Be A Force for Good.
Kids Run for Justice was inspired by Jeannette’s two daughters, Kinsley & Brooklyn. As a mother, a lover of humanity, & a classic type 9 on the Enneagram (peacemaker!), 2020 caused a disruption & stirring in Jeannette’s heart that she could not ignore. While she was on a run, thinking about the reckoning & heartbreak in Minneapolis at the time, she felt a sense of helplessness. The injustices locally & in the world felt too big. But then she thought of her two daughters & the world she wanted them to be a part of - a world of curiosity rather than judgement, of love & respect for humanity and where hope was greater than the feeling of helplessness. She began to imagine what it would be like for her girls & their friends to come together for GOOD, to MOVE, and to be agents of change in one small corner of the world. Kids Run for Justice was born as an experience to educate kids about local & international causes, empower them to participate and show them they can have fun while doing it. Jeannette’s hope is that KRJ will mobilize young people to BE A FORCE FOR GOOD IN THE WORLD.
KRJ is proud to have supported the following organizations:
2020
On August 2, 2020, 75 kids and neighbors, friends & family came together to raise $10,500 for Rongo’s Auto Shop. Rongo’s had been partially burned down during the riots & their beloved tow truck had been torched. We were lucky to have G, the owner of Rongo’s & his family join the event. Today, Rongo’s Auto Shop is fully restored and they provide fabulous service to the surrounding Minneapolis community.
2022
We joined together for our second Kids Run for Justice on May 22, 2022 in response to Russia’s attack on Ukraine. This time 100 kids & their families came together to raise $11,000 for Nova Ukraine, a non-profit organization that helps children & their families on the ground in Ukraine. A local Ukrainian church joined us & sang Ukraine’s National Peace song before the race began.
2023
On September 10th, 2023, 225 kids came together with our friends from GiGi’s Playhouse to raise $19,300 for this amazing organization. It was an epic morning of dancing, playing, & running. GiGi’s Playhouse provides free educational & therapeutic resources to kids with Down Syndrome & their families nationwide. The Minnesota location is in St. Louis Park, Minnesota.
2024
On September 8, 2024 over 200 kids & Run Ambassadors came together to raise $17,000 for Yuwa. Yuwa, which means "youth" in Hindi, works specifically with girls from impoverished families in rural Jharkhand, India. Using team sports & education, Yuwa seeks to provide an environment where girls who don't yet know their worth can meet to compete, achieve goals, and create brighter futures. We had the privilege of welcoming Rima, a Yuwa graduate, to the KRJ community. She shared about how Yuwa has directly impacted her life for the better. We all left inspired by her story & the hope of helping more girls like her through the incredible work of Yuwa!