Annie's Locker Fund
To continue the mission of Annie's Locker by supporting Girls on the Run of Northwest Illinois and Rockford Barbell.
Details
Annie’s Locker was started in 2008, inspired by a fellow runner who died from cancer and who, while battling cancer, asked for one thing: "Please run for me until I can run again." The idea was born to do something to inspire people toward a healthier lifestyle, and to remove barriers so that more people can find their "wings". For fourteen years, Annie's Locker collected donations of new and gently used fitness apparel and equipment, as well as cash donations, and made grants of both equipment and dollars to local groups and causes to help achieve their mission: "Inspiring and equipping people to lead healthier lives."
In addition to those grants, Annie's Locker provided race sponsorships through their affiliation with the Rockford Road Runners and spread the vision of "Running for Two (R42). Running for Two (or R42) is about keeping a metaphorical candle burning for someone in need while running or exercising. Running for Two for a friend who is struggling can be a very powerful form of support. Learn more about R42 and all of Annie's Locker's efforts at their website.
Annie's Locker accomplished incredible work as an all volunteer endeavor. In 2022 the Annie's Locker board approached CFNIL to consider ways to continue their mission through a partnership that would ensure the good work would continue, whether or not there were volunteers with the time and energy to devote. The result of those conversations was the establishment of Annie's Locker Fund, a permanent endowment which will support the work of two local organizations removing barriers to fitness participation and improving the health of youth in our community: Girls on the Run Northwest Illinois and Rockford Barbell. While GOTR and Rockford Barbell have very different programs, they are each uniquely poised to help "inspire and equip people to lead healthier lives".
Your support of the Annie's Locker Fund will ensure more youth in our community have access to coaches whose skill and caring help overcome trauma, fear, and self-doubt, setting participants on a path toward improved mental, emotional, and physical health, and inspiring them to lead healthier lives, today and into the future.
Thank you!
Would you like to support the Annie's Locker Fund? You can make a donation directly to this fund, to help grow its impact and ability to provide educational resources for students in our community — forever!
