For years, Huntington fostered relationships with vendors through classic fundraising events such as charity shoots and golf outings. While these events built a strong foundation, the bank recognized the need to create deeper, more meaningful connections. In 2024, Huntington introduced a new initiative designed to unite vendors from across the country and a wide range of industries — including technology, finance, security, real estate, and creative strategy — behind Pelotonia’s mission and highlight the tangible impact of Huntington’s support. 

The inaugural Huntington Pelotonia Night of Impact Partner Event marked a significant evolution in engagement. Vendors and leaders from both Huntington and Pelotonia gathered for an evening that blended inspiration, education, and action. The event featured a panel discussion with Joe Apgar, CEO of Pelotonia, and Dr. John Warner, CEO of The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, providing insights into the latest advancements in cancer research. Attendees also enjoyed exclusive, behind-the-scenes tours of the OSUCCC – James Pelotonia Institute for Immuno-Oncology and the Medical Modeling, Materials and Manufacturing (M4) labs, offering a firsthand look at the groundbreaking work their contributions support. 

At the event, Huntington invited vendors to join Team Huntington through tiered commitment levels, which included opportunities to ride and attend the Huntington Rally, a gathering held before Pelotonia’s Opening Ceremony each year that brings colleagues from across the country together to celebrate their collective efforts and kick off Ride Weekend. The inaugural event was considered a resounding success, raising more than $750,000 for innovative cancer research.  

Building on the momentum of its first Night of Impact, Huntington hosted the event again in 2025, setting an ambitious new goal: to raise $1.5 million from vendors — doubling the previous year’s achievement. This bold target reflected both the growing enthusiasm among vendors and the urgent need to accelerate progress against cancer. 

The 2025 event offered an even more immersive experience to a wider audience, doubling the invitation list to more than 30 vendor companies. Attendees heard a welcome from Steve Steinour, Chairman, President, and CEO of Huntington Bancshares Inc., followed by a fireside chat with Joe Apgar and Dr. Glen Barber, director of the Center for Innate Immunity and Inflammation and globally renowned researcher. Throughout dinner, Huntington executives and the OSUCCC – James researchers joined each table, fostering meaningful conversations about the real-world impact of vendor support. A panel discussion, moderated by Huntington CFO Zach Wasserman, featured Dr. Sameek Roychowdhury, a medical oncologist and member of the Translational Therapeutics Program at the OSUCCC – James, and a professor in the Department of Internal Medicine and the Department of Pharmacology at Ohio State, and Dr. Gina Sizemore, co-leader of the Cancer Biology Program at the OSUCCC – James and an associate professor in the Department of Radiation Oncology at Ohio State, who shared stories of how Pelotonia funding is transforming cancer research and treatment. 

The second annual event closed with the same call to action, asking business vendors to join Huntington in supporting Pelotonia. Since the April event, vendors have already pledged significant support for 2025, further fueling Team Huntington’s impact. 

In 2024, Team Huntington raised $4.2 million through the combined efforts of more than 2,700 participants, including nearly 200 business vendors. This incredible feat demonstrates the power of collaboration and shared purpose in the fight against cancer. So far in 2025, Team Huntington has rallied more than 2,800 participants and raised more than $938,000 toward innovative cancer research and counting.