The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon has selected Family Services of Northeast Wisconsin as the new charity partner for 2010. Family Services will join the Boys & Girls Club of Green Bay and Cerebral Palsy, Inc. as the recipients of funds raised by the 2010 Cellcom Green Bay Marathon.

Marathon charities operate on three-year terms, with one new charity added each year and one exiting charity each year. Charity organizations become a strong member of the operational team made up of mostly volunteers to put on this event. Family Services was selected from a group of 20 applicants.

President and CEO of Family Services, Tom Martin said that funds received through this partnership will be used to protect, heal, and care for abused children in our community.

The Cellcom Green Bay Marathon aims to give back to the community while presenting a world-class event for people of all abilities and bring visitors to our communities. In selecting a charity, the idea is to support a community need and a charity partner that would be able to effectively utilize the marathon’s platform. Family Services epitomizes what we look for in a charity partner. Although there were many worthy causes, the information presented by Family Services hit home as an important and seldom talked about need in our community.

According to Family Services, child abuse in Brown County has more than doubled in the past five years with over 1,300 confirmed cases annually. Statistics indicate that up to one in four girls and one in seven boys will be abused during their childhood with many of those instances going unreported. Funds from the marathon will also help with the building of a Child Advocacy Center for abused children. A planned collaboration with local law enforcement, healthcare, and county government will open a child-friendly facility where children and their families can go to report abuse and begin their recovery.

Welcome aboard Family Services!