About Students Run LA
Our Mission
The mission of Students Run LA is to challenge underserved secondary students to experience the benefits of goal-setting, character development, adult mentoring and improved health by providing them with a truly life-changing experience: The training for and completion of the Los Angeles Marathon.
To carry out it’s mission, SRLA has five key objectives. Students Run LA has implemented a strategic plan to ensure the organization’s vibrancy, sustainability, and growth into the future. Learn about SRLA’s strategic plan.
Our Impact
“SRLA has been a welcoming community that has given me the opportunity to become the person I strive to be.” — Juan, Class of 2021
Since 1989, more than 75,000 students like Juan have participated in SRLA. After completing the marathon students are more likely to:
Make Healthier Food Choices
Exercise on a Regular Basis
Graduate High School
Go On to College
Our Story
Have you met Harry, Eric, or Paul? The SRLA story began in 1986, when Harry challenged his high school students at a continuation school in Boyle Heights to train with him for a marathon. His students, labeled misfits and under-achievers, not only finished the Los Angeles Marathon but graduated high school and went on to college and careers.
Learning of this nontraditional pathway to inspiring students, Eric and Paul challenged students at their continuation high school to run a marathon with them. Hearing about their success, Roberta Weintraub, an LAUSD Board Member, invited Harry, Paul, and Eric to her office to bring this opportunity to students throughout Los Angeles, and in 1989 Students Run LA was born. Today, teachers across Los Angeles are still working with at-risk students, challenging them to change their lives through running a marathon. The family has grown, but the results are still the same.
Keep a look out for Harry, Eric, and Paul at every SRLA race! Be sure to say hello, and ask for their favorite marathon memory.
Our Story is still being written. Read our student blogs here.
SRLA Family
SRLA runs on the support of volunteers and sponsors. SRLA has groups in all Los Angeles County Supervisor Districts (First, Second, Third, Fourth and Fifth). We serve over 3000 students a year and have over 80,000 alumni, each with their own connection to the SRLA Family:
To view details on a specific group, click the blue dot on the map. To open the interactive map directly on Google Maps, please click here.
Ethical Policies & Financial Documents
Students Run LA is committed to, and respects, the privacy of all donors, visitors to its website, and correspondents with the organization’s office. Your information, whether public or private, will not be sold, exchanged, transferred, or given to any other third party for any reason whatsoever, without your consent. We will not collect personal information from you unless you provide the information to us voluntarily and knowingly.
Students Run LA is committed to equal opportunity for all persons without regard to sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability or sexual orientation. Students Run LA prohibits discrimination, in all of its programs and activities, on the basis of sex, age, race, color, religion, creed, national origin, marital status, disability or sexual orientation.
