Mission of Our Lady of the Angels Will Run Marathon
The nonprofit plans to leverage nearly 200 runners this fall to fund its food pantry operations in Chicago.
Updated on Sept. 27, 2026 in Philanthropy
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Sister Stephanie Baliga and nearly 200 team members will participate in the Chicago Marathon this fall to raise $500,000 for local community services. The fundraising efforts provide essential operational capital for the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels food pantry.
Why it matters
The consistent fundraising flow supports the pantry's weekly distribution to 400 to 500 families and 300 seniors, providing a stable financial base for local service delivery. This model demonstrates how nonprofits leverage community-based events to scale operational budgets.
The marathon team has raised over $2.6 million from 2011 to 2025, with $184,000 already secured toward the $500,000 goal for 2026. The charity supports 400 to 500 families in person each week and manages 300 additional weekly deliveries to senior citizens.
The players
Sister Stephanie Baliga
A long-time participant in the Chicago Marathon who leads fundraising efforts for the mission.
Mission of Our Lady of the Angels
A Chicago-based nonprofit that operates a large-scale food pantry and community service hub.
The details
The organization utilizes the high-visibility Chicago Marathon as a primary vehicle for donor acquisition and recurring revenue. By organizing a team of 200 members, the Mission of Our Lady of the Angels converts athletic participation into direct funding for its logistics-heavy food distribution network. This ensures the pantry maintains the inventory levels necessary to serve its weekly base of hundreds of local residents.
Timeline
2011-2025: Team raised over $2.6 million.
June 10, 2026: Team participated in a half marathon.
Fall 2026: Team participates in Chicago Marathon.
Market Landscape
The effort follows the proven model of athletic-based fundraising for community nonprofits. This strategy links regional event participation directly to the operational solvency of social service programs.
Operators should monitor how this strategy of event-based revenue generation stabilizes cash flow for service-heavy organizations. Managers looking to support community initiatives may want to track how these fundraising cycles align with their own corporate social responsibility goals.
The takeaway
The marathon team demonstrates that consistent community participation is a viable method for underwriting long-term operational costs. Organizations should track the $500,000 2026 fundraising goal as a benchmark for local nonprofit financial capacity.
Further reading
Learn more about the local landscape at Philanthropy.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Times of India.
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