About us
A world where every kid gets to chase a dream.
Running Down A Dream is a San Antonio, Texas 501(c)(3) nonprofit and youth charity that gives kids from underserved communities free running shoes, health education and running or walking training, so they can live healthier lives, set big goals and reach them, on the course and off it.
Running one mile at a time. Building dreams one child at a time.
Our mission
To provide running shoes, health education and running or walking training to every kid in need, so they can live healthier lives, train, and succeed in every area of life.
Why it matters
Organized sports cost money many families don't have. A good pair of shoes and a group that shows up for you every Saturday can change where a kid's path leads.
Meet our founder
Shawn Barnett
Shawn's dad got him running at five. At eight he finished the Austin Half Marathon, at the time the youngest person ever to do it, and ended up on TV, on the radio and in the paper. Running with his dad's group of adult runners gave him mentors, a community and a healthy escape from pressures at school.
From 13 to 20 he stopped running, and he's open about the unhealthy habits that filled the gap. Coming back showed him how much running builds the mental and physical toughness kids need when times get hard. There were no publicly known running groups for kids in San Antonio or Austin, so in 2021 he started one.
“I would never want a pair of shoes to keep a kid from being around the kinds of people I grew up around.”
Shawn studied at the University of Texas at Austin and graduated from St. Mary's University School of Law in 2024.
What we do
Seven ways we show up for kids
We give back
Every new or gently worn pair we receive is cleaned and given to a child in need. Cash donations buy new shoes through our partner stores and shoe vendors.
We educate
Through short pre-run talks with knowledgeable coaches and some of the area's best runners, we teach kids how to fuel their bodies, how much water to drink, how much exercise they need and how to train for a race.
We train
Each kid gets a training schedule built around their distance, speed and experience, one they can follow and log so they're ready on race day.
We strengthen
Running is as mental as it is physical. We help kids build the grit to push through hard miles and give them tools to get through challenging times in life.
We mentor
Coaches from across the area share their own running experiences, successes and failures. We encourage kids to lean on their mentors throughout training.
We reward
Finish your training and race and pick a reward: free shoes, gift cards, or movie, Six Flags and sporting-event tickets. Beat your time in our weekly 1.33-mile, 2-mile or 5K time trials and earn $5 on the spot.
We lead
Many kids who finish the program come back to help coach. We pair them with a mentor so they learn to lead their peers and carry that into their own lives.
Who we serve
Kids who need a team most
Most of our runners come from families for whom shoes, race fees and organized sports are a real stretch.
Based on family registrations from our first two-plus years.
Our journey
Shawn founds Running Down A Dream in the summer. It becomes a 501(c)(3) that October.
Saturday runs begin at Woodlawn Lake in San Antonio.
Featured by News 4 San Antonio and St. Mary's University.
650+ kids served and 135+ pairs of shoes given, with weekday runs alongside Dreamers Run Club.
Bringing Run 4 Life to Austin.
