Charity running has become an integral part of the HOKA ONE ONE Chicago Half Marathon presented by My Fit Key, 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.
Chicago Run is a nonprofit organization founded in 2008 to aid in the fight against childhood obesity. Chicago Run’s mission is to promote the health and wellness of Chicago youth through innovative, engaging, and sustainable youth running programs. In addition to improving the health of Chicago youth, Chicago Run programs seek to promote positive self-esteem, cross-community collaboration, and social inclusion in safe spaces with positive coaching and mentoring.
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In Africa they say, “Water is Life.” About 768 million people in the world lack access to safe drinking water. Children and women often walk five to 10 miles a day to gather water that isn’t even safe to drink; water that can make them sick. More children die from diseases caused by unsafe water and poor sanitation than almost any other cause — more than AIDS and malaria combined.
Team World Vision empowers people to experience radical life transformation through endurance races, community advocacy and social giving for the sake of clean water in Africa. World Vision activates partnerships and community engagement to bring clean water to people around the world — helping create fullness of life for children in need.
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The Life Time Foundation’s mission is to help children live a healthy, happy life. Our grants allow school district partners to eliminate highly processed, unhealthy foods from school meals. To join our team, contact Megan at mflynn@ltfoundation.org.
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There are 1.1 million people living with kidney disease in Illinois and most do not know it. The National Kidney Foundation of Illinois improves the health and well-being of people at risk for or affected by kidney disease through prevention, education and empowerment. Team Kidney is a group of dedicated supporters and fundraisers and today we ask YOU to join us! Sign up to raise lifesaving funds for the National Kidney Foundation of Illinois!
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Big Shoulders Fund was founded in 1986 as an organization to help support Chicago’s inner-city Catholic schools. Today, Big Shoulders has expanded upon that initial strategic vision by taking a proactive rather than supporting role in four major areas – scholarships and enrichment, operational improvements, academic programs, and leadership development – with the goal of not just strengthening schools, but whole communities, and preparing students for life-long success.
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Be part of a team that will save countless lives from breast and ovarian cancer by raising funds for Bright Pink’s education and support programs for young women. Athletes of all fitness levels are welcome. Training is provided. To learn more and join, visit www.teambrightpink.org or email teambrightpink@brightpink.org
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Camp Ramah in Wisconsin is 150 acres of sacred space, tucked away in the heart of Wisconsin’s Northwoods. Within this space, campers and staff from throughout the Midwest and Israel unite each summer to create a joyful Jewish community. Ramah Day Camp, located in Wheeling, Illinois, is a warm and nurturing environment where kids come to make great friends, grow socially, have fun and learn Jewish values.
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Cornerstone Community Outreach has a long standing commitment to providing shelter and finding homes for families and individuals who are at the greatest risk of being excluded from necessary services.
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Cure SMA is dedicated to the treatment and cure of spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) — a disease that takes away a person’s ability to walk, eat or breathe. It is the number one genetic cause of death for infants. Since 1984, we’ve directed and invested in comprehensive research that has shaped the scientific community’s understanding of SMA. We are currently on the verge of breakthroughs in treatment that will strengthen our children’s bodies, extend life and lead to a cure. To join Team Cure SMA, please email Shannon@curesma.org.
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LUNGevity Foundation is firmly committed to making an immediate impact on increasing quality of life and survivorship of people with lung cancer by accelerating research into early detection and more effective treatments, as well as providing community, support, and education for all those affected by the disease.
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Swedish Covenant Hospital’s mission is to provide a continuum of excellent health care services. Rooted in the Evangelical Covenant Church, the hospital is dedicated to serving the physical, spiritual and psychological needs of our culturally diverse communities.
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Gilda’s Club Chicago supports anyone living with cancer – men, women, teens and children – along with their families and friends, as well as those who have lost someone to cancer. Our innovative program, including more than 300 free activities each month, is an essential complement to medical care and offers support groups, educational lectures, healthy lifestyle workshops, resource referrals, and social opportunities. Our mission is to ensure that all people impacted by cancer are empowered by knowledge, strengthened by action and sustained by community.
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Canine Companions for Independence is a non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained assistance dogs and ongoing support to ensure quality partnerships.
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We are 10 very different domestic violence service providers from across the city of Chicago, who have come together to advance our cause in ending domestic violence. We recruit a team of dedicated runners to help us raise both money & awareness. All revenue generated by the Run DV Team is used by our member agencies for domestic violence prevention and supportive services for its survivors and their families.
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RUN PROUD with TEAM TO END AIDS (T2), endurance training charity program benefiting the AIDS Foundation of Chicago (AFC). T2 offers world class training programs for multiple endurance events. T2 is about the journey as much as the destination. Coaches, staff and athletes will help you train, fundraise and celebrate life, making your T2 experience unforgettable. AFC is a local and national leader in the fight against HIV/AIDS. Collaborating with community organizations to develop and improve HIV/AIDS services, AFC funds and coordinates prevention, care and advocacy projects including effective, compassionate HIV/AIDS policy.
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Debbie’s Dream Foundation – Our Mission Debbie’s Dream Foundation: Curing Stomach Cancer is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to raising awareness about stomach cancer, advancing funding for research, and providing education and support internationally to patients, families, and caregivers. DDF seeks as its ultimate goal to make the cure for stomach cancer a reality.
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Team One Step runs to send kids with cancer to Camp One Step where they can just be kids! Childhood is often swept away by hospital visits, doctor’s appointments, and treatment. Camp One Step gives it back by providing a place with peers who understand, medical care is available if needed, and a lot of fun! Learn more at www.teamonestep.org.
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Make your miles count for kids battling cancer. Team Cure It represents The Cure It Foundation, a Chicago non-profit dedicated to fighters, survivors and siblings affected by childhood cancer. Join us to raise funds for pediatric cancer programs and research. Team members receive fundraising support, training support and more! Register for Team Cure It or Contact Adrienne for more information.
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Cellmates on the Run is the official running team of the Chicago Diabetes Project (CDP) that brings individuals together to achieve a common goal: cure diabetes. When you support the CDP you’ll be raising money to advance diabetes research and a functional cure through islet cell transplants. Together, every mile brings us closer to a functional cure for diabetes. To date we have raised over $1 million to fund life-changing diabetes research.
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Team Fox is the grassroots community fundraising program at The Michael J. Fox Foundation. Each year, thousands of Team Fox members worldwide turn their passions and interests into unique fundraising events and athletic feats.
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We are a non-profit organization who provides individuals with disabilities the community of sport. Able-bodied volunteers and runners with disability come to train together in an environment of support. Within this community, our athletes gain measurable strength and build confidence with their sense of accomplishment.
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ENLACE works in El Salvador, Guatemala and Nepal to help churches and community based organizations break the cycle of poverty and transform their communities. This takes place through a strategic process of training and technical assistance to help these groups identify, design, manage and evaluate projects and programs in their communities. The focus program areas are public health, clean water systems, community infrastructure, housing, economic development and agriculture. These efforts lead to big impact. ENLACE is working in 267 communities helping over 30,000 families thrive.
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The Global Health Initiative Fund provides resources for global health research and education at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine.
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Citizens United for Research in Epilepsy (CURE), is the leading nongovernmental agency fully committed to funding research in epilepsy. CURE’s mission is to find a cure for epilepsy, by promoting and funding patient-focused research.Since its inception in 1998, CURE has raised more than $60 million to fund epilepsy research and other initiatives that will lead the way to cures for the epilepsies. CURE awards grants for novel research projects to prevent epilepsy related to post-traumatic epilepsy, advancing the search for a cure, eliminating treatment side effects, and reversing deficits caused by frequent seizures. CURE funds grants for young and established investigators and to date has awarded more than 220 cutting-edge projects in 15 countries around the world.
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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.
Environmental advocacy organization focused on clean water, clean energy, and open space.
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.
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 a price as all participants must maintain a 16-minute 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 16-minute pace, they will be guided onto the lakefront path in five different locations along Lake Shore Drive. The path will be completely supported with aid stations including water, restrooms, mile markers, medical personnel and course marshals directing the participants. The finish line will remain open for those on the path until 11:30 a.m. We hope you will be able to train your participants to a 16-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.
Interested in becoming a charity partner in 2019? Check out the resources below:
> 2019 Charity Program
> Pre-event Application
For additional information, please contact David Rosenbrock at Drosenbrock@lt.life
