Kicks For CU Kids Awarded Sports Matter Grant by DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation

Nonprofit created by Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend to help more local children participate in running

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – Kicks For CU Kids, a 501(c)3 nonprofit created in partnership with Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, has received recognition of and investment in its efforts to reduce barriers to participate in organized running opportunities by providing under-resourced youth in the Champaign-Urbana and Savoy communities with essential running equipment. The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation has awarded the charity a $5,000 Sports Matter Program grant to further its impact.

The grant will supercharge the organization’s efforts heading into the 18th annual Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, happening April 22-24, 2027.

The organization’s goal of increasing access to running starts with providing new running shoes and socks to youth runners training for the Christie Clinic Illinois 5K or Busey Bank Illinois Youth Run, creating a safe foundation for them to engage with the sport. Since launching in 2024, Kicks For CU Kids has outfitted 411 local young runners with help from the locally based business, Body n’ Sole Sports. 

Ahead of the 2026 Race Weekend, grant recipients from the following schools and programs received running shoes and socks: Bottenfield Elementary School, Carrie Busey Elementary School, Circle Academy, DREAAM, International Prep Academy, Lincoln Trail Elementary, Oakwood Grade School, READY Program, Robeson Elementary School, and Girls on the Run chapters at Eastlawn Elementary School, Kenwood Elementary School, Stratton Academy of the Arts and Unity West Elementary School.

“Running can benefit young people across their lives, helping them build healthy routines and see what’s possible when they set their minds to a goal,” said Jan Seeley, founder of Kicks For CU Kids and race director of Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend. “Many children in our community run into a simple roadblock to running: not having a suitable pair of shoes that help them get moving. Kicks For CU Kids is designed to remove that initial barrier so that more young people can experience the positive impacts of running and the thrill of Race Weekend.”

School, after-school, or community-organized running programs participating in the Illinois 5K or Busey Bank Illinois Youth Run can apply to receive shoes by completing a grant application. To contribute to Kicks For CU Kids, visit the online donation page. 

The organization’s program is made possible with support from the DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation, Body n’ Sole Sports, Human Kinetics, Mike & Liz Lindermann, Serra Champaign and Second Wind Running Club. 

For more information about Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, visit www.IllinoisMarathon.com and follow the event on Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

ABOUT CHRISTIE CLINIC ILLINOIS RACE WEEKEND

Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend creates innovative and inspiring running experiences in Champaign, Urbana and Savoy, Ill. On the third weekend in April, the organization produces three days of events including a 1-mile, 5K, 10K, half marathon, marathon, youth run, multi-event challenges, a health and fitness expo and other community-focused activations. In the fall, it produces Run to Remember, an event to honor the memories of those we miss, cherish those within our midst and work together for a peaceful tomorrow. The organization aims to practice inclusivity and create impact in Central Illinois through its events. Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend has donated $2.065 million to charities in the community since its inception and generates an estimated $4 million in economic impact each year. To learn more about the Christie Clinic Illinois Race Weekend, visit www.IllinoisMarathon.com.

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