52 Marathons for Homeless Children

Hello, my name is Ian Chan and I am running 52 marathons in order to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty for children living in shelters, motels, cars and on the streets. With your help and support, 3700 homeless children will have access to new backpacks, school supplies, one-on-one tutoring, food and technology that will secure hope and a future ahead of them for the rest of their lives.


While the goal is to raise $10K to provide for 3700 homeless children, any amount we raise together will make a lasting, positive difference in the lives of the homeless children who will receive your support. Thank you for joining me in this movement.

The Problem


In California alone, there are over 300,000* homeless children living in shelters, motels, cars and on the streets. Not knowing where they will sleep on any given night, homeless children experience great stress and fear. As they move from shelter to shelter, city to city, homeless children change schools 2 to 4 times each year; absenteeism and further instability result in falling grades and being held back 1 or more grade levels. In addition, homeless children often lack the essential tools to succeed in the classroom (including backpacks and basic school supplies) and often go to school without nourishment to grow and develop physically and mentally.

Without proper education, homeless children are left behind without a future.

*2015 data; National Center on Family Homelessness (NCFH)

The Solution


With your help, 3700 homeless children will have access to:

New backpacks and school supplies to ensure that homeless children are equipped with the essential tools to learn, grow and thrive in school and beyond

Tutoring and mentorship to provide homeless children with a consistent and positive support in their lives, help them catch up in school, and teach them key life skills

Food and snacks to keep homeless children well-nourished and ready to learn

Technology to help homeless children build critical 21st-century skills such as typing, digital literacy, digital citizenship, and coding. More homeless children will have access to these programs with School on Wheels: schoolonwheels.org/digital-learning

Learning Centers across Southern California to provide a safe space for homeless children to receive tutoring, educational resources, food, and technology. Your support will help build and develop Learning Centers in Skid Row, Compton, Anaheim, Ventura, and other cities and areas with high populations of homeless children.

This campaign is in partnership with School on Wheels, Inc.: schoolonwheels.org


School on Wheels, Inc. is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1993 by Agnes Stevens, a retired teacher. Our mission is to enhance educational opportunities for homeless children from grades K to 12. We are the only organization in Southern California dedicated exclusively to the educational needs of this fragile population.



More than anything, your gift of any amount provides hope to homeless children. Hope for a better life and a future fueled by the gift of learning and education.

I hope that you will join me in enriching the lives of a population of children too often forgotten and neglected. Thank you so much for your generosity and support!