Volunteering for the 2012 Boston Marathon
Boston Marathon Volunteer Program
Dear Volunteer,
Please accept our heartfelt thanks for making the 116th Boston Marathon a great success. For those of you who have volunteered before, you know first-hand that it was a challenging day for our athletes, organizers, spectators and the communities. The instrumental role that you, as a volunteer, played in helping to facilitate such a high success rate for our community, under such extreme conditions, does not go unnoticed.
Of the hundreds of emails and calls coming into our office from participants, nearly all of them point to our volunteers. Participants have shared that they felt like they were being “pushed” along from neighborhood to neighborhood down the course by our volunteers and spectators.
Our volunteer program is foremost in what makes our event extraordinary, and it is envied worldwide. This week, the entire running world is giving you the credit you deserve for helping to make Monday’s race the safest it could possibly be, given the conditions. You showed the world, once again, that Boston Marathon volunteers are quite simply the best. We deeply appreciate your continued support, and we hope you realize how much your support means to the participants and to the B.A.A. You are a legendary group, and please take pride in knowing that you are now part of history.
We look forward to having you join us again next year, and we hope that you will volunteer at our other events throughout the year. Again, thank you for your hard work and commitment.
Elisabeth Worthing
Community and Volunteer Services
Boston Athletic Association
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A list of Boston Marathon volunteer jobs, including check-in times, job locations and estimated check-out times, can be found in the links to the left. For those of you who have volunteered before you know that being a volunteer is the best way to see the action close up and that you'll get far more out of the experience than you put into it. If you are interested in being a volunteer at a future Boston Marathon we have posted a list of job descriptions, check-in locations, and check-in times in the links on the left. We typically accept applications during a four week period in January and February. The next opportunity to apply is for the 2013 Boston Marathon.
While we understand you will most likely never forget your time volunteering, as a parting gift we present each volunteer with a Boston Marathon commemorative pin. Another exciting part of being a volunteer is wearing the Boston Marathon adidas volunteer jacket as you carry out your volunteer duties. While the volunteer jacket has a strict operational purpose and cannot be purchased, adidas proudly presents each volunteer with this beloved piece to be taken home and celebrated for years to come. Each volunteer over the age of 21 receives a complimentary ticket to the to the Post-Race Party, offering another way to share and celebrate your volunteer accomplishments with other members of the Boston Marathon community. Volunteers are also welcome and encouraged to attend the John Hancock Sports & Fitness Expo at the Hynes Veterans Memorial Convention Center in Boston during race weekend.
Here's what people have to say about our volunteer program:
“Thank you for giving me the wonderful opportunity to Volunteer. It was wonderful, positive experience and I enjoyed it immensely. I gave directions, took photographs, helped people find their loved ones, helped them put their clothes on, comforted the emotional and even meet people from my home town of Cork City, Ireland. If I'm not running myself next year I will be back to Volunteer again!” - Jackie Magner, 2011 Family Reunion Volunteer, South Boston, MA
“Yesterday was one of the greatest days of my life, and the marathon event was only accentuated with the incredible support and assistance of the volunteers. Just the way they looked you in the eye and made the experience personal, and showed that they cared and were there to help--I left Boston feeling so great about the goodness of people that I know I will be back just to share in that magic again! Thanks to all for everything!” - John Manion, 2010 Boston Marathon Finisher, Radnor, PA
“It was wonderful to volunteer at the event. I volunteered in the Athletes Village and as the runners were heading to the starting line they were all thanking us for being there to help them. That made it all worthwhile, even in the cold of a 5:30 beginning hour. I'll be there again to volunteer next year.” - Deb Roussell, 2010 Athletes Village Volunteer, Maynard, MA
“Thank you for allowing volunteers to help out the runners and their families. Working the marathon for the past three years has been a special event for me. The runners are very excited to run; anything people can do to help them is a blessing. I’m looking forward to the Half-Marathon later this year. Again, thank you from the bottom of my heart for allowing myself and others to spend their time to help others.” - Jenn Merzon, 2010 adidas/B.A.A. Merchandise Sales Volunteer, Rockland, MA
"For the past eight years I have been a bus greeter on race morning in Hopkinton. That is the place to be for greeting all the runners coming off the bus, seeing all my running partners from our running club in CT (Mohegan Striders), and answering all their questions and making sure thet get to the start line in time. That is where I want to be on race morning!" Glenn Costello, Volunteer since 2004