The nominations are in for the 12 Days of Charitable Giving 2010. Our eleventh of twelve charities to be featured this year is Back on My Feet, 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. Here’s what our nominee had to say:
I want to nominate Back on My Feet. I heard about the group last year when I read an article about Anne Mahlum, who started the organization. She was a runner who would run by a homeless shelter every morning. She started making friends with many of the homeless people at the shelter and started a running club.
I remember reading a story about one of the men who started running with her having been on drugs and how he was inspired to take better care of himself. He started running with her and then went on to take job training classes and then went back to work.
I am a runner and I think this is a wonderful way to tackle a problem, by offering people a chance to feel good about themselves. It’s also about setting goals and making a commitment. Those are great skills to learn.
You can donate on their webpage – they have almost reached their latest goal. They are at 93%. Help them reach 100%.
Thanks.
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I saw an article about Back on My Feet, too, and was really inspired by the simplicity of their message. The woman, Anne Mahlum, who came up with the idea said this:
Running is such a beautiful metaphor for life. Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing roads filled with opportunity, hope and happiness.
The organization has several different chapters in cities all over the country (it started in Philly – yaay, City of Runnerly Love!). You can find the one closest to you on the web site. They just wrapped up a sneaker drive in Philadelphia but you can always make a financial donation.
You can also sign up to run with the group or run a race. They also have an online store.
Life is often compared to a marathon, but I think it is more like being a sprinter; long stretches of hard work punctuated by brief moments in which we are given the opportunity to perform at our best. – Michael Johnson
