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Environmental & Social Sustainability

he Credit Union Cherry Blossom has a long history of reducing its environmental footprint and expanding
Tits positive social impacts.

Race organizers first identified Children’s National Medical Center as the race’s charitable beneficiary in the mid-
1990s, and the focus on raising money for Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals continues to this day. They also
work with under-represented groups and non-profit organizations, such as Teens Run DC (http://www.teen-
srundc.org/), to reduce barriers to participation in the event.

Since 2011, race organizers have been working with the Council For Responsible Sport (http://www.council-
forresponsiblesport.org) to quantify the results of their environmental and social efforts through the Council’s
certification program. Following three consecutive biennial certifications by the group—Silver in 2011 and 2013,
Gold in 2015—in 2017, the Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run was invited to participate in a new program
called Inspire. The Council’s Inspire events represent the pinnacle of achievement and stand as an example and
inspiration to others.

Inspire event status is awarded by invitation to events that have achieved multiple certifications from the Coun-
cil, with the intention of recognizing the legacy that sporting events committed to sustainability and thoughtful
resource management provide to their audiences and communities. Inspire certified events are required to pro-
vide important sustainability metrics and are expected to share their story with fellow event organizers. Inspire
event organizers are also asked to mentor other Council-affiliated events on aspects of their responsible sport
program.

Sustainability highlights from the 2015 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Run can be found here: (http://cherryblos-
som.org/images/2016/2015_Sustainability_Report_web.pdf).

66 2019 Credit Union Cherry Blossom Media Guide