ACLI Capital Challenge Hits $1 Million Milestone for Junior Achievement

WASHINGTON - The annual ACLI Capital Challenge road race has raised $1 million for Junior Achievement USA since 2019, a milestone reached during Wednesday's 44th running with a record $250,000 in contributions.

"We love the spirit of competition that defines the Capital Challenge, especially among Washington's leaders," said American Council of Life Insurers President and CEO David Chavern. "At the end of the day, the real winners are the 4.8 million students that Junior Achievement serves in all 50 states. Since 2019, our generous sponsors and participants who showed up to run, walk, and volunteer have helped us raise $1 million for Junior Achievement, expanding financial education opportunities for students nationwide."

This year's three-mile race in Anacostia Park featured close to 800 participants that included members of the legislative, executive and judicial branches of the federal government, the Washington press corps and other guests.

Representative James Comer (R-Ky.) was the fastest member of Congress, finishing in 32:29.

Senator John Hickenlooper's (D-Colo.) team was the fastest in the Senate, while Representative Jim Himes's (D-Conn.) team was the fastest in the House.

Elliot Gaiser of the Office of Legal Counsel captained the fastest team from the executive branch. Judge Jeffrey Arbeit of the U.S. Tax Court captained the fastest team from the judicial branch. The fastest media team was captained by Reid Epstein of The New York Times. The same New York Times team, named All The News That's Fit to Sprint, was the fastest team overall.

Among other participants, Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh ran in his 13th ACLI Capital Challenge, while NPR's Marc Silver completed his 30^th.

Jack Fitzhenry from the Office of Legal Counsel was the fastest male runner, finishing in 15:30.

Emma Kumer from the Washington Post defended her title as the fastest female runner, finishing in 17:46.

Two-time Olympian, three-time NCAA champion, author, TV commentator, and podcaster Kara Goucher served as the race's celebrity runner. She set off the air horn to start the race, then joined the race from the back of the pack and ran to support the participants.

A complete list of participants and race results are available at CapitalChallenge.com. Additional information about the race is available on X at @ACLINews, on Instagram @aclicapitalchallenge and via the hashtag #CapChallenge.

Supporting race sponsors include ACLI member companies: Allianz, Americo, Aspida, Athene, Boston Mutual, Brighthouse Financial, Canada Life Reinsurance, Corebridge, Equitable, ERAC, Everlake, Genworth | CareScout, Global Atlantic, Globe Life, Guardian, Hannover Re, Jackson, John Hancock, Lincoln Financial, M Financial Group, MassMutual, MetLife, National Life Group, New York Life, Northwestern Mutual, OneAmerica, Pacific Life, Penn Mutual, Physicians Mutual, Primerica, Principal, Protective, Prudential, RGA, Royal Neighbors, Sammons Financial, Security Benefit, Security Mutual Life, State Farm, Swiss Re, Symetra, Thrivent, Transamerica, Unum, USAA, and Western & Southern. Other sponsors include Invariant, CQ/Roll Call and Phronesis DC.

The American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) is the leading trade association driving public policy and advocacy on behalf of the life insurance industry. 90 million American families rely on the life insurance industry for financial protection and retirement security. ACLI's member companies are dedicated to protecting consumers' financial wellbeing through life insurance, annuities, retirement plans, long-term care insurance, disability income insurance, reinsurance, and dental, vision and other supplemental benefits. ACLI's 275 member companies represent 94 percent of industry assets in the United States.