Popcorn Team

The goal of the Opportunity Enterprises Popcorn Panic Team is to train runners with little or no experience to complete the Popcorn Panic 5 mile race in September of each year.

Training begins in June, with group runs leaving from OE on Tuesday and Thursday evenings and Saturday mornings. Training is led by an experienced Training Coordinator who teaches the walk/run training method. Other benefits of participation include a team shirt, free race entry for the Popcorn Panic race, team support and encouragement, and prizes for top fundraisers.

In exchange for these benefits, team members are asked to pay a small registration fee when they join, and raise an additional minimum amount of money to be submitted before race day. For more information, contact Chris Schneidt (christene.schneidt@oppent.org) or Allison Thomas (allison.thomas@oppent.org).

Marathon Team

Since its inception in 1998, the OE Marathon Training Program has become the agency’s largest annual fundraiser. In 1997, 413 runners raised over $200,000, and in the past nine years, nearly 2,000 runners have raised over $1 million for OE.

The OE Marathon Training Program is designed to train runners to complete the Bank of America Chicago Marathon held in October of each year. Training begins in June, with group training runs every Saturday morning through race day. Training is led by experienced Training Coordinators who lead the group and offer advice, guidance, training tips, support, and encouragement. Runners of every fitness level are encouraged to join, with training programs tailored to novice, intermediate, and advanced runners.

Benefits of team membership include:
• Complimentary race entry
• a team shirt
• a weekly newsletter with training tips and team updates
• weekly group training runs with water stations in Northwest Indiana
• transportation to and from Northwest Indiana on race day
• access to a race day tent in Charity Village including gear check, free massages, and toilet facilities

In exchange for these benefits, team members are required to pay a registration fee when they join, and then raise an additional minimum amount of money for OE. For more information, contact Chris Schneidt (christene.schneidt@oppent.org) or Allison Thomas (allison.thomas@oppent.org).

Pack-A-Thon

Each year, 800 volunteers gather on a Saturday in September to help stuff 45,000 runner packets for The Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Packers stuff flyers, magazines, and product samples into bags in brigade-style assembly lines.

Individuals or groups of any size are welcome to join in the fast-paced fun, which includes breakfast, lunch, and a DJ to keep volunteers moving to the music!

Contact OE Volunteer Coordinator Suzy Kull (suzy.kull@oppent.org) to find out how to get involved in this annual volunteer tradition.