TAMPA, Fla. - The IRONMAN Foundation® Community Fund will give $40,000 in grant funding to non-profit groups in the Panama City Beach community in support of the 2012 IRONMAN Florida. The IRONMAN Foundation's contribution will provide support to local nonprofit needs and initiatives within the local community.

The IRONMAN Foundation will donate $40,000 to the Panama City Beach community to support local nonprofit beneficiaries that will use the funds toward local initiatives to better the area. In addition to donating funds to the community, The IRONMAN Foundation has joined the WMBB - TV and Panama City Police Department's 4th annual canned food drive that will benefit those in need. During the week of the IRONMAN Florida race, there will be canned food receptacles located around The IRONMAN Village. Over the past three years the drive has averaged 15,000 pounds of food for donation.

In addition to allocating funds back into the greater Panama City Beach community, The IRONMAN Foundation provides athletes with the platform to fundraise for a nonprofit beneficiary of their choice as they train for their IRONMAN event. More than 35 athletes have signed up to participate in The IRONMAN Foundation's "Your Journey, Your Cause" program during the Nov. 3 IRONMAN Florida triathlon. These athletes have been touched by something greater than themselves and are fundraising to make their race experience more than just crossing the finish line - they are racing for a cause. Collectively they have raised over $60,000 for their respective causes.

For more information on IRONMAN and The IRONMAN Foundation, please visit www.ironman.com and www.ironmanfoundation.org. For media related inquiries, please contact media@ironman.com.

About IRONMAN
The iconic IRONMAN® Series of events is the largest participation sports platform in the world. Since the inception of the IRONMAN® brand in 1978, athletes have proven that ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE® by crossing finish lines at the world's most challenging endurance races. Recognized for excellence through distinguished events, world-class athletes and quality products, World Triathlon Corporation (d/b/a IRONMAN), owner and operator of the IRONMAN® Series, has grown from owner of a single race to a global sensation with nearly 190 events across five unique brands: IRONMAN®, IRONMAN 70.3®, 5150TM Triathlon Series, Iron Girl® and IronKids®. For more information, visit www.ironman.com.

About The IRONMAN Foundation
Since its inception in 2003, The IRONMAN Foundation® has made philanthropic contributions of more than eleven million dollars to numerous non-profit beneficiaries worldwide. The mission of The IRONMAN Foundation is: To leave IRONMAN's legacy through philanthropy, voluntarism and grant making; by supporting various athletic, community, education, health, human services and public benefit non-profits organizations around the world. The IRONMAN Foundation is a US registered 501(c)(3). For more information contact info@IRONMANfoundation.org.