Bank of America today recognized Dr. José Oberholzer, director of the Chicago Diabetes Project, as the second annual recipient of the Mayor Richard M. Daley and Maggie Daley Award. The award was established in 2010 to honor the Bank of America Chicago Marathon participant who raised the most funds for charity through the annual world-class endurance event. Dr. Oberholzer and his team, Cellmates on the Run, raised more than $125,000 for the Chicago Diabetes Project, which is a collaboration of scientists, researchers, physicians and surgeons dedicated to curing diabetes. Former Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley joined race director Carey Pinkowski and Bank of America Illinois President Tim Maloney in presenting the award to Dr. Oberholzer at yesterday's Bank of America Chicago Marathon Charity Reception.

"Dr. José Oberholzer and the Chicago Diabetes Project embody the charitable spirit and community focus of the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle and Bank of America Chicago Marathon," said Maloney. "It's an honor to present this award to José, as he oversees a project in Chicago that is committed to advancing diabetes research, and to ultimately finding a cure for a disease that more than 1.3 million people in the United States are diagnosed with each year."

The Chicago Diabetes Project's charity team became an official charity with the Bank of America Chicago Marathon in 2009. In the last three years, the team has raised approximately $300,000 through Marathon fundraising efforts.

"The Cellmates on the Run team is grateful to participate in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon year-over-year as one of the official charities," said Oberholzer. "The mission of the Chicago Diabetes Project is to make islet cell transplantation the most promising treatment for diabetes and a viable option for everyone who suffers from it. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon provides tremendous support for the Chicago Diabetes Project by helping our team to raise awareness in the fight against this aggressively growing epidemic."

As director of the Islet and Pancreas Transplant Program at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and chief of its Division of Transplantation, Dr. Oberholzer has dedicated his career to finding a cure for diabetes. He is also an associate professor of surgery, endocrinology and diabetes, and bioengineering at UIC.

"Dr. Oberholzer and his team run with a simple, yet powerful, goal - to advance diabetes research," said former Mayor Richard M. Daley. "The Chicago Diabetes Project and Cellmates on the Run demonstrate how the Marathon helps enable Chicago residents and organizations to expand on their charitable efforts - not just in Chicago, but throughout the world."

At the 2011 Bank of America Chicago Marathon, the fundraising prowess of the Chicago Diabetes Project contributed to an event record $13.4 million for more than 160 nonprofit organizations to advance local, national and global causes.

Although the 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon is completely sold out, the only way to register with a charity team is by visiting www.chicagomarathon.com for program details. The deadline to register through a charity is June 29, 2012 or until an individual charity has filled its available registration slots. This year's race is on Sunday, October 7, 2012.

The Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K and Bank of America Chicago Marathon combined are two of the largest fundraising events in the state of Illinois and act as drivers for economic growth for the city of Chicago. In addition to being the opening of the spring running season and a perennial festive event that features 40,000 runners, the Shamrock Shuffle kicks off a long fundraising effort - culminating with the Marathon in October. The Bank of America Chicago Marathon's charity program was formally established in 2002, followed by the Shamrock Shuffle's program in 2009. Since 2002, the events have raised more than $80 million for charitable causes.

Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K

Long recognized as an annual rite of spring and the kick-off to the outdoor running season in Chicago, the Bank of America Shamrock Shuffle 8K takes runners on a scenic tour of downtown Chicago, starting and finishing in Grant Park. For more information about the event, go to shamrockshuffle.com.

About the Bank of America Chicago Marathon

In its 35th year and a member of the World Marathon Majors, the Bank of America Chicago Marathon annually attracts 45,000 participants, including a world-class elite runner and wheelchair field, and an estimated 1.7 million spectators. As a result of its national and international draw, each year, the iconic race assists in raising millions of dollars for a variety of charitable causes while generating $170 million in economic impact to its host city according to a report by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign's Regional Economics Applications Laboratory (R.E.A.L.). The 2012 Bank of America Chicago Marathon will start and finish in Chicago's Grant Park beginning at 7:30 a.m. on Sunday, October 7. In advance of the race, a two-day Health & Fitness Expo will be held at McCormick Place Convention Center on Friday, October 5, and Saturday, October 6.

Bank of America

Bank of America is one of the world's largest financial institutions, serving individual consumers, small- and middle-market businesses and large corporations with a full range of banking, investing, asset management and other financial and risk management products and services. The company provides unmatched convenience in the United States, serving approximately 57 million consumer and small business relationships with approximately 5,700 retail banking offices and approximately 17,250 ATMs and award-winning online banking with 30 million active users. Bank of America is among the world's leading wealth management companies and is a global leader in corporate and investment banking and trading across a broad range of asset classes, serving corporations, governments, institutions and individuals around the world. Bank of America offers industry-leading support to approximately 4 million small business owners through a suite of innovative, easy-to-use online products and services. The company serves clients through operations in more than 40 countries. Bank of America Corporation stock (NYSE: BAC) is a component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange.

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Reporters May Contact:
Diane Wagner, Bank of America, 1.312.992.2370
diane.wagner@bankofamerica.com