TORONTO, ON - December 10, 2014 /CNW/ -  Through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, over $3.6 million was raised in support of 173 local charities by the runners and supporters of this year's Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon. To celebrate their fundraising efforts, prizes were presented to charities at the Scotiabank Charity Challenge Awards Night in Toronto on December 9.

"Congratulations to all of the winners of the Scotiabank Charity Challenge Awards, from the charities who did incredible fundraising this year to the neighbourhoods who had incredibly enthusiastic cheering sections to our always entertaining costume runners!" said Race Director Alan Brookes. "You all contribute so much to the marathon and we appreciate your enthusiasm and dedication to helping give back to the community this year."

This year, the charities raised $3,669,264. Since its inception in 2003, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge in Toronto has raised a grand total of more than 24 million dollars for local charities. At Scotiabank sponsored road races across the country, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge has raised over $38 million for community charities.

"We would like to thank everyone who decided to make their run even more meaningful by fundraising for the 2014 Scotiabank Charity Challenge," said Claude Norfolk, Scotiabank Senior Vice President of Toronto Region. "The Scotiabank Charity Challenge is the heart of the marathon, raising much needed funds for charities which do valuable work in our community. We are proud to support the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon and want to encourage runners to take part in the Charity Challenge in 2015!"

In addition to the total amount of dollars raised by participating charities, the Scotiabank Charity Challenge awarded first, second and third place cash prizes to participating charities in each of three categories totalling $33,000. Each category winner received $6,000 with the second place charity receiving $3,000 and $2,000 going to the third place charity.

The 2014 winners are:

Highest fundraising dollars raised:

1. SickKids Foundation - $173,347
2. Fragile X Research Foundation of Canada - $97,465
3. Epilepsy Toronto - $78,184

Most participating fundraisers:

1. Children's Aid Foundation - 121 Runners 
2. Fountain of Love and Life - 119 Runners
3. Giant Steps Toronto Inc. - 110 Runners 

Highest fundraising dollars per fundraiser:

1. Yee Hong Community Wellness Foundation - $13,340 / participant
2. Glaucoma Research Society of Canada - $3,053 / participant
3. Lymphoma Canada - $2382 / participant

The Scotiabank Neighbourhood Challenge was created in order for the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon to have a sustainable, year-round impact on our local neighbourhoods, groups, charities and families. The Neighbourhood Challenge gives back to those communities that the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon course runs through. It's a friendly competition amongst neighbourhoods to see who puts together the best cheering stations along the race route. Thousands of supporters gather along the length of the course to celebrate our different neighbourhoods.

During the awards ceremony, Scotiabank gave a total of $14,000 to the charities supported by the Neighbourhood Challenge winners.

The winners of the 2014 Scotiabank Neighbourhood Challenge are:

1. Greektown, whose charity was Hellenic Home for the Aged
2. Liberty Village, whose charity was Toronto Neighbourhood Centres
3. The Annex, whose charity was Varsity Blues

Honourable mentions went to St. Lawrence Market, Leslieville, and Alexandra Park.

For the fifth year in a row, Scotiabank also gave out five cash awards totalling $5,000 to each winner's charity as part of the Best Dressed Costume Challenge at the marathon.

The winners of the 2014 Best Dressed Costume Challenge are:

1. Marathon Winner - Brett Titus as a man riding an ostrich 
2. Marathon Runner Up - David Gadd and Andy Miller as Batman and Robin
3. Half-Marathon Winner - Gail McCauley as a Polar Bear
4. 5K Winner - Amin Lalji as Captain America
5. 5k Winner - Joseph Deogracias as the Genie

About the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon
An IAAF Silver Label race, the Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon is Canada's premier, national running event, and the Grand Finale of the 8-event Canada Running Series. In 2014 it attracted more than 26,000 participants from 60 countries, raised $3.67 million for 173 charities through the Scotiabank Charity Challenge, and contributed an estimated $35 million to the local economy. In 2014, it also became the first marathon to be livestreamed globally on YouTube, attracting viewers from 115 countries. www.torontowaterfrontmarathon.com.

About Scotiabank
Scotiabank is a leading financial services provider in over 55 countries and Canada's most international bank. Through Bright Future, our global philanthropic program, Scotiabank and its employees support causes at a grassroots level across six pillars: health, education, social services, arts and culture, environment and sports. Recognized as a leader for our charitable donations and philanthropic activities, Scotiabank has contributed on average $50 million annually over the last five years to community causes around the world. Visit us atwww.scotiabank.com.