Our History

In 2005, Medals4Mettle was started as a result of marathoner runners who award their finisher’s medals to others who have demonstrated similar mettle, or courage. Certainly everyone cannot run a marathon, but people who are battling life-threatening illnesses and severe disabilities demonstrate mettle everyday. Marathon runners experience the cheers of support from total strangers as they run through the streets, and these same runners cheer the wheelchair competitors that they may pass on the course. Medals4Mettle celebrates our collective human courage, and our innate desire to reward and support each other as we all face life’s challenges.

What has been accomplished so far?

M4M has experienced remarkable success in its brief three-month history.

Pro bono legal (501c3 filed), accounting, printing, website design, public relations and marketing have been secured.

Corporate sponsorship has been obtained from the Finish Line who will distribute information at its nationwide stores; Fifth Third Bank will also sponsor M4M with distribution of information at all of its banking centers.

M4M will be involved in the Chicago (40,000 runners and one of the largest), New York City (40,000 runners and televised) and Boston (20,000 runners, the oldest, televised and probably the most prestigious) Marathons and the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (the world’s largest with 40,000 runners).

A Board of Directors is being assembled and will include representatives of the sponsors.

Arrangements are under way to establish a network of physicians and celebrities (e.g., Indy race car drivers to distribute medals to children at Riley Children’s Hospital.)

M4M is working with other charitable organizations with established success in marathons (Fred’s Team).

What is the niche for Medals4Mettle?
M4M is a different kind of charity that does not seek to compete with other charities for valuable dollars. It is our mission to work with established charitable organizations to increase exposure and expand education by providing runners with a simple way to gift their medals to others.

M4M plans to link our Website to numerous charitable organizations to offer medal winners the opportunity to identify a recipient prior to the event. It is also our hope that this will provide the runner the opportunity to get to know the recipient or a charitable cause, and learn more about the handicap, disease or other problem that they have faced so courageously. Only a fraction of marathon runners run for a charity and M4M believes that the simple gifting of a finisher’s medal is a subtle but effective way to introduce the concept of charitable running.

Who is the leader of Medals4Mettle?
Steven F. Isenberg, MD, is the President and CEO of M4M. He is a marathon runner, businessman and an ear, nose and throat physician. Dr Isenberg has successfully managed a 501c3 previously and is familiar with the challenges. The idea for M4M originated from Dr. Isenberg’s practice of giving his marathon finisher medals to his patients

M4M will develop nationally and internationally, but will also have a local appeal for each event. It will be managed by successful, professional people and marketed to successful, professional people, while ultimately demonstrating our collective respect for human courage.


		Our History In 2005, Medals4Mettle was started as a result of marathoner runners who award their finisher’s medals to others who have demonstrated similar mettle, or courage. Certainly everyone cannot run a marathon, but people who are battling life-threatening illnesses and severe disabilities demonstrate mettle everyday. Marathon runners experience the cheers of support from total strangers as they run through the streets, and these same runners cheer the wheelchair competitors that they may pass on the course. Medals4Mettle celebrates our collective human courage, and our innate desire to reward and support each other as we all face life’s challenges. What has been accomplished so far? M4M has experienced remarkable success in its brief three-month history. Pro bono legal (501c3 filed), accounting, printing, website design, public relations and marketing have been secured. Corporate sponsorship has been obtained from the Finish Line who will distribute information at its nationwide stores; Fifth Third Bank will also sponsor M4M with distribution of information at all of its banking centers. M4M will be involved in the Chicago (40,000 runners and one of the largest), New York City (40,000 runners and televised) and Boston (20,000 runners, the oldest, televised and probably the most prestigious) Marathons and the Indianapolis Mini Marathon (the world’s largest with 40,000 runners). A Board of Directors is being assembled and will include representatives of the sponsors. Arrangements are under way to establish a network of physicians and celebrities (e.g., Indy race car drivers to distribute medals to children at Riley Children’s Hospital.) M4M is working with other charitable organizations with established success in marathons (Fred’s Team). What is the niche for Medals4Mettle? M4M is a different kind of charity that does not seek to compete with other charities for valuable dollars. It is our mission to work with established charitable organizations to increase exposure and expand education by providing runners with a simple way to gift their medals to others. M4M plans to link our Website to numerous charitable organizations to offer medal winners the opportunity to identify a recipient prior to the event. It is also our hope that this will provide the runner the opportunity to get to know the recipient or a charitable cause, and learn more about the handicap, disease or other problem that they have faced so courageously. Only a fraction of marathon runners run for a charity and M4M believes that the simple gifting of a finisher’s medal is a subtle but effective way to introduce the concept of charitable running. Who is the leader of Medals4Mettle? Steven F. Isenberg, MD, is the President and CEO of M4M. He is a marathon runner, businessman and an ear, nose and throat physician. Dr Isenberg has successfully managed a 501c3 previously and is familiar with the challenges. The idea for M4M originated from Dr. Isenberg’s practice of giving his marathon finisher medals to his patients M4M will develop nationally and internationally, but will also have a local appeal for each event. It will be managed by successful, professional people and marketed to successful, professional people, while ultimately demonstrating our collective respect for human courage.