About Us

The Financial Industry in Tokyo (FIT) For Charity chooses to make a difference to its community by raising money for local community organisations which serve important but not necessarily well recognised or understood needs, and which might have only limited fund-raising capabilities so that the funds FIT For Charity provides can have an impact. It also aims to make a difference to its community by giving as many people as possible the opportunity to support local community organisations and to encourage greater levels of participation in other charitable events.

FIT For Charity was established in 2005. It is run by like-minded individuals in the financial and related industries in Tokyo to bring the industry together to make a difference in the community in which we live and work. Moreover, FIT For Charity is intended to be a powerful expression of the financial industry’s collective commitment to making a positive contribution to the community, to foster teamwork within firms and to build relationships across the industry.

The inaugural FIT For Charity Run was held on Sunday, September 4, 2005, in Tokyo. About 1,500 participants from the financial industry and related businesses and their families and friends either ran or walked pre-designated 5km and 10km courses around the Imperial Palace in central Tokyo. In all, more than 50 companies were represented. The event was a great success, raising JPY 17 million. Strong interest from all sides has led to rapid expansion of scale and participation levels, allowing contributions to double in 2006 and double again in 2007. 2008 was another successful year with a consistently high level of donations and an increase in not only the participating organisations to the record number of 77 organisations but also in the beneficiary charities to ten, compared to six the previous year. A total of  JPY 55 million was donated.

The run has achieved great public awareness and increased recognition within the industry, both foreign and Japanese. The tremendous and continuous success of the FIT For Charity Run events has helped to demonstrate the commitment of companies and individuals in the financial industry to make a difference to the community in which we live and work. We hope for another successful year in 2009.

FIT For Charity Run 2009 Organising Committee*:

*As of 29 October 2009

The FIT For Charity Run 2009 Organising Committee welcomes volunteers from companies in the financial services and related industries to help organise the event.

For further information, please contact us at webmaster@fitforcharity.org.