Rules

NO PURCHASE NECESSARY TO ENTER OR TO WIN.  MAKING A PURCHASE WILL NOT IMPROVE YOUR CHANCES OF WINNING.  ALL FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND MUNICIPAL LAWS AND REGULATIONS APPLY.      

NAME OF SWEEPSTAKES  

Houston Hot Chocolate Run Sweepstakes (the “Sweepstakes”)  

SPONSOR  

Ventures Endurance, LLC, 85 Devonshire Street, 9th Floor, Boston, Massachusetts 02109 (“Sponsor” or "Ventures”).   

IMPORTANT DATES  

1.  Sweepstakes Start Date:  5:00 AM Central Time (“CT”) on Aug. 12, 2024 (the “Start Date”)  

2.  Sweepstakes End Date:  11:59 PM CT on Aug. 18, 2024 (the “End Date”)  

3.  Random Drawing Date: On or around Aug. 19, 2024 (the “Drawing”)  

The Start Date and the End Date are together referred to as the “Sweepstakes Period”.  

SWEEPSTAKES ELIGIBILITY  

The Sweepstakes is open only to persons who are legal residents of the United States and who are eighteen (18) years of age or older at the time of entry (each, the “Participant” or, collectively, the “Participants”). Employees, contractors or interns of Ventures, Gannett Co., Inc., Hotelplanner.com, and each of their respective divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies (including, in each case, immediate family members) are not eligible to enter the Sweepstakes.  For purposes of this Sweepstakes, “immediate family members” is defined as spouses, siblings, parents, children, grandparents and grandchildren, whether as "in-laws", or by current or past marriage, remarriage, adoption, co-habitation or other familial extension, and any other persons residing at the same household location, whether or not related.   

HOW TO ENTER THE SWEEPSTAKES  

There is no purchase necessary to enter the Sweepstakes.  The Participant should go to the following website: https://hotchocolate15k.com/houston-sweepstakes, enter his or her name and other required information, read and agree to these official rules, and hit “SUBMIT” to be entered in the Sweepstakes (each, the “Entry”, or, collectively, the “Entries”).    

SWEEPSTAKES ENTRY RULES  

1.  Each Participant is allowed one Entry per e-mail address per day during the Sweepstakes Period.  All Entries that are in excess of the stated limits may be disqualified from the Sweepstakes at the sole and absolute discretion of Ventures.  Ventures reserves the right to void all Entries made through any robotic, automatic, mechanically programmed or similar entry duplication method and to disqualify any Participant using such methods.   Any questions regarding the number of Entries submitted shall be determined by Ventures in its sole discretion.    

2.   Ventures shall have the right, at any time and in its sole discretion, to immediately disqualify any Participant if Ventures determines or suspects that the Participant has attempted to undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes by cheating, hacking, deception, tampering or other fraudulent, deceptive, or unfair playing practices.  

 3.  Any attempt to enter this Sweepstakes by using different email addresses, usernames, identities, or otherwise may disqualify such Participant and may void all Entries made by such Participant.  Participants may use only one (1) e-mail address in this Sweepstakes.  Multiple participants in this Sweepstakes are not allowed to share an e-mail address.  

4.  Entries for the Sweepstakes will not be accepted through e-mail, facsimile, postal mail, express delivery service or hand-delivery.    

 5.  Ventures is not responsible for late, lost, tampered with, deleted or misdirected Entries that are not timely received or are lost due to computer or electronic malfunctions or other error.  Assurance of delivery of the Entry is the sole responsibility of the Participant.   

6.  In order to enter the Sweepstakes or win a prize, the Participant must comply fully with these Official Rules and by entering agrees to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of Ventures, whose decisions shall be binding and final in all respects.  

SELECTION OF THE WINNER – RANDOM DRAWING   

One (1) winner will be selected in the Drawing (the “Winner”) from all eligible Entries received by the Sweepstakes End Date.  The sole determinant of time for the purposes of receipt of a valid Entry in this Sweepstakes will be Ventures. The decisions of Ventures and Hotelplanner.com as to the administration and operation of the Sweepstakes and the selection of the potential Winner is final and binding in all matters related to the Sweepstakes. The selected Winner is deemed the “potential Winner” pending verification of his/her eligibility and compliance with these Official Rules.  

ODDS OF WINNING  

Odds of winning a prize in the Sweepstakes depend on the number of eligible Entries received by the Sweepstakes End Date.        

NOTIFICATION OF THE WINNER   

The potential Winner will be notified within five (5) business days after the Drawing in accordance with the contact information supplied by the Participant at the time of entry (“Prize Notification”).  Prize Notification is deemed to have occurred immediately upon the placing of a phone call or sending of an e-mail or any other form of communication Ventures may use to contact a potential Winner.  Ventures is not obligated to leave a voicemail or any other type of message.  If a potential Winner does not respond to the Prize Notification within five (5) business days after the Prize Notification, Ventures may select an alternate winner in a random drawing from all remaining eligible Entries.  Ventures reserves the right to modify the notification procedures in connection with the selection of any alternate potential Winner, if any.  

PRIZE  

One (1) prize will be awarded in this Sweepstakes to one (1) winner.  The winner will be awarded the following: 

(a) two (2) registrations and corresponding goodie bag for 2024 Houston Hot Chocolate Run race (APR is $200)

PRIZE CONDITIONS  

Prize is neither assignable, nor transferable and cannot be redeemed for cash or other items of value except at the sole discretion of the Sponsor.  Sponsor reserves the right to use any and all information about the Winner related to the Sweepstakes for promotional, marketing and any other purpose, including online announcements, unless prohibited by law.  

TAXES  

All local, state and federal taxes incurred by accepting a prize will be the sole responsibility of the Winner.  Any person winning over $600 in prizes during any one (1) year period will receive an IRS Form 1099 at the end of the calendar year, and a copy of such form will be filed with the IRS.  

ENTRY INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS; OPT-OUT.   

As a condition of entering the Sweepstakes, each Participant gives consent for Sponsor to obtain, process, store and deliver his or her name, address and other collected information (i) for the purpose of administering this Sweepstakes; (ii) to comply with applicable laws, regulations and rules; and (iii) to communicate with Participant about offers and promotions from Sponsor, Ventures Endurance and Sponsor’s affiliates and/or business partners. Any information Participant provides to Sponsor may be used to communicate with Participant in relation to this Sweepstakes or on a Sweepstakes winner’s list and/or for the other purposes specified herein. Collection and use of personally identifiable information will be in accordance with Sponsor’s Privacy Policy or the applicable business partner’s privacy policy. Any email communication from Sponsor, Ventures Endurance or its service providers and/or its business partners will contain an Unsubscribe link enabling Participant to opt-out of further communications (except for Sweepstakes administration if Participant continues to participate after unsubscribing).  Participant may request deletion of his/her account by visiting venturesendurance.com and following the instructions provided.    

INTERNET  

1.  It is each Participant’s responsibility to enter in the appropriate manner. Each Participant is responsible for all costs or charges involved in accessing the participating website and warrants that the cost of accessing the websites, if any, is part of a larger agreement with an Internet Service Provider or some other means, and that the cost of this access is not an incremental cost.   

2.  If for any reason the Sweepstakes is not capable of running as planned, including infection by computer virus, bugs, tampering, unauthorized intervention, fraud, technical failures, or any other causes beyond the control of Ventures which corrupt or affect the administration, security, fairness, integrity, or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes, Ventures reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate, modify, or suspend the Sweepstakes.  Ventures assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft, or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of Entries.   

3.  Ventures is not responsible for lost, misdirected, illegible, damaged or undelivered Entries.  Ventures  is not responsible for any problems or technical malfunctions of any telephone network or lines, computer online systems, services or providers, computer equipment,  software, failure of any email or entry to be received due to technical problems or traffic congestion on the internet or at any website, or any combination thereof, including any injury or damage to Participant's or any other person's computer related to or resulting from participation or downloading of any material in this Sweepstakes. CAUTION: Any attempt by an Participant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the Sweepstakes is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, Ventures reserves the right to seek damages from any such person to the fullest extent permitted by law.  

4.  In the event of a dispute, Entries made by Internet will be declared made by the authorized account holder of the e-mail address submitted at time of entry. "Authorized account holder" is defined as the natural person who is assigned to an e-mail address by an Internet access provider, online service provider, or other organization (e.g. business, educational institution, etc.) that is responsible for assigning e-mail addresses for the domain associated with the submitted e-mail address.   

WAIVERS, DISCLAIMERS AND RELEASES  

By participating in this Sweepstakes, the Participant agrees to release, discharge and hold harmless Ventures, Gannett Co., Inc., Gannett Media Corp, Hotelplanner.com and each of their divisions, affiliates, parent companies, subsidiaries, advertising and promotion agencies and their respective directors, officers, employees and agents (collectively, the “Sweepstakes Entities”)  from and against any and all claims, liability, costs, losses, damages or injuries of any kind arising out of or related to the Participant’s participation in this Sweepstakes and/or related to any prize (including, without limitation, losses, damages or injuries to Participant’s or any other person’s equipment or other property, or to their persons, related to participation in this Sweepstakes; or arising out of any violation of rights of publicity or privacy, or claims of defamation or portrayal in a false light; or based on any claim of infringement of intellectual property; or from any typographical, human or other error in the printing, offering, selection, operation or announcement of any Sweepstakes activity and/or prize). Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the Participant agrees that the Sweepstakes Entities: (a) have neither made nor will be in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, in connection with any Sweepstakes and/or with respect to prizes, including, without limitation, to any prize’s quality or fitness for a particular purpose; (b) maintain no control over the personnel, equipment or operation of any air, water or surface carrier, ship line, bus or limousine company, transportation company, hotel, manufacturer or other person or entity furnishing services, products or accommodations (“Suppliers”) as a part of the prizes provided in connection with any Sweepstakes; and (c) will not be responsible or liable for any injury, damage, loss, expense, accident, delay, inconvenience or other irregularity that may be caused or contributed to: (1) by the wrongful, negligent or unauthorized act or omission on the part of the Suppliers or any of their agents, servants, employees or independent contractors, (2) by any defect in or failure of any vehicle, equipment, instrumentality, service or product that is owned, operated, furnished or otherwise used by any of those Suppliers, (3) by the wrongful, negligent or unauthorized act or omission on the part of any other person or entity not an employee of the Sweepstakes Entities, and (4) by any cause, condition or event whatsoever beyond the control of the Sweepstakes Entities. Participant agrees that the Sweepstakes Entities shall have no responsibility or liability for discontinued prizes; human error; incorrect or inaccurate transcription of registration and/or account information; any technical malfunctions of the telephone network, computer online system, computer dating mechanism, computer equipment, software, or Internet service provider utilized by Ventures; interruption or inability to access the website, or Ventures or affiliated entities’ respective websites, or any online service via the Internet due to hardware or software compatibility problems; any damage to Participant’s (or any third person’s) computer and/or its contents related to or resulting from any part of a Sweepstakes; any lost/delayed data transmissions, omissions, interruptions, viruses, bugs, defects; and/or any other errors or malfunctions, even if caused by the negligence of the Sweepstakes Entities. Each Participant further agrees to indemnify and hold harmless Sweepstakes Entities from and against any and all liability resulting or arising from any Sweepstakes and to release all rights to bring any claim, action or proceeding against Sweepstakes Entities and hereby acknowledge that Sweepstakes Entities have neither made nor are in any manner responsible or liable for any warranty, representation or guarantee, express or implied, in fact or in law, relative to a prize, including express warranties provided exclusively by a Supplier that may be sent along with a prize. Ventures is not responsible for the actions of Participants in connection with any Sweepstakes, including the Participant’s attempts to circumvent the Official Rules or otherwise interfere with the administration, security, fairness, integrity or proper conduct of this Sweepstakes.   

MISCELLANEOUS  

1.  The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision of these Official Rules or the Affidavit will not affect the validity or enforceability of any other provision. In the event that any provision of the Official Rules or the Affidavit is determined to be invalid or otherwise unenforceable or illegal, the other provisions will remain in effect and will be construed in accordance with their terms as if the invalid or illegal provision were not contained herein. The failure of Ventures to enforce any term of the Official Rules will not constitute a waiver of that provision. When terms such as “may” are used in the Official Rules, Ventures has sole and absolute discretion. Participants agree to waive any rights to claim ambiguity of the Official Rules.   

2.  Headings are solely for convenience of reference and will not be deemed to affect in any manner the meaning or intent of the documents or any provision hereof.   

3.  In the event there is a discrepancy or inconsistency between disclosures or other statements contained in any Sweepstakes-related materials, privacy policy or terms of use on the website and/or the terms and conditions of the Official Rules, the Official Rules shall prevail, govern and control and the discrepancy will be resolved in the sole and absolute discretion of Ventures.   

4.  Ventures will not be responsible for typographical, printing or other inadvertent errors in these Official Rules or in other materials relating to the Sweepstakes.  

5.  Ventures reserves the right to change, alter, or amend these Official Rules as necessary, in its sole discretion, to ensure the fair administration of the Sweepstakes or to comply with applicable law.  

6.  Any and all decisions of Ventures regarding the Sweepstakes are final.   

7.  This Sweepstakes and these Official Rules will be governed by the laws of the State of New York whose courts shall have exclusive jurisdiction in the event that any dispute arises regarding the Sweepstakes or the prize.  

NAME OF WINNER  

To obtain the name of the Winner, contact Alex Minchow at aminchow@venturesendurance.com by Aug. 31, 2024.  

QUESTIONS  

Any questions on this Sweepstakes should be directed to Alex Minchow at aminchow@venturesendurance.com.