The fifth annual MREF Race Around the World for Education

The Marketing Research Education Foundation (MREF) will hold the fifth annual Race Around the World for Education, a virtual race to help education children around the world. The 2025 fundraising initiative will focus on empowering the next generation of leaders through STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).

The MREF aims to support programs in underserved communities to provide young people with access to transformative learning experiences that forester creativity, problem-solving, and leadership. The MREF can directly impact the development of critical skills in youth, especially in areas where opportunities for quality education and mentorship are limited. The 2025 grantees will be announced close to the start of the race.

During the race, participants will log the miles they walk, bike, and run during the month of May – 31 days to complete a virtual race around the world and raise $60,000 to support global education for youth.

Anyone can participate in the race. While most participants hail from marketing research companies, we welcome their friends, families, partners, neighbors, and children to join. The more the merrier!

Fun facts about the race:

• Participants will log their miles on the race website as individuals or part of a company team and will be able to see their progress compared to others in the industry.

• All participants will receive a customized race bib and number that can be downloaded and printed as desired (and used as proof for insurance companies that support healthy activities!).

• Participants will receive milestone badges when they reach goals (number of miles walked, etc.).

• There is an easy portal to share photos and encourage each other.

Some key facts about global education:

• Two thirds of the world’s school-age children do not have internet connection in their homes (UNICEF and the International Telecommunication Union, 2020).

• According to a 2022 study, students who participated in STEM summer programs boosted their chances of earning a STEM degree and graduating from high school (National Bureau of Economic Research).

• STEM- and STEAM-related occupations are projected to grow by 8% between now and 2029, while non-STEM occupations are expected to grow by just 3.4% (U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics).

• STEAM education fosters creativity, critical thinking, problem-solving, and collaboration.

  
  

Sponsor a Team

Become a sponsor to support children in need and engage your employees in this virtual race around the world. When you become a sponsor, you gain a company team that your employees can join to log their miles, share photos of their race, and compare their team’s progress to other companies in the industry. Additionally, sponsors will be named on the race and MREF websites, in a thank you ad in Quirk’s magazine following the race, and in the social media campaign leading up to and during the race.

To learn more about becoming a company sponsor, please reach out to MREF Administrator, Alana Gates at alana@mrgivesback.org.