Orphaned and vulnerable children (OVC) represent one of the most disenfranchised populations in our world today. UNICEF reported in 2007 that in Sub-Saharan Africa alone there are an estimated 53 million children who have lost their parents to poverty, disease and conflict - leaving an entire generation of young people at the risk of reaching adulthood without the preparation they need to one day uplift and transform the struggling communities of their continent. While this population is poised to exacerbate the problems that have devastated countless communities in Africa, HOPE RUNS believes that with the right resources and opportunities, OVC can become a primary resource in Africa’s fight toward a more equitable, prosperous, and peaceful future.

HOPE RUNS (www.HopeRuns.org) is a US 501c3 non-profit organization operating in East Africa to address the pressing needs of orphaned and vulnerable children in this region. HOPE RUNS partners with AIDS orphanages to provide extracurricular programming in athletics for children, which has helped improve their performance in school, lowered disciplinary action, and led over 20 children to complete a full marathon, and hundreds more to complete their after school training programs. HOPE RUNS also provides service-learning opportunities for international volunteers, and draws on local hires to implement these programs over time. Hope Runs work, based in Kenya, has been featured in such publications as Runner’s World and The Huffington Post.

The proceeds from the 777 fundraising will go to help Hope Runs in its main endeavors:
• Daily Running Programs in Two Kenyan Orphanages
• Student Runners Attending International and Local Races
• Hope Runs University Scholarships - Hope Runs supports the university studies of our runners.
• Business and Social Entrepreneurship Training Program for Kenyan High School Graduates -
• First Blog on the Internet Written by Orphans and Vulnerable Children: www.TumainiKids.blogspot.com