FAQ

 

About FIT

Charities

Getting Involved

About FIT

1. Q: When was the FIT For Charity Run held for the first time?
A: The FIT For Charity Run was held for the first time in 2005. It has been held annually since with the seventh FIT for Charity Run taking place on November 6th this year.
2. Q: Who started FIT, and why?
A: A group of individual employees working for major foreign finance and financial-related companies came together, in shock, after the tsunami that hit Asia at the end of 2004. They resolved to do something meaningful for the community that would make a difference. They chose to group together and form FIT to seek and support causes and community organisations that are not necessarily well recognised in our society. The aim was to express the wider commitment of the finance industry to our society.
3. Q: Which companies support FIT?
A: FIT is supported by companies from the finance and financial-related companies in Tokyo as well as other companies who donate goods and services. The list of supporters is long and includes both Japanese and foreign companies. For a list of the supporters of the 2010 Run please check http://fitforcharity.org/sponsors/
4. Q: Who can participate in the event?
A: Those working in the financial industry or in financial-related sectors and their family and friends. Participation requires a firm to register and to manage applications from its employees. We advise those interested in participating to submit their registration as early as possible. Find out how to register for the 2011 event on our http://fitforcharity.org/how-to-get-involved/ page.
5. Q: Why isn’t this event open to everyone, regardless of where they work?
A: The FIT event is open to all employees at financial and finance-related companies and their families and friends. This has helped to develop FIT’s identity, focus, momentum and effectiveness in supporting the under-recognised but good work going on at community organisations around us. This is not a matter of exclusivity but of effectiveness.
6. Q: How is the FIT For Charity Run set to grow?
A: In terms of revenues, it has approximately doubled every year for 2006 and 2007. From 2008 to 2009 revenues have remained stable around JPY 55 million. In 2010 JPY 68 million was raised.

Charities

7. Q: How much money has been raised for charities thus far?
A: Over JPY 285 million have been raised since 2005.
8. Q: There are many charities. How does FIT select them?
A: FIT has established selection criteria. Charities are selected based primarily on need. Emphasis is also put on selecting multiple charities representing a cross-section of services offered. All member companies of the FIT Organising Committee can submit charities and vote for them.　Between the first (2005) and the sixth (2010) FIT For Charity Run, Tokyo-focused organisations in Kanto area were selected to support organisations with insufficient funds focusing on social awareness. As a result of 11 March, 2011 Eastern Japan earthquake disaster, the seventh (2011) FIT For Charity Run will be supporting the restoration of the affected areas caused by the unprecedented damages of the recent Eastern Japan earthquake disaster, together with the cooperation of the Tokyo metropolitan non-profit organisations and the engagement of non-profit orgnaisation support activities.
9. Q: How much of the money raised goes to the charities?
A: In 2010, more than 90% went to the charities. This is an unusually high pass-through rate which is achieved because members of the FIT For Charity Organising Committee are unpaid volunteers and almost all of the elements needed to stage the event are donated by companies and their employees.
10. Q: How are the funds split?
A: The funds raised are split equally among the supported charities.

Getting Involved

16. Q: My company is interested in sponsoring or sending a team to the event. What should I do?
A: Email us at application@fitforcharity.org.
17. Q: I’d like to help in some way, but don’t know what I can do.
A: Contact us and we will be able to find a role for you. There are many positions open and we appreciate everyone’s effort.