Goal Foundation reports rising participation, scholarships and economic impact for Ogden Marathon

Troy Kalantyne, executive director of the Goal Foundation, presented the foundation’s 2024 annual report at the March 11 Weber County Commission meeting.

Kalantyne said Goal hosted 65 free community events in 2024 — including yoga, free hikes and programs with the Golden Hour Senior Center — and collected about $2,000 in donations for a new green initiative that plants trees. He reported the foundation donated 182 pairs of athletic shoes and 10 hiking poles to residents in need and provided just under $5,000 in youth camp scholarships.

Volunteer involvement was a major point: Goal recorded more than 1,000 volunteers contributing just over 7,300 hours in 2024. Kalantyne said the organization thinks that volunteer total is an undercount because not every short-term helper signs in.

Kalantyne described signature events the foundation runs or supports. The Ogden Marathon had 6,658 registrations in 2024 and an estimated economic impact of $1,870,000 from out-of-area visitors; the foundation anticipates the 2025 event’s visitor-driven impact will exceed $2,000,000. The marathon is scheduled for May 17, 2025, with the expo on May 16; the expo will be held at the Eccles Conference Center in Ogden after a remodel.

The Northern Utah Trail Fest (NUT) is in its fourth year, Kalantyne said, and this year the foundation expects nearly 400 participants and roughly 2,000 festival attendees. Kalantyne also noted partnerships and sponsorships that support the foundation’s work, including Weber County, a county GRAMA/RAMP grant, Weber County Tourism Works, and the Utah Office of Tourism.

Kalantyne thanked county departments and staff — including parks, permitting and public safety partners — and said the foundation will expand scholarship programming and volunteer recruitment in 2025.