ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, March 2, 1996 TAG: 9603030003
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B5 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RALPH BERRIER JR. STAFF WRITER
Faced with the loss of its major sponsor, Roanoke's largest running event almost ran out of time and luck.
However, just when Festival in the Park organizers were ready to cancel their annual 5-kilometer and 10-kilometer races, two new sponsors stepped forward to ensure the race will be held again this year.
American Electric Power and First American Federal Savings Bank will co-sponsor the Festival Classic, which will be held June 1 in downtown Roanoke. The only problem Festival director Wendi Schultz sees is getting both co-sponsors in the event's name without making it longer than the race itself.
``We're still trying to figure out what to name it,'' Schultz said with a laugh. ``How do you get all those names in there?''
It's better than calling it quits, which is what Schultz was ready to do on Wednesday.
The race lost its major sponsor when First Union decided to pull out last month after sponsoring the race for two years. First Union took over the sponsorship after merging with Dominion Bank, which previously had sponsored the race.
Schultz said that First American Federal Savings Bank soon expressed interest in sponsoring the race after First Union pulled out, but could not provide enough volunteers. More than 100 people are needed to work on race day.
AEP, though, stepped in Thursday with the manpower and finances to co-sponsor the race.
``AEP called us and said they had been thinking, unbeknownst to us, they wanted to do it,'' Schultz said. ``First American Federal Savings would have done it, but Festival would have had to organize and implement the entire race. We didn't feel Festival itself could assume total responsibility. AEP came through and said it had the manpower and some of the financial commitment.''
The Festival Classic usually attracts more than 1,000 runners, although the event's numbers have dipped in recent years. The drop in runners was one of the main reasons First Union pulled out.
``We looked at it for about three years and the number of runners had been declining,'' said Chuck Saldarini, president of First Union's Roanoke area. ``We thought we could do something else that was sports-oriented and for the community. We're going to spend money on public relations, it just depends on where you spend it.''
The Festival Classic almost became the second major Roanoke race to be canceled. Last month, Shenandoah Life Insurance Company sent a letter to runners letting them know that after eight years it was discontinuing sponsorship of the Shenandoah Life/Musselwhite & Associates 4-Miler.
The continuation of the Festival Classic ``is nothing but great news,'' said Dan Wright, president of the Star City Striders running club. ``I'm not thrilled about the Shenandoah Life race going away, but I know how times change. Last week, it looked like time was running out [on the Festival Classic]. Now, we've just got to get word out that it's still going on.''
LENGTH: Medium: 60 linesby CNB