Brooks Running has announced that it will invest $10 million over the next five years in Future Run, an initiative to support youth in the U.S. and help them discover the benefits of the run and its community. Future Run is an evolution of the brand’s current community impact work. Although track and field remains among the most popular sports in the U.S. for middle and high school participation, barriers to running remain and are more prevalent in certain communities, the company said. The BIPOC youth (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) make up less than 35 percent of U.S. runners ages 11-18. Furthermore, girls and low-income youth experienced a significant drop in sports participation following the Covid-19 pandemic. Brooks’ Future Run initiative is meant to help overcome participation obstacles for young runners nationwide. With the launch of Future Run, Brooks has announced a multi-year partnership with the non-profit organization Marathon Kids, whose mission is to get kids moving through running. Through Future Run, Brooks will also invest in regional partners like Angel City Elite in Los Angeles, Students Run Philly Style in Philadelphia, Kids of Steel in Pittsburgh, and We Run Houston in Houston. Later this year, Brooks will launch the 2023 Future Run shoes and socks collection. The collection debut will coincide with the re-launch of the Future Run Team Grants program, previously known as Brooks Booster Club, which provides financial support and performance running gear to track and cross-country teams at 50 U.S. schools each year. The company plans to extend its new Future Run initiative to markets beyond the U.S. in the coming years.
