Additional Resources
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Charity Program & Partners
Charity running: Where the dollar sign meets the finish line
Charity running has become an integral part of the Chicago Half Marathon, and we want to continue to your programs and the causes they support. Training for a half marathon is a challenge, and finding the right motivation is a great way to keep it fun and help athletes stay committed. Cause related endurance events have experienced tremendous growth. Charity training programs provide participants with support, professional coaching and inspiration. We want to help you find athletes that are looking to make that connection, by promoting your training programs. We encourage all of our interested participants to get into the spirit of charity racing and connect with a worthy cause that will inspire them to train for and complete a half marathon.
For Charity opportunities, please contact Jenny Dill:
Jenny@VisionEventManagement.com
Important Charity Program Documents
Charity Program Overview
Charity Program Tiers
Charity Program Pre-Event Application
Charity Program Agreement
Fundraising Made Easy
There are a number of creative and functional ways you can make the fundraising effort tremendously successful for your charity. The most common and effective way is by setting up a fundraising pledge program where runners collect pledges and donations based on the completion of their race. As the charity, you would obtain the race entry on behalf of the individual (at a certain value), and the individual in turn raises a minimum of “X dollars” for your charity to be able to earn that entry to the half marathon. As an example, charities tend to ask for pledges ranging from a minimum of $200 up to $3,000. Depending on the minimum pledge, charities create packages that include travel arrangements (hotels, airfare, etc.), shirts, pre and post race meals, and training/coaching programs. Each charity has the option to develop a program according to your goals, resources and expected participants. We can help provide you with ideas and opportunities, but the implementation and collection of the fundraising program is up to the charity and its participants.
How do runners find out that a charity is affiliated with the Chicago Half Marathon?
Recruiting participants to fundraise is generally done through your communication channels and database of contacts. However, we will promote your charity through our website and direct interested runners to research our partner charities or those who support causes which they may have a specific interest in.
13 minute Pace Requirement!
The Chicago Half Marathon is the only race in Chicago that gets to close down Lake Shore Drive completely between 67th Street and 31st Street. It is one of the coolest things to be able to run on one of the Nation’s most famous and scenic roads. By having the road completely closed it makes for a very safe race with no traffic buzzing by participants. With this comes with a price and as all participants must maintain a 13 minute per mile pace. This pace goes into effect as soon as the last participant crosses the start line which takes about 20 minutes. For any Charity Participant that can’t maintain the 13 minute pace they will be forced to the lakefront path in five different locations along Lake Shore Drive if they can’t meet cutoff time limits. Please see the map for these locations and times. The path will be completely supported with aid stations including water/Gatorade, restrooms, mile markers medical personal and course marshals directing the participants. The finish line will remain open for those on the path until 11:30am. We hope you will be able to train your participants to a 13 minute pace but for those who just can’t do it they have an option. Please make sure all your participants are fully aware of the pace and the rules.
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Platinum Charity Partners | |
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1. Join Team World Vision Join hundreds of teammates in raising money to help provide clean water to communities in Africa. Free training groups in Chicago and suburbs, and no fundraising minimum! Learn more at www.teamworldvision.org. |
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Gold Charity Partners | |
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Join the TEAM TO END AIDS (T2) – a full and comprehensive endurance training program that prepares YOU to complete the Chicago Half Marathon. Developed by the AIDS Foundation of Chicago, T2 supports the life-saving work of AFC by helping to raise funds to support programs and services that change lives. In just a few months, we can train YOU to complete the half marathon, whether you are an experienced athlete or you've never trained for an endurance event before. With T2, you train without intimidation and triumph with elation! |
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LYDIA Home Association (LYDIA) has been helping children and families in crisis for more than 90 years. Our largest programs include a residential unit for abused children, a foster care program, counseling centers, Safe Families for Children and a strong life skills education program. This year's Team LYDIA will benefit LYDIA's alternative high school, Urban Academy. This program is dedicated to the belief that anyone can learn if given personalized guidance and the proper academic environment. Our 2010 Team LYDIA is "Running to learn. Learning to run." |
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Join Team Alpha! The Alpha course is an opportunity to explore the meaning of life in a relaxed, friendly setting. It is found in 163 countries, is run by all the major Christian denominations and in many settings including, church premises, homes, prisons, campuses, workplace etc.. More than 15 million people have taken the course and it has been translated into 108 languages. People enjoy great food, laughter and learning in a fun and friendly atmosphere where no question about life or God is seen as too simple or too hostile…questions like – If God did exist what would you ask? Why am I here? Where did I come from? What happens when I die?
Alpha USA is also involved in other work such as helping inmates integrate into society, parenting and marriage and pre-marriage courses. |
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Silver Charity Partners | |
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Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) Be a part of history by joining the first Chiropractic Running Team in the Chicago Half Marathon running for chiropractic charity! We are now accepting applications for our 2010 Chicago Half Marathon Team. Non-Profit Chiropractic Organization (NPCO) is an official 501(c)3 organization dedicated to providing chiropractic healthcare to people living within the harsh realities of poverty around the world. All monies raised by our Chicago Half Marathon Team NPCO for Chiropractic go towards opening up new non-profit clinics for chiropractic healthcare in third-world countries! For more information, please visit www.NPCO.org! |
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Come run with the Angels so no one has to face cancer alone! Participating in the Chicago Half Marathon with Imerman Angels is an unforgettable way to reach your personal fitness goals, have fun, meet new people, create lasting memories, and make an impact with every step you take. Imerman Angels team members receive Imerman Angels gear, access to special Imerman Active events along with a package of benefits and perks from our sponsors. With Imerman Angels fundraising is not required during open registration, but rather one of the many ways you can help Imerman Angels achieve its mission - providing personalized connections that enable 1-on-1 support among cancer fighters, survivors and caregivers. Imerman Angels’ priceless service connects a person fighting cancer today ("cancer fighter") with someone who has beaten the same type of cancer ("cancer survivor"). The One-on-one relationship gives a fighter the chance to ask personal questions and get support from someone who is uniquely familiar with their experience. The service is absolutely free and helps anyone touched by any type of cancer, at any cancer stage level, at any age, living anywhere in the world. Imerman Angels’ survivors are walking, talking, living proof to inspire cancer fighters that they can beat and survive cancer. |
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Bronze Charity Partners | |
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Team In Training provides participants with the fitness training and group support needed to succeed. Participants get to meet new people and achieve a personal fitness goal, and they feel great about making a difference in the lives of others. Training is comprehensive. The average TNT participant covers 600 miles while training and burns 60,000 calories, which is equivalent to a 17-pound weight loss. For four to five months, the athletes receive high caliber training with certified coaches who prepare them for their specific event. They attend local workshops on nutrition, technique, injury prevention, event day strategy, fundraising skills/ and they build friendships with others on their team. Members receive guidance from the TNT Mentor Program, which matches them with past TNT participants who share their training, fundraising and event day experiences. |
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SALUTE, INC. passionately pursues meeting the financial, physical, and emotional needs of military service members, veterans and their families. We strive to raise awareness of their sacrifices and provide a safety net to ensure every military family is treated with honor and dignity. |
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At Autism Speaks, our goal is to change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. Team Up with Autism Speaks and run the Chicago Half Marathon with us |
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Horizons for Youth is a community committed to helping children recognize and achieve their full potential. In partnership with dedicated families, we provide need–based scholarships, one-on-one mentoring, and enrichment programs. |
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Participating Charity Partners | |
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Working in the Schools (WITS) is a literacy organization that increases the reading proficiency and learning capacity of low-income and minority students in Chicago Public Schools. WITS recruits and supports dedicated business, government, and community volunteers who deliver measurable and consistent tutoring and mentoring services. |
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Pancreatica Walks and Runs is an initiative of the non-profit Cancer Patients Alliance aimed at forever changing the tragic relationship between human beings and pancreatic cancer. Our group is dedicated to raising awareness and funds, increasing education and supporting pancreatic cancer research. Pancreatic cancer is the least funded cancer in terms of research. Despite causing enormous mortality, pancreatic cancer receives (on a mortality basis) much less funding for research than most of the other major cancers. Participants will receive great fundraising tips, training plans, coaching options and when the required minimum dollar amounts are raised, reimbursement of race entry fee, related travel expenses, prizes and more! |
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Youth Outreach Services (YOS) is a nonprofit human service agency dedicated to caring for youth in and around Chicago, inspiring positive development in their lives, families and communities. Founded in 1959, YOS has served nearly 300,000 youth through a wide variety of child welfare, counseling, juvenile justice and prevention services. We believe all kids are capable of excellence and are committed to providing the community-based support they need to overcome challenges and succeed. |
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The fundamental belief of Home of Hope, Inc., established in 1999, is that each child is precious, and given an opportunity to succeed, each has the potential of becoming a self-sustaining, productive member of society. HOH works with 17 established service providers in India and one in Berkeley, CA. Together, we have provided a brighter future to more than 50,000 under- privileged children. Through no fault of their own, these children are crippled, orphaned, abandoned or physically/mentally challenged. Some are blind, deaf or mute. Others are Tsunami victims, street children or victims of AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases. Each of them deserve an opportunity to become independent and enjoy life, and that is our purpose! Visit our website for more information – www.hohinc.org. |
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Lupus Charity Runners supports the Lupus Foundation of America - Illinois Chapter (LFAI). The LFAI provides free programs and services to lupus patients and their families. Our mission is to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, support individuals and families affected by the disease, increase awareness of lupus among health professionals and the public, and find the causes and the cure. To learn more about lupus check out: www.lupusil.org |
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Join Team Clearbrook and be a shining star in the life of a person with special needs! Formed in 2008, Team Clearbrook is comprised of beginner and seasoned people that are aiming to achieve a personal milestone in their own life while helping Clearbrook deliver its mission to provide innovative opportunities to children and adults with developmental disabilities throughout their lifetime. Runners and walkers are welcome to join the team and make a difference to people with autism, Down syndrome, cerebral palsy and other developmental disabilities. Our fundraising minimum is low, but the impact of your participation is anything but! Members will receive free training with CARA, an exclusive running shirt, pre-race pasta party and weekly tips to motivate and inspire you every step of the way. To learn more about Clearbrook or to join the team, visit www.clearbrook.org. For questions about Team Clearbrook, call 847-385-5302 or email marathon@clearbrook.org. |
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Open Books is a nonprofit social venture that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and mobilizes passionate volunteers to promote literacy in Chicago and beyond. Our mission is to enrich lives through reading, writing and the TRANSFORMATIVE power of used books. Founded in 2006, Open Books was established to create a treasure trove of 50,000+ used books whose sale would support a spectrum of unique literacy programs. In the time since, we have successfully launched a diverse group of reading and writing programs designed to build the literacy skills and unlock the voices of hundreds of low-income students and adult learners. This year, we will serve over 2,500 students and over 100 adult learners representing over 50 schools and agencies with a variety of reading, writing and “virtual” mentoring programs. In our short history, we have successfully partnered with dozens of local literacy organizations and engaged the support of a dedicated corps of 2,300 volunteers. To learn more about Team Bookin' It for Open Books, please contact Stacy Shafer Peterson at 312.475.1355 x117 or ssp@open-books.org. Your opportunity to change a life is only 13.1 miles away! To Literacy! |
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Camp for All Kids — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — was formed in 1997 to promote and facilitate racial and economic diversity by sending kids from underserved communities to overnight summer camp. Camp for All Kids currently partners with three schools in Chicago, St. Louis, and Cleveland that help select kids who have already succeeded at school and will thrive at camp. Families tell us that the camp experience has opened doors and provided learning opportunities for their children that didn't previously exist. Recipients may continue to receive an annual campership if they continue to meet their school's academic and citizenship standards. To date, more than 500 camperships have been awarded. |
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Founded in 2007, Heshima Kenya is an international nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and empowering unaccompanied refugee youth and children living in Nairobi, Kenya. The needs and experiences of adolescent girls ages 13 to 19 from Somalia, Ethiopia, the Congo, and Sudan are at the heart of Heshima and the focus of our shelter, education, and advocacy programming. As the only organization in Kenya dedicated to serving this invisible population after 19 years of refugee crisis, our programs encourage girls to achieve leadership skills and inspire peace and social change within their communities. Team Heshima is running to carry the voices and spirits of the girls supported by Heshima Kenya. We ask that each team member pledges to raise a minimum of $300, with all proceeds going towards supporting our Girl’s Empowerment Project and Safe House programs in Kenya. For more information, please visit our website at www.heshimakenya.org |
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The Mission of Simiyu House Corporation is to,"identify a worthy and honest venture to support and build in order to facilitate development for a vulnerable, unfortunate, and/or underprivileged group of people." We are currently working on our project in Kenya where our mission is," to provide an opportunity for a safe environment, formal education and overall life skills to children living on the streets of Kakamega, Kenya in order to help them succeed both intellectually and financially in their own economy." All runners are to raise just $100 before registration which may be donated through the website (www.simiyuhouse.com). The team will meet before and after the race to chat, stretch and to coordinate running, walking, and other details. All runners will be given a Simiyu/Chicago Half Marathon t-shirt after the race for their charitable run! All contributions will go directly to the Kenya project and you can find all of our details under the "Get Involved" link and then "Partnerships" on the site. Please come join us for our first year and then make it a tradition! |
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The word "Asha" means "hope" in many Indian languages. Asha for Educationis an international non-profit organization with a primary focus on basic education in India. The broader mission is to catalyze socio-economic change in India through the education of underprivileged children. Asha is a unique organization in that it is 100% volunteer-driven, has no hierarchy and has zero overhead costs. All administrative costs are borne by volunteers enabling 100% of all donations to be sent to our projects in India. All donations made to Asha for Education in the United States are tax-exempt under IRS code Section 501(c)3.
The objectives of Asha in India are:
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Joy of a Child (Tiimu Ya Matsiko-Team of Hope)
Joy of a Child Ministries is a collaboration between North Americans and Africans to share the love and word of Jesus with some of the poorest children in this world. There are three groups of children that benefit from the work of Joy of a Child. First, there are orphaned boys who live full-time at Enju Ya Matsiko (“House of Hope”) which is a home in Mbarara, Uganda. Second, there are underage girls who are currently involved in commercial sexual exploitation. Our aim is to one day soon provide a permanent home for these girls so that they can escape from the horrible bondage in which they find themselves. Finally, through sports and other activities, Joy of a Child works with children at large in the community in its outreach ministry. Please visit us on the web at www.joyofachild.net |
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Between Friends' comprehensive programs and services include a toll-free Crisis Line (800-603-HELP), counseling for victims and their children, court advocacy, and prevention and education efforts, including healthcare education and our extensive teen dating violence prevention program, REACH (Relationship Education: A Choice for Hope). Each year, we work with thousands of individuals through these programs, all offered free of charge. |
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Sunshine Gospel Ministries exists to seek renewal in the city through building relationships, teaching and mentoring, developing life skills, and advocacy in the Woodlawn community. Our three largest initiatives in the neighborhood are youth programming, a community digital resources center, and Bridge Builders, an urban immersion program for college students. Within our youth programs, young people can participate in after school tutoring, college visits, and summer residential camping. The technology center offers our neighbors access to computers and internet free of charge, as well as technology classes. Bridge Builders allows college students and adults to learn and work at the forefront of modern missions in the inner city. For more information about training and running with us, email eckaplowitz@comcast.net. |
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Ever wonder what happens to shelter dogs that are not perfect, are considered too young, too old, too sick or who have special needs? For more info about Chicago Canine Rescue www.chicagocaninerescue.org |
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Christ the King Jesuit College Preparatory School is a Catholic, Jesuit, independent, coeducational, college preparatory school for students from families on Chicago’s West Side who would otherwise not have access to a private secondary school education. Sponsored by the Chicago Province Jesuits, Christ the King offers students a strong academic and spiritual foundation integrated with a Corporate Internship Program in a safe, affordable, disciplined, faith-based and caring environment. |
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Cure JM Foundation is an all-volunteer foundation created and managed by families of children with Juvenile Myositis. Juvenile Myositis (JM) is a rare autoimmune disease in which the body's immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. For the many suffering with JM, it's a challenge to simply stand up or sit down. This rare disease affects approximately 17,540 children and young adults in the United States, with 1,000 new diagnosed each year. Cure JM Foundation's mission is to provide support for families coping with JM, raise awareness of JM, and fund research that will ultimately lead to a cure. The Foundation's aspirational goal is to never, ever let another child suffer with Juvenile Myositis. With your help, this goal may be well within reach. To learn more about the Cure JM Foundation, please visit our web site at www.curejm.com. To sponsor our teams go to www.firstgiving.com/curejmto make a donation today! |
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Team Trisha The Trisha Apte Memorial Fund is a scholarship fund that was set up in memory of Trisha Apte, a beautiful young woman whose remarkable compassion and kindness left an unmistakable imprint on those who knew her. Inspired by Trisha’s passion for helping those around her, family and friends have set-up the scholarship in her memory. Details of how to donate money to the fund as well learn more about the remarkable woman Trisha was, please log on to www.trishaapte.com Trisha was passionate about her belief in the impact of community service, even writing the following, “The efforts put forth facilitate a generation of opportunities for young people to change their communities for the better and to build essential skills for the future through civic engagement. I want to work with young women as I truly believe that they have a unique ability to create lasting and sustainable change in their communities.” The summer after Trisha graduated from Northwestern, she used her signing bonus (from her full time job) to cover her living expenses while she volunteered with a non-profit group in Washington D.C. Trisha’s experience interning for this non-profit helped shape her career perspective, as she realized she could use her business skills towards the mission of improving education, healthcare, and the quality of life for people around the world. In this spirit, the Trisha Apte Memorial Fund has been set up to provide the opportunity for others to pursue a similarly meaningful summer volunteer experience. At present, the Trisha Apte Memorial Fund provides a living stipend to Northwestern University students that spend their summer doing unpaid community service but as the scholarship fund grows, it will also provide partial scholarships to Northwestern University students that show an exemplary commitment to community service. Our lives are better because of her |
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About the Center for Disability & Elder Law (CDEL) Founded in 1984 by the Young Lawyers Section of the Chicago Bar Association, CDEL is a 501(c)(3), nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting and advancing the legal rights of low-income persons with disabilities and senior citizens in Cook County. CDEL's MissionCDEL provides pro bono legal services through the combined efforts of a modest in-house staff and an active network of hundreds of volunteer attorneys, paralegals, and law students from top law firms and academic institutions. In this way, CDEL services a dual mission: |
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The Huntington’s Disease Society of America is the largest 501(c)(3) non-profit volunteer organization dedicated to improving the lives of everyone affected by Huntington’s Disease. Founded in 1968 by Marjorie Guthrie, wife of folk legend Woody Guthrie who lost his battle with HD, the Society works tirelessly to provide the family services, education, advocacy and research to provide help for today, hope for tomorrow to the more than 30,000 people diagnosed with HD and the 250,000 at risk in the United States. Huntington's Disease (HD) is a devastating, hereditary, degenerative brain disorder that results in a loss of cognitive, behavioral and physical control, and for which, presently, there is no treatment or cure. HD slowly diminishes the affected individual's ability to walk, think, talk and reason. To learn more about HD, please visit our website at www.hdsa.org. Help for today, hope for tomorrow |
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Young Ambassadors for Opportunity (YAO) is a network of globally-minded young professionals who are dedicated to eradicating global poverty through the sustainable solution of microfinance. YAO fosters a grassroots approach to supporting the work of Opportunity International, enabling members to employ their skills and resources in their Ambassador effort. All proceeds raised will go towards funding the Opportunity International microfinance initiatives in Tanzania. To learn more about YAO, please visit www.opportunity.org/yao. To join the YAO team, please contact us at yao@opportunity.org. |
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Providing an education for your own children can be difficult. But imagine being forced to choose between buying food and educating your children. Education, for large numbers of children in the Philippines, is simply beyond reach. BELIEVE International is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, entirely staffed by unpaid volunteers, committed to providing education to disadvantaged youth in the Philippines while teaching them leadership skills to, one day, help alleviate poverty and make a difference in the society. Join the BELIEVE Team and be part of the solution to help alleviate poverty through education, one child at a time. Participants are required to raise at least $200 with all proceeds going towards supporting the children of Believe International. Participants will receive weekly group training, an exclusive Believe International/Chicago Half Marathon t-shirt, and the support needed to help you every step of the way! Interested participants and volunteers please contact Vicky Caluen at vickycaluen@believeinternational.org. To learn more about BELIEVE International, please visit our website: http://www.believeinternational.org/ |
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Henry Booth House Henry Booth House (HBH) provides a continuum of Head Start and Family Health services. HBH concentrates on providing critical educational support from conception to the cradle to the classroom. Moreover, HBH provides an array of services to aid in the physical, social, educational and emotional development of the family. Vision Mission |
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Why Runners For A DREAM At UIC? DREAM Gala Mission: The DREAM Gala subcommittee stems from the Coalition of Latino Students (CLS), a group of student leaders from 16 campus based organizations at the University of Illinois at Chicago whose purpose is to support, mobilize and defend students’ rights. CLS advocates on behalf of Latino Students at UIC; CLS was designed to ensure that all social, cultural and university concerns that are affecting Latino student’s welfare will be addressed at UIC and within its surrounding communities. In addition CLS is a subcommittee of a larger group at UIC the Chancellor's Committee on the Status of Latinos (CCSL). |
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Jimmy Insulin - Connecting diabetes beginners, diabetes guides, and caregivers. Jimmy Insulin is a non-profit organization that provides free 1 on 1, peer to peer diabetes support, to anyone touched by diabetes! Participating in this race is a great way to achieve new personal fitness goals, have fun, meet new people, and make an impact in your community! Jimmy Insulin team members receive Jimmy Insulin gear, professional training, and access to JI events, along with a package of benefits from our sponsors. Come run with Jimmy Insulin to make sure no one touched by diabetes will feel isolated anymore! |
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Junior Council is an affiliate of Children%u2019s Memorial Hospital (CMH) - is a volunteer organization comprised of young professionals and guided by the belief professed by Children’s: all children need to grow up in a protective and nurturing environment, where each child is given an opportunity to reach his or her potential. The specific mission of the Junior Council is to support pediatric, adolescent and maternal AIDS and HIV research and care conducted at Children’s Memorial Hospital and the Children’s Memorial Research Center. |
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Back on My Feet BOMF is a nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of homeless populations by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. Much more than just running, BOMF is a comprehensive program that offers connections to job training, educational scholarships and housing assistance. The benefits of the program are earned through the currency of attitude, commitment, teamwork, respect, dedication and leadership. For more information on Back on My Feet, please visit www.backonmyfeet.org. To learn more about how to become a part of the BOMF FundRacing Team, please contact Robert Nonemacker at robert@backonmyfeet.orgor 215-772-1080 x103 |
