Peace Runners 773 and SPARC for Sports Launch Groundbreaking Study to Measure Health, Social, and Economic Impact

October 8, 2025

First-of-its-kind collaboration to quantify how community running drives better health, stronger connections, and local economic growth.

Peace Runners 773, a nonprofit transforming lives and communities on Chicago’s West Side through running, mentorship, and advocacy, has partnered with SPARC for Sports, which helps races and organizations across the running ecosystem build smart, year-round marketing strategies, to launch a first-of-its-kind Impact Communications Research Project.

Working closely with Peace Runners founder Jackie Hoffman, SPARC partners Maria Vargas and Mary Arnold lead the project strategy, ensuring the research captures the full impact on participants, families, communities, and the broader running ecosystem. SPARC has engaged researchers Dr. Jennifer Wiggins-Lyndall and Dr. Shawn Rohlin of Kent State University to design and conduct the study.

“Our vision is to connect all the dots, combining rigorous health, economic, and social data with powerful stories from runners, their families, and neighborhoods. By capturing this full picture, we show the real impact of movement and provide actionable insights that guide organizations, funders, and the running industry toward meaningful, lasting change,” said Maria Vargas, co-founder at SPARC for Sports.

The research will also track outcomes such as new jobs, increased local spending, safer streets,improved wellness, and increased numbers of runners. Mobility data, including Strava heat maps, will reveal how movement shapes communities, while surveys and interviews will capture participants’ experiences.

“This project provides a unique opportunity to examine the benefits of a fitness-oriented program on the physical health, mental health, and economic health of a community. This has never been done before.” said Dr. Jennifer Wiggins, professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at Kent State University. “We are bringing together multiple sources of data and a team of researchers from different perspectives to capture the holistic impact of the program. By following individual journeys and community-wide changes, we aim to develop a model that shows how grassroots programs like Peace Runners can transform lives, families, and neighborhoods nationwide.”

Jackie Hoffman, Founder of Peace Runners 773 said, “The steps we take today toward healing our community create bigger impacts than we know. This study will help us uncover how Peace Runners is not only transforming individuals but also strengthening the economy, improving health, and livelihood. It’s proof that movement has the power to create lasting change.”

The Peace Runners impact extends well beyond its own programs. Because of their work, a range of community stakeholders are also positively affected including Chicago Events Management (CEM), the Garfield Park Conservatory, the Joyce Foundation, United Neighbors, the Equity Fund, and others. As Peace Runners grows, these partners and institutions benefit too, creating a network of shared success and demonstrating how grassroots running initiatives strengthen entire city ecosystems.

The project will release a Preliminary Impact Brief in December 2025 to support Peace Runners’ gala and sponsorship outreach, followed by a Comprehensive Impact Report in Summer 2026, providing a replicable framework for community-based programs nationwide.

About Peace Runners 773
Peace Runners 773 empowers individuals and neighborhoods through running, mentorship, and advocacy, bridging health disparities and creating pathways to economic opportunity.

About SPARC for Sports
SPARC for Sports helps races and endurance organizations build smart, year-round marketing strategies, attract participants, engage sponsors, and showcase their impact across the running ecosystem. SPARC leads this study and manages the research to quantify Peace Runners 773’s community and industry impact.

Media Contacts
Maria Vargas | SPARC for Sports | maria@sparcforsports.com | www.sparcforsports.com
Jackie Hoffman | Peace Runners 773 | jackie@peacerunners773.com | www.peacerunners773.com