Why We Run/Walk

There is still plenty of time before this year’s AIDS Run/Walk, but Team Chicago House is already racing ahead. Thanks to staff, board and associate board members, corporate partners, family, and friends supporting our efforts, this year’s event is shaping up to be one of our strongest finishes yet! 

For Michael Caruso, Senior Director of Support at Dutchie and a member of our Associate Board, this year’s race marks his first AIDS Run/Walk in Chicago. His connection to the HIV community stretches back years, beginning with work in San Francisco supporting people living with AIDS and exploring the therapeutic potential of cannabis for those facing serious illness. That experience helped inform his career in an industry built around expanding access to its benefits. This year, he is bringing that connection to our team, having already raised more than $4,000. 

“I was immediately impressed by Chicago House and the work they’ve done supporting communities impacted by and at risk of HIV and AIDS,” Michael said. “This is work I take seriously, and I’m proud to continue being part of it here in Chicago.” 

That same commitment runs through Team Chicago House, as 60+ team members have raised nearly $25,000 for our Client Emergency Fund already, turning a day at the starting line into a leg up for clients facing challenges that traditional funding cannot address quickly enough. 

For the third consecutive year, Aon is joining as a team sponsor, with Temo Garcia, Account Executive and Vice President, as well as U.S. National Chair of the Aon Pride Alliance, helping us gain even more ground.

“Our partnership with Chicago House reflects Aon’s commitment to supporting colleagues and creating stronger, more inclusive communities,” said Temo, who recently joined our Associate Board. “By partnering with Chicago House for events like the AIDS Run/Walk, we help advance a mission that provides critical resources, housing, and support to individuals facing significant challenges. For us, it’s an opportunity to turn our values into action and make a meaningful impact in the city Aon calls home.” 

That is what makes the AIDS Run/Walk so meaningful: it is an opportunity to raise funds for those we serve while showing what those funds can make possible. Every dollar provides the resources that help people thrive. 

With weeks still to go, we are just getting started!