Fundraising during the Holidays

Why This Holiday Season Matters for Your Marathon

Jace's journey to Mercy Home began on the worst night of his life.

Before coming to us, he was living on the streets with his mother, struggling to stay awake in class because every moment was spent trying to survive. When his mother overdosed, Jace was terrified. For the first time, someone saw his pain and stepped in to help.

Today, Jace is thriving. With the help of his therapist and a safe, stable home, he's learning to manage his trauma and focus on his future. He says Mercy Home changed his life for the better—that things are finally different. Read Jace’s full story here.  

Your marathon makes stories like Jace's possible.

The Bank of America Chicago Marathon is ten months away, but the work of supporting kids like Jace happens every single day. That's why this holiday season is the perfect time to begin sharing why you've chosen to run for Mercy Home. Not because you need to hit a fundraising deadline, but because the people who love you are gathered together, and they'll want to know what matters to you right now.

Start With Your Story

The most compelling fundraisers don't just ask - they share. Take some time over the next few weeks to write down why you decided to run for Mercy Home. What drew you to our mission? What about Jace's story, or the stories of the hundreds of other young people we serve, resonates with you personally?

You can find more information about our work with children and families in crisis on our website, but the most important part is making it personal. Why are you doing this? What do you hope your 26 miles will accomplish for kids who need what Mercy Home provides?

When you speak from the heart, people respond.

Your People Want to Help

Here's something I've learned after years in this work: your family and closest friends are often waiting for a reason to support something meaningful. They may not know much about Mercy Home yet, but they know you. When you tell them why this matters to you, they'll want to be part of it.

The holidays give you natural opportunities to share your story in person. Not as a pitch, but as a conversation. "I'm running the Chicago Marathon this year for an organization that's really important to me. Can I tell you about it?" Most people will say yes. And when they hear about kids like Jace, young people who had nowhere else to turn, they'll understand why you're running.

You're not asking them for money. You're inviting them to be part of something that changes lives.

Make It Easy

One simple way to help people support you: create a QR code for your fundraising page. You can find it by logging into your fundraising dashboard and clicking "Download QR Code" at the top of the page. Save it to your phone or print it out. When someone says they'd like to donate, you can pull it up instantly, no awkward spelling of URLs or promises to "send a link later."

The easier you make it, the more likely people are to follow through in the moment.

A Season of Hope

For many of the young people at Mercy Home, the holidays are complicated. They're a reminder of families that couldn't stay together, of years spent in instability or crisis. But they're also a time when kids like Jace begin to see that their story can change and that they're worthy of safety, love, and a future full of possibility.

Your marathon training hasn't started yet, but the impact of your commitment already has. Thank you for choosing to run for Mercy Home. Thank you for making sure that more kids like Jace have a place to call home and a reason to believe things can be different.

We're honored to have you on our team.

For guidance on setting up your fundraising page and training tips, check out our resource: 8 Steps to Charity Running Success.