual Hot Chocolate 15k/5k; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a suitable copy of this resolution be prepared and presented to Steve Ginsburg.
rman, 14'" Ward