|
Wednesday, May 17, will mark the 41st ACLI Capital Challenge 3-mile run/walk in Anacostia Park, Washington, DC at 8 am.
The race pits teams comprised of Members of Congress, Biden Administration Appointees, Federal Judges, and the Media against each other. Representative Mike Gallagher (R-WI) will be back to try and retain his title as the fastest Member of Congress. The reigning fastest Female Member of Congress, Senator Kyrsten Sinema (I-AZ), who holds the ACLI Capital Challenge record for female Representatives and Senators, is also returning. Others participating are Senators Shelley Moore Capito, Joe Manchin, and Raphael Warnock. They will be joined by several members of the House of Representatives.
All entry fees and an additional donation from the race sponsors will be given to Junior Achievement USA, which gives young people the knowledge and skills they need to make positive choices, plan for their future, and achieve economic success. Junior Achievement programs serve more than 3.3 million students in all 50 states, providing relevant hands-on experiences that provide vital information related to financial education, work readiness and entrepreneurship.
“It’s three miles for 3.3 million kids,” said American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Susan Neely. “We’re going to have a great day as hundreds of our nation’s leaders join us once again for the ACLI Capital Challenge, which supports Junior Achievement’s indispensable financial education programs for students across our nation. We are so thankful for everyone’s support.”
Dave McGillivray, long-time Boston Marathon race director and celebrated athlete, will be the 2023 celebrity runner. McGillivray first gained national prominence in 1978 for his Run Across America. He ran 3,452 miles over 80 consecutive days, averaging 45 miles per day and ending in Fenway Park to a standing ovation.
Some of his other accomplishments include the Empire State Building Run-Up, 86 stories in 13 minutes, 27 seconds; completing 9 Ironman Triathlons; and in 2018, completing the World Marathon Challenge, running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents. He has run 165 marathons, including 51 consecutive Boston Marathons (with 35 run at night after his race director duties are finished).
The American Council of Life Insurers, the race title sponsor, is the leading trade association driving public policy and advocacy on behalf of the life insurance industry. Ninety million American families rely on the life insurance industry for financial protection and retirement security. ACLI’s member companies are dedicated to protecting consumers’ financial wellbeing through life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, and dental, vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI’s 280 member companies represent 94 percent of industry assets in the United States.
The event is designed to highlight the fitness of many of the Capital’s busiest leaders and tries to answer the question: Which branch of the government is the fittest? Sponsors in addition to ACLI are: Akin Gump, Allianz, Boston Mutual, Brighthouse Financial, Canada Life Re, Corebridge Financial, Global Atlantic Financial Group, Guardian, Hannover Re, Invariant, Jackson, John Hancock, MassMutual, MetLife, Nationwide, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, OneAmerica, Pacific Life, Penn Mutual, Primerica, Principal, Protective, Prudential, RGA, Sammons Financial, Security Benefit, Swiss Re, Thrivent Financial, Transamerica, Unum, USAA, Voya, and media sponsor CQ/Roll Call.
“We have a large field of distinguished participants, with over 700 entered on 114 teams,” said Director Jeff Darman. “Think of this race as The White House Correspondents Dinner without the formal clothes,” he added.
The ACLI Capital Challenge not only recognizes the swiftest participants with awards for the Fastest Senator, Representative (Mike Synar Award), Independent Agency Head, Sub-Cabinet Appointee, Federal Judge and Journalist in male and female categories, but there are also team awards for the Senate, House, Executive Branch, Judicial and Media (both electronic and print/web categories). Additionally, there is the annual hotly contested Best and Worst Team name award (James B. Kenin Award). Some top contenders include:
| 
