Outstanding Volunteer Group Award

The Outstanding Volunteer Group Award was introduced in 2019. Over 75% of the event’s volunteers are recruited through volunteer groups from local non-profit organizations, running clubs, or sports teams and clubs at the high schools and university levels. Each year, this award will recognize a volunteer group that exhibits exceptional volunteer performance and unmatched dedication to volunteer service.

2023 Recipient | Jim’s Bridge to a Brighter Future

Since 2014, Jim’s Bridge to a Brighter Future has been involved in the Chicago Marathon. Each year, the group brings over 50 volunteers to join the Grant Park Information Team. The group leader, John Mikulski, is extremely communicative and ensures that is entire group is registered in advance of the event and prepared to provide the information service to participants on race day. The organization is celebrating its 10-year anniversary in 2023 and is proud to use our events as a fun way to support its fundraising efforts.

2022 Recipient | Alpha Phi Omega Midwest Alumni Association #39

Organized by Luis Gavino, Alpha Phi Omega Midwest Alumni Association #39 volunteer group has been supporting our event since 2013. The group has been supporting Start Hydration for many years. Over the years, the group has been accommodating in support other volunteer areas within Grant Park to help provide a world class experience for participants. The leader, Luis, exhibits exceptional volunteer group leader performance as he registers all of his volunteers by the registration deadline and almost every volunteer checks in on race day.

2021 Recipient | Run to the Pub

Organized by Kelly Devine Rickert, Run to the Pub has provided volunteers at the Bank of America Chicago Marathon since 2014. At the 2021 event, Run to the Pub was tasked with rapid cleanup to help us successfully open the streets in time to not disrupt the Chicago White Sox playoff game. The group proactively reached out to ensure that they had the proper materials to get the job done efficiently! The group went above and beyond as they were challenged with this task.  As one of the final aid stations on course, the group has a long day but they stick together until everything is back on the trailers and off the streets as soon as the final runners pass by.

2019 Recipient | Lindblom JROTC Department

Organized by Staff Sergeant Dan Lawson, the Lindblom JROTC Department has provided 120+ volunteers for the Bank of America Chicago Marathon since 2012. Over the years, the cadets have supported various positions from gear check to start corrals and found their home base in 2017 at Aid Station 02 in River North. As the group leader, Sergeant Lawson is dedicated to registering his volunteers on time, actively communicating with both the volunteer team and his group members and providing amenities beyond expectations. With a group of chaperones comprised of faculty and parents, he organizes a lock-in at the school the night before the marathon and the cadets load up on buses before the sun rises to arrive early to their volunteer assignment.  On top of that, the Lindblom JROTC Department color guard presents our nation’s colors at the start line, which is two miles away from their assignment at Aid Station 02, setting the runners off on the right foot by honoring our country and servicemen and women.