Chicago: Charity

Preferred Charity Partners

Running across the finish line is an amazing personal accomplishment. Give your race even more meaning, by joining a charity training program from one of our Official training partners! Make an impact while training with new friends that will last a lifetime.

Imagine a race where hope marks the finish line. Make it a reality when you run as a St. Jude Hero to support the lifesaving work at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital®.

St. Jude has changed the way the world treats childhood cancer and other deadly diseases. Children from all 50 states and from around the world have come through the doors of St. Jude for treatment, and thousands more around the world have benefited from our research. And no family ever pays St. Jude for anything.

As a St. Jude Hero, you’ll cross the finish line knowing that you truly Run for a Reason. To learn more about becoming a St. Jude Hero, visit http://www.heroes.stjude.org/ or contact us at lexi.fiedler@stjude.org. 

Official Charities

• Autism Speaks – Team Up
  Join our team and you’ll receive training through CARA to help you cross that finish line! More importantly, you change the future for all who struggle with autism spectrum disorders. We are dedicated to funding biomedical research, creating public awareness, and bringing hope.
  More info contact Katrina Mesina: Call 917-842-9959, email lara.collazo@autismspeaks.org, or visit events.autismspeaks.org/teamup
• Organization for Autism Research – RUN FOR AUTISM
  Join us and choose to be part of a group of committed individuals dedicated to raising funds for autism research.
  More info:Call 703-243-9710 or visit our website
• PAWS Chicago – TEAM PAWS Chicago
  Join the largest No Kill humane organization in the Midwest, and lead the way in transforming animal welfare.
  More info: Call 773-475-3315, email mfrench@pawschicago.org , or visit www.teampaws.org
• Children’s Tumor Foundation – NF Endurance
  The Children’s Tumor Foundation is the global leader in funding medical research to find effective treatments for neurofibromatosis (NF).
  More Info: Call (212) 344-6633 x251, email cconnors@ctf.org, or visithttp://ctf.kintera.org/NFEChicagoRNR2012
• UPS for DownS
  Join us to provide support, education, encouragement, and community opportunities for parents, families, professionals and individuals with Down syndrome. Free training through CARA!
  More info: Call 847-895-2100, email marathon@upsfordowns.org, or visit upsfordowns.org
• Girls on the Run- Chicago
  Empower a girl and become a SoleMate today. While using the power of running to instill self-esteem, strong values, and healthy living, GOTR trains girls in 3rd-8th grade for their first 5k.”
  More info: Call 773-342-1250, email  cnielsen@gotrchicago.org, or visit http://www.gotrchicago.org
• Snow City Arts
  Snow City Arts educates and inspires hospitalized children through the arts.
  More info: Call 312-942-6991 , email auxiliary@snowcityarts.org, or visit snowcityarts.org 
• Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana
  The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.
  More info: Call 630-623-5300, email jholway@rmhccni.org, or visit  http://ronaldhouse.chicago.org/strides 
• Open Books
  Open Books is a nonprofit that operates an extraordinary bookstore, provides community programs, and promotes literacy in Chicago.
  More info: Call 312-475-1355 x151, email teambookinit@open-books.org, or visit http://open-books.org
• America’s Future Workforce
  Give it your all, run with passion, with the goal of doing your best and show that you can achieve.
  More info: Call 703-224-4449, email info@americasfutureworkforce.org , or visit http://www.americasfutureworkforce.org/
• Cure JM Foundation
  Cure JM will have a motivated group of runners “going the distance” to raise funds and awareness of Juvenille Mytositis
  More info: Call 203-832-5001, email rhonda.mckeever@curejm.com, or visit http://curejm.org
• NephCure Foundation – Nephletes
  NephCure Foundation is committed to support research seeking the cause/cure/treatment of the kidney diseases Focal Segmental Glomerulosclerosis and Nephrotic  Syndrome.
  More info: Call 610-540-0186, email kcooley@nephcure.org, or visit http://www.nephcure.org/
• Gateway for Cancer Research – Team Demand
  99 cents of every dollar received goes to fund cancer research that helps today’s cancer patients. 
  More info: Call 847-342-6478, email jeremy.garber@demandcures.org, or visit http://www.demandcurestoday.org/
• ALS Association of Greater Chicago Chapter
   HELP US FIND THE CURE FOR LOU GEHRIG’S DISEASE. There are never any survivors and we want to change that!
  More info: Call 312-932-0000, email maryilene@alsachicago.org, or visit http://www.alsachicago.org/ 
• Windy City Habitat for Humanity
  Run with team Habitat to help build hope, homes, and community in partnership with families and volunteers in Chicago.  
  More info: Call 312-563-0296, email elizabeth@windycityhabitat.org , or visit http://www.windycityhabitat.org/
• Project Eden – Kingdom Running Club
  Teach individuals how to effectively prepare and run a Marathon God’s way, solely relying on direction received from the Holyspirit.
  More info: Call 708- 697-5000, email krc@lwcchelps.org, or visit http://kingdomrunningclub.com/
• Children’s Hospital University of Illinois
  Children’s Hospital University of Illinois’ goal is to provide comprehensive and compassionate care to all children, especially the underserved.
  More info: Call 630-272-5348, email mortimer@uhc.edu, or visit http://hospital.uillinois.edu/Patient_Care_Services/Pediatrics/Childrens_Hospital.html

Interested in becoming an Official Charity? Online Charity Application