July 2020 Featured Interview
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Interview with
Cami Hawkins
CEO of Marathon Kids
Photo Courtesy: Marathon Kids
About Cami:
Cami Hawkins has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and is the CEO of Marathon Kids, a nonprofit organization that's on a mission to motivate kids to lead a healthier lifestyle. In the past, she has held a variety of other roles, including CEO of a multi-disciplinary group practice, business owner, and managing consultant with GE Healthcare Camden Group.
A proven leader, Cami has significant expertise in process improvement, strategic planning and activation, and management. During her transformational period in healthcare, Cami has assisted a wide range of organizations addressing issues impacting their overall performance and competitive positioning with a keen ability to solve problems and create solutions.
Cami is a proud Texas Longhorn. She is married and has two grown children who are former Marathon Kids. Cami has volunteered in her community throughout the years, including her enthusiastic stint as a volunteer coach for Marathon Kids.
Cami Hawkins has more than 20 years of experience in the healthcare industry and is the CEO of Marathon Kids, a nonprofit organization that's on a mission to motivate kids to lead a healthier lifestyle. In the past, she has held a variety of other roles, including CEO of a multi-disciplinary group practice, business owner, and managing consultant with GE Healthcare Camden Group.
A proven leader, Cami has significant expertise in process improvement, strategic planning and activation, and management. During her transformational period in healthcare, Cami has assisted a wide range of organizations addressing issues impacting their overall performance and competitive positioning with a keen ability to solve problems and create solutions.
Cami is a proud Texas Longhorn. She is married and has two grown children who are former Marathon Kids. Cami has volunteered in her community throughout the years, including her enthusiastic stint as a volunteer coach for Marathon Kids.
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About Marathon Kids: Marathon Kids is a nonprofit organization on a mission to get kids moving. With a fun, easy, and rewarding program, the organization has inspired more than 2.5 million children to live happier, healthier, and more active lives. When kids participate in the program, they have a much better chance of getting enough daily physical activity. When kids feel healthy, they perform better in school and exhibit better behavior. Both in school and in life, active kids do better. Research shows that the Marathon Kids program effectively jump-starts healthy, long-lasting change. Through running, kids learn that they can achieve more than they ever thought possible. |
Myrna Beth Haskell, managing editor, spoke with Cami about how Marathon Kids incentivizes kids across the country to get up and move and to embrace a healthy lifestyle.
What was the inspiration behind the founding of Marathon Kids?
The founder, Kay Morris, started running in her 30s and wished she had started as a kid once she realized all of the benefits of a regular running routine. She kept a running log, tracked her endurance progress and wanted others to reap the same benefits she had. And when you start with healthy habits at a young age, it becomes a comfortable lifestyle, right? Yes. Running addresses so many health issues, such as childhood obesity and all of the problems that go along with a sedentary lifestyle. The benefits are numerous, such as better self-esteem, building confidence, and goal-setting. There is also a massive social-emotional component. Kids who run are better prepared to deal with stress and anxiety. Through running, they realize that they can do more than they ever thought possible. Running opens doors to so much more – setting of academic goals, learning team work, etc. |
Photo Courtesy: Marathon Kids
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You’ve expanded quite a bit since the organization’s inception, correct?
The organization was initially launched in Austin, TX as a grassroots initiative and quickly started to spread throughout the state. Eventually the program spread to other areas of the U.S. - Memphis, TN, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD and elsewhere. In 2015, Marathon Kids partnered with Nike, enabling the organization to reach even more kids. [The program is now reaching children in all 50 states.] It’s a free program with free access to our digital lap tracking app and reporting platform.
The organization was initially launched in Austin, TX as a grassroots initiative and quickly started to spread throughout the state. Eventually the program spread to other areas of the U.S. - Memphis, TN, Los Angeles, CA, Chicago, IL, Baltimore, MD and elsewhere. In 2015, Marathon Kids partnered with Nike, enabling the organization to reach even more kids. [The program is now reaching children in all 50 states.] It’s a free program with free access to our digital lap tracking app and reporting platform.
Photo Courtesy: Marathon Kids
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What did you hope to achieve as CEO? Were there any specific goals or unique program implementations that you had in mind?
My background is in the public sector of the healthcare industry. I worked in hospital healthcare systems and did consulting work for GE Healthcare. The difference was that, prior to this position, I worked in the healthcare and wellness industries from the inside-out. Now I’m working from the bottom-up. My kids were marathon kids, so I was involved with the organization long before becoming CEO in 2017. I volunteered when my kids were involved. So, when the opportunity presented itself, I knew it was the perfect fit for me. The organization is mission-driven and works from a programmatic perspective. The learning curve for me was understanding the specific needs that go into a nonprofit program like this. My kids are now 21 and 24. |
How does the program work?
The goal is to run up to four marathons (104.8 miles) over the course of a ‘season.’ A ‘season’ can be a full school year, but it can be catered and worked into any curriculum and schedule. It can be part of a before-school or after-school program. There are also activities for individual families. In general, the kids are scheduled to run a quarter to a half mile per day, every day. There are six pillars: goal-setting, tracking, community support, role modeling (coaches are role models who provide support and encouragement), incentivizing/rewarding, and celebrating.
The goal is to run up to four marathons (104.8 miles) over the course of a ‘season.’ A ‘season’ can be a full school year, but it can be catered and worked into any curriculum and schedule. It can be part of a before-school or after-school program. There are also activities for individual families. In general, the kids are scheduled to run a quarter to a half mile per day, every day. There are six pillars: goal-setting, tracking, community support, role modeling (coaches are role models who provide support and encouragement), incentivizing/rewarding, and celebrating.
Are Run Club volunteers trained?
Run Club coaches are volunteers – athletic coaches, subject teachers, PE teachers, parents, etc. Coaches receive a coaching packet with information about how to run a club, tips and activities. We also train leaders – these are people who serve as a liaison to their communities and bring others to the table. The Marathon Kids Leadership Academy provides in-person events and online webinars to support and educate coaches, parents, community members, and funders. These events are led by experienced Marathon Kids staff and coaches. The ideal is to work on changing the community culture to be physically active and to reach as many kids as possible. How many schools do you work with? There are 762 schools signed up for the program. |
Photo Courtesy: Marathon Kids
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Can an individual PE teacher use the program or does the school district need to partner with Marathon Kids in some way?
An individual teacher at a particular school – someone who is interested in running and physical health – can sign up. It doesn’t have to be a PE teacher.
Can parents sign up for Marathon Kids on their own…or do you need to register through a school or camp/community program?
We’re in the process of working out “Marathon Kids at Home.” We’re adding features to our digital lap tracking system so that parents can use the program. We’ve also provided programs such as “Walk and Talk,”* a program that offers conversation starters. Kids are freer when they are moving; so it’s often easier for parents to bring up tough subjects, such as bullying and dealing with anxiety.
There are many free resources available for families from our site.
*The free “Walk and Talk” program helps families get active together. Walk a mile with your child and talk about a new topic each day. Marathon Kids provides mileage logs and 26 conversation starter cards - one for each mile. After a month or so of family walks, you’ll have walked the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles).
An individual teacher at a particular school – someone who is interested in running and physical health – can sign up. It doesn’t have to be a PE teacher.
Can parents sign up for Marathon Kids on their own…or do you need to register through a school or camp/community program?
We’re in the process of working out “Marathon Kids at Home.” We’re adding features to our digital lap tracking system so that parents can use the program. We’ve also provided programs such as “Walk and Talk,”* a program that offers conversation starters. Kids are freer when they are moving; so it’s often easier for parents to bring up tough subjects, such as bullying and dealing with anxiety.
There are many free resources available for families from our site.
*The free “Walk and Talk” program helps families get active together. Walk a mile with your child and talk about a new topic each day. Marathon Kids provides mileage logs and 26 conversation starter cards - one for each mile. After a month or so of family walks, you’ll have walked the distance of a marathon (26.2 miles).
Photo Courtesy: Marathon Kids
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I read on your website that kids need at least 60 min. of moderate to vigorous physical activity per day, but only 1 in 5 kids get that. Gym periods at school are simply not enough. By the time attendance is taken and instructions for an activity are explained, the exercise time doesn't amount to much. In addition, PE classes are not scheduled every day. That being said, are there additional opportunities for teachers to utilize the program during school hours?
Every district is different. Each state has different requirements as well. The question is: How are they meeting these requirements? Are they just checking a box? With our program, the teachers and school administrators can see exactly what the children have accomplished because it’s being tracked. Our best implementation is our district-wide model in Austin, TX. Elementary schools created a full period called WOW (Working Out for Wellness) time. The program is facilitated by the classroom teacher every single day. So, it’s literally built into the school day - even when the children don’t have PE, they’re moving. |
What about incentives?
We have been pivoting to a new system. We’ve developed a web-based app to track kids’ mileage. This allows us the opportunity to celebrate more benchmarks along the way. It’s a sticker-based reward system. It’s easier this way to meet kids where they are and at their individual pace. This system also allows us to open access to more kids because it’s less expensive. In the past, there were fewer incentives because awards consisted of premium items, such as Nike tee shirts, medals, etc. These types of awards can still be purchased by those who wish to hand them out for certain benchmarks, or groups can hold fundraisers to support these types of awards.
What’s the biggest challenge for Marathon Kids?
It’s always a challenge to be sure we are reaching the most vulnerable populations. But it’s also a challenge competing in this nonprofit space. Believe it or not, there are hundreds of nonprofit, youth running organizations. We have to compete with so many other organizations. It’s best to get to a place where there is cooperation instead of competition. It’s the idea that we can do it better together than on our own. We want to be part of a cooperative solution.
With this current pandemic we're experiencing, it's even more important to work together to reach the kids, especially those kids who don't have a lot of resources. I reached out to other groups to be sure we were reaching kids at home. I knew if we could figure out how to get to PTAs, we could share ideas about how to reach the most vulnerable populations. The Title I school* populations, for instance, don't have the same access to technology and other resources that more affluent areas/schools have. One PTA council got all of the PTAs in the area to get meals to those children who receive free lunch and snacks. We asked if we could hand out mileage logs to those same families when they received meals. Instructions were written in both English and Spanish. This led to putting together activity packets with markers, pencils, paints, jump ropes, etc. We also collaborated with Good Sports, a nonprofit that accumulates excess merchandise that hasn't sold, to get supplies - like soccer balls and tennis shoes - to kids who need it the most.
*Title I schools have large concentrations of low-income students and receive supplemental, federal funds to assist in meeting students' educational goals.
What’s your favorite thing about doing the work that you do?
I don’t mean to sound glib, but there is pure joy for me in watching a kid reach a goal and become motivated. It’s just a joyful experience for me.
Where do you find Sanctuary?
I’ve always been a morning person. I love to reflect during that quiet time just before the sun comes up. I do a lot of my thinking at this time of the day.
We have been pivoting to a new system. We’ve developed a web-based app to track kids’ mileage. This allows us the opportunity to celebrate more benchmarks along the way. It’s a sticker-based reward system. It’s easier this way to meet kids where they are and at their individual pace. This system also allows us to open access to more kids because it’s less expensive. In the past, there were fewer incentives because awards consisted of premium items, such as Nike tee shirts, medals, etc. These types of awards can still be purchased by those who wish to hand them out for certain benchmarks, or groups can hold fundraisers to support these types of awards.
What’s the biggest challenge for Marathon Kids?
It’s always a challenge to be sure we are reaching the most vulnerable populations. But it’s also a challenge competing in this nonprofit space. Believe it or not, there are hundreds of nonprofit, youth running organizations. We have to compete with so many other organizations. It’s best to get to a place where there is cooperation instead of competition. It’s the idea that we can do it better together than on our own. We want to be part of a cooperative solution.
With this current pandemic we're experiencing, it's even more important to work together to reach the kids, especially those kids who don't have a lot of resources. I reached out to other groups to be sure we were reaching kids at home. I knew if we could figure out how to get to PTAs, we could share ideas about how to reach the most vulnerable populations. The Title I school* populations, for instance, don't have the same access to technology and other resources that more affluent areas/schools have. One PTA council got all of the PTAs in the area to get meals to those children who receive free lunch and snacks. We asked if we could hand out mileage logs to those same families when they received meals. Instructions were written in both English and Spanish. This led to putting together activity packets with markers, pencils, paints, jump ropes, etc. We also collaborated with Good Sports, a nonprofit that accumulates excess merchandise that hasn't sold, to get supplies - like soccer balls and tennis shoes - to kids who need it the most.
*Title I schools have large concentrations of low-income students and receive supplemental, federal funds to assist in meeting students' educational goals.
What’s your favorite thing about doing the work that you do?
I don’t mean to sound glib, but there is pure joy for me in watching a kid reach a goal and become motivated. It’s just a joyful experience for me.
Where do you find Sanctuary?
I’ve always been a morning person. I love to reflect during that quiet time just before the sun comes up. I do a lot of my thinking at this time of the day.