Nonprofit Advocate Runs the 125th Boston Marathon to Support FamilyAid and Homeless Children and Parents

David Thornton is training hard to run the Boston Marathon on October 11, but David’s goal is even bigger than completing 26.2 miles — He is raising funds in support FamilyAid, a Boston-based nonprofit that empowers children and parents facing homelessness to secure and sustain housing and build strong foundations for their futures.

David was planning on running the virtual marathon when the opportunity to run for FamilyAid came to him. “Two years ago, I had the opportunity to be part of a review group to help assess and score applications for the United Way’s Venture Fund program.  I was introduced to FamilyAid through this process and was very impressed with the essential, creative, and effective work the organization was conducting. I was thrilled when FamilyAid was selected as one of four winners of the venture funding for their innovative collaboration with Boston Public Schools.  Since then, I have tried to further support the mission of the organization. Coincidentally, after a pandemic year that disrupted my usual running and fitness routines, I had already begun to train for a marathon in the Fall and running with the FamilyAid team is a wonderful way to bring these two goals together.”

Boston now has the third highest number of families experiencing homelessness on any given night in the country. Over the past year, FamilyAid provided 3,000 children and parents with the shelter, housing, and the supportive services needed to sustain or return to stable housing. During the pandemic, FamilyAid added emergency initiatives that provided 580,000 pounds of essential food and supplies to families weekly and $1.1 million in direct financial assistance to ensure families could pay for food, utilities, and other basic needs. The organization also opened a new, safe refuge shelter for families who arrived in Boston Children’s Hospital and Boston Medical Center emergency rooms seeking a place to stay.  Families who are placed in housing by FamilyAid have a 99% success rate of remaining housed a year later.

Through the John Hancock Marathon Non-Profit Program, and the dedication and support of FamilyAid’s Marathon team, FamilyAid hopes to raise critically needed funds to create lasting solutions to the family homelessness crisis in our community. To learn more about FamilyAid Boston, please visit www.familyaidboston.org.

To make a donation to David, please visit his fundraising page.