Seattle Marathon changes how donations are being run

This year's Seattle Marathon — which begins downtown on Sunday morning — will not benefit a specific charity, after criticism of how last year's event was pitched.

Officials have made other changes over the past 12 months to the region's oldest marathon. They have found a new title sponsor, Amica Insurance, after the University of Washington Medical Center withdrew from that role in the wake of the criticism.

Marathon officials also commissioned a financial audit, the first in 38 years of the race.

Organizers say people who want to donate money this year can contribute directly to one of several "charity partners" listed on the marathon's Web site. That site has been redesigned, and no longer makes reference to a single charity or beneficiary on the home page.

The Seattle Times last year found that only about 1 percent of marathon revenue had been going annually to the marathon's named charity, despite an emphasis on the charitable connection on the marathon's Web site and at the event.

For instance, when runners lined up for last year's half-marathon, an announcer told them they were running to benefit the UW Medical Center patient housing.

But The Times found that the UW Patient & Family Housing Fund's final check was just $8,346 on marathon revenues of more than $1 million.

Marathon officials this year declined to be interviewed by The Times.

Seattle Marathon Association Board President John Kokes, however, did agree to answer some questions by e-mail.

In his e-mail, Kokes said he expects the number of participants on Sunday to be similar to last year — about 13,500. The majority enter the half-marathon run and walk. Others run in the full marathon or the kids marathon.

"Yes, we expect a successful event," Kokes said in his e-mail. "As always, we strive to put on the best event for our city. We expect to put on a unique experience for our runners and walkers, like we have each year."

Kokes said the marathon has signed a four-year contract with Amica, but declined to discuss the dollar amount.

Before withdrawing as title sponsor last winter, the UW Medical Center was to have paid $140,000 to help stage this year's event and $155,000 for next year's race.

The Medical Center has agreed to keep sponsoring the marathon at a lesser amount — $70,000 this year — through 2011.

Kokes released one sentence from the Francis & Company audit to The Times.

That sentence reads the Marathon Association fairly presented its financial position and ended the year "in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States."

Nick Perry: 206-515-5639 or nperry@seattletimes.com