ABOUT TEAM INTERACTIVE

On November 7, 2010, a team of 15 runners will take to the streets of all five NYC boroughs in the ING New York City Marathon to support Camp Interactive, a non-profit organization that empowers inner-city youth in the New York area through the inspiration of the outdoors and the creative power of technology.

At CampInteractive, children are introduced to technology and the environment by going on outdoors expeditions, year-round, and then using computers and programming languages (HTML) to build their own websites that document their experiences on these trips. During the school year, CampInteractive is also home to an after school program that helps give kids the tools they need to succeed in their academic and personal growth endeavors. Which also helps keep them off the streets and on the right path for success.
 
Using both technology and the environment as educational tools, CampInteractive addresses two problems that an underfunded American public educational system faces: providing kids with technological skills for the 21st century, and instilling a sense of community where teamwork and self-confidence can flourish.

Now, we at CampInteractive want to build a new initiative to support inner-city kids: Team Interactive. Many kids in urban environments are not staying active and this is having a major effect on their health and ability to take on life’s many challenges. Team Interactive aims to take this problem head on. The initiative’s goal is to help the kids create a sustainable balance of technology and exercise in their lives to maintain a healthy lifestyle.

CampInteractive’s marathon team is running to raise the necessary funds for many CI Programs. Each of its 15 runners has committed to raise $5,000, and the organization is actively seeking a corporate matching sponsor. With one former Olympian, a handful of lifelong endurance athletes, and several successful digital start-up founders on the team including the two co-founders of Foursquare, this is a pack of runners truly committed to the dual ambitions of CampInteractive: technology and the outdoors.

CampInteractive is proud to be one of the organizations participating in the New York City Marathon’s “1 Million Per Mile” fundraising campaign in partnership with Crowdrise, an unprecedented goal to raise $26.2 million for the diverse array of national and local non-profits supported by thousands of runners in the
2010 marathon.

MEET TEAM INTERACTIVE

Andrew Bolton (@atbolton), business development manager for JAGTAG Mobile Marketing. A world champion rower and member of 2008 Olympic team, this is his first marathon and he’s wondering what he’s gotten himself into (but hey, it’s for the kids).

Dennis Crowley (@dens), co-founder of Foursquare and founder of Dodgeball. This is his first marathon, but he has appeared on “Family Feud” and has become legendary at the South by Southwest Interactive Festival for organizing and participating in an annual waterless swimming competition.

Toby Daniels (@tobyd), nicknamed “The Danza,” founder and CEO of Crowdcentric and founder of Social Media Week. When he’s not running, he’s dancing, and when he’s not dancing he’s fulfilling his role as a senior board member for CampInteractive. This is his second marathon.

Michelle DeForest (@mdfsmash), director of client management and marketing at DotGo. This is her second marathon, and she’s also completed two Olympic-distance triathlons. She’s making up for time not spent exercising during her youth to challenge herself to train for endurance events while raising money for amazing organizations like CampInteractive. She’s proud to be part of the team because she relied on after-school care as a child and realizes the impact these programs can have on today’s youth.

Michael Denton (@dentonmd), senior project manager at Waggener Edstrom Worldwide. A first-time marathon runner, he says he’s most looking forward to the energy from spectators and the support of CampInteractive’s students.

Emily Gannett (@emilygannett), co-founder of IRL Productions. This will be her eighth marathon (and fifth time running the NYC Marathon)

Joe Marchese (@joemarchese), founder of SVnetwork and SocialVibe.com. Once a Golden Gloves boxer, Joe doesn’t consider himself much of a runner but is running the marathon to challenge himself and to support the great work CampInteractive is doing for kids (which he will need to remember at mile 25).

Caroline McCarthy (@caro), journalist and commentator for CBS Interactive and CNET.com. A varsity rower in college, this is her first marathon and she’s very excited to raise funds and awareness for a cause that ties into her dual passions of technology and the outdoors.

Craig Meisner (@craigadam), executive director of Camp Interactive, who is running to further the organization’s mission of helping underprivileged inner-city kids “step back into nature, forward into technology.”

Josh Newman (@hellonewman), founder and managing partner of Mediatavern (East Coast), says he used to run in high school, but usually it was to get away from bigger kids.

Shannon O’Grady, high school teacher who has worked in the Bronx and Brooklyn for five years. A varsity rower in college, this is her third marathon. She knows first-hand how important outside-the-classroom experiences are for middle and high school students and is thrilled to be running this marathon for CampInteractive.

Lynn Roland (@Lynn_Roland), legal counsel for ForeSee Results. She started distance running last year and became hooked on the physical and mental rewards. After her husband introduced her to Camp Interactive, its mission of tech and fitness for youth resonated especially in a world of budget cuts that make after-school programs so important. It’s her first marathon, but her daughter thinks she’ll win.

Naveen Selvadurai (@naveen), co-founder of Foursquare. He last ran seriously when he was a 17-year-old high schooler and is now back from “retirement” to run his first marathon.

Zach Smith (@smithzm), joining TeamInteractive from the world of finance, will be running a marathon for the first time.  Prior to this, he would only run when chased by heavily armed attackers, but when he learned he could support CampInteractive’s great work for kids through the NYC Marathon, he found a reason to run that he could get excited about.

Aaron Somoroff, captain of Bronx Science’s running program (which is considered one of the city’s finest), will be there for the Team Interactive runners every step of the way to help them with all their training needs.