Dana Point Turkey Trot Sponsor Smart & Final Introduces Giveaway, Race Discount and Charity Donation

DANA POINT, Calif. - Oct. 30, 2014 - PRLog -- Thanksgiving Day is right around the corner, which means in just 28 days thousands will run in the 2014 Dana Point Turkey Trot in the beautiful Dana Point Harbor. The event has been a fun-filled tradition for 37 years, one which the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce has ensured area nonprofits and charities stand to benefit from.

One of this year’s three benefitting charities, Family Assistance Ministries, provides food and assistance to more than 3,600 individuals in need every month. This Thanksgiving Day, through a new Turkey Trot partnership, race sponsor Smart & Final is donating turkeys to FAM to ensure families in need have the essential staple dish before sitting down for their Thanksgiving feast.

"We are glad we can participate in continuing to support the community we work and live in," said John DeRosa, Director of Business Development for Smart & Final. "Smart & Final, nurturing communities’ one neighborhood at a time."

Giving will continue Thursday, Nov. 20 as five lucky winners will receive a Thanksgiving turkey from Smart & Final. Patrons can enter to win a turkey by visiting Smart & Final’s Capistrano Beach location, at 34091 Doheny Park Road, between Saturday, Nov. 1 and Nov. 20. Five names will be drawn by Drumstick, the Turkey Trot mascot, on Nov. 20 at 5 p.m.  In addition, between Nov. 1 and 20, runners can visit Smart & Final’s Capistrano Beach location and receive a discount code for $5 off their Turkey Trot registration.  Patrons are encouraged to act fast as this offer is limited to the first 1,000 registrations. (Restrictions Apply. See store for details)

Smart & Final Stores, Inc. is headquartered in Los Angeles where the company was started 140 years ago. Today, the corporation operates 250 grocery and food service stores throughout the western United States under three names—including Smart & Final, Smart & Final Extra! and Cash&Carry Smart Foodservice—combining high-quality fresh produce, low prices and large, club-sized products without a membership fee. Learn more about the company at smartandfinal.com (http://www.smartandfinal.com/).

Family Assistance Ministries, a San Clemente-based nonprofit, helped its first client avoid eviction in Sept. 1999. Ever since, FAM has assisted numerous others by providing shelter, utility bill and transportation help, financial counseling and medical screenings. In 2013 alone, FAM also redistributed $1.7 million in food and sheltered 60 women in transitional housing.

To find out more about Family Assistance Ministries, visit family-assistance.org (http://www.family-assistance.org/).

Participants in the 37th annual Dana Point Turkey Trot can donate to FAM, along with this year’s other benefitting charities—the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley and Doheny State Beach Interpretive Association—during the registration process. Donations can also be made at turkeytrot.com/charities (http://www.turkeytrot.com/charities).

About the 37^th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot:

Produced by the Dana Point Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Run Racing, the Dana Point Turkey Trot is the nation’s sixth largest Thanksgiving Day run in the country. Named a top Thanksgiving destination by Fodor’s Travel and one of America’s best Thanksgiving runs by Fitness Magazine, the Dana Point Turkey Trot has become an Orange County tradition, attracting more than 17,000 participants, including friends and family, in its 5K, 10K and Kids’ Gobble Wobble runs, as well as a two-day health and fitness expo. Featuring scenic routes through the picturesque Dana Point Harbor and Doheny State Beach, the Turkey Trot offers something for every member of the family. Since its conception, the Dana Point Turkey Trot has raised over half a million dollars for local nonprofits. The Dana Point Turkey Trot is a USA Track & Field (USATF) sanctioned and certified event. For more information, to register for a race, or to become a sponsor, visit TurkeyTrot.com (http://www.turkeytrot.com/). Also, follow the event on Twitter at twitter.com/turkeytrot and Facebook at facebook.com/danapointturkeytrot.