History of the Schaller Runners' Fund

The Beginning Of It All

My involvement with the American Red Cross and the Boston Marathon began in 1997, when I received an entry from Jan Bober, who was Director of Health & Safety for the Massachusetts Bay chapter of the Red Cross. Jan explained to me that in connection with the '97 marathon, I would be asked to raise $1500 on behalf of the Red Cross. (Jan is a marathon runner herself and has become sort of my unofficial personal trainer. She is shown in the photo below, running with me in the 1997 Boston Marathon.

And so it began. My $1500 pledge turned out to be more than $21,000 (and I finished the marathon in under four hours).

Establishment Of The Fund

The following year, the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross graciously asked me to partner with them to establish a permanent endowment fund. I am deeply honored by their suggestion that it be named the "Schaller Runners' Fund" and I am delighted that its income has been designated for disaster relief right here in our own community.

Running for the Dayton Area Chapter of the American Red Cross in 1998, I was able to raise $28,000 for the fund. In 1999, we contributed an additional $37,000; and, thanks to your generosity, we have raised more than $40,000 in each of the past seven years to reach our current total contributions of $380,000.

I am awestruck by the kindness and generosity of my friends and associates here in the Dayton area who have contributed so much both financially and otherwise. This support is sincerely appreciated and it does make a great difference to those in need of help.

Together, we can save a life.

Walter Schaller
Board Member Emeritus
Dayton Chapter of the American Red Cross