While I’m raising local awareness in Iowa, I’m proud to support Special Children’s Charities in Chicago—an organization that, since 1969, has championed inclusion and empowerment for children and adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities across all 77 Chicago neighborhoods.This cause is deeply personal. My son Sam has silent disabilities—challenges you can’t see, but that shape how he experiences the world, especially at school. Running has been one place where he thrives. Sam loves to run and has proudly completed several 5Ks, finding confidence, joy, and belonging with every finish line.Through events like the marathon, Special Children’s Charities creates that same sense of dignity, inclusion, and accomplishment for thousands of participants—helping build a more inclusive Chicago, Iowa and beyond, one mile at a time.

Again, thank you for supporting the thousands of participants with intellectual and developmental disabilities in Chicago!