'Resilient' Glenview Business Owners Recognized For Community Service

GLENVIEW, IL — Lisa Zimmer believes runners are "resilient," which is also a word that can be used to describe businesses the past few years due to the pandemic. Zimmer and her husband, Dave Zimmer, are co-founders of Fleet Feet Chicago, and residents of Glenview. The pair were recently recognized for their company's local community service work.

Since 1996, Fleet Feet Chicago has donated $100,000 annually and raised over $1 million in charitable donations. As a result, the company with eight locations across Chicagoland, including in Deerfield, were chosen as the recipients of the prestigious Ubuntu Award, presented by Balega, and selected by industry peers.

"Winning the Ubuntu Award feels like a lifetime achievement award," Lisa Zimmer recently told Patch. "It gives us a platform and motivation to continue the work that we do and bring that to the forefront of the community. It also helps us tell a story with our employees and customers of the good work that we do every day."

In November, Lisa and Dave received their award at The Running Event, an annual industry convention in Austin, Texas.

Among the charities Fleet Feet Chicago regularly supports are Special Olympics Chicago, Girls On The Run, Imerman Angels, Back On My Feet and Students Run Chicago, as well as the Brothers and Sisters who work at the Mission of Our Lady of Angels in Chicago.

The company is also known for providing an aid station near its River North store during the Chicago Marathon. Fleet Feet Chicago recruits over 200 volunteers each year to hand out hydration to the more than 40,000 athletes passing through Aid Station No. 8.

In addition, Fleet Feet Chicago will be distributing 3,000 pairs of socks this winter to keep Chicago warm. The socks were provided by Balega as part of the Ubuntu Award recognition.

While Lisa Zimmer is proud of her company's accomplishments with community service, especially crossing the $1 million raised mark, she's quick to not let Fleet Feet Chicago rest on its laurels.

"It means that this is just the beginning," Zimmer said. "Through our charity relationships, we understand the good that can happen when people lace up their shoes and use running as a vehicle to raise money and awareness. We truly believe that Running Changes Everything. We have a strong belief that giving creates positive change in the world."

For more information on Fleet Feet Chicago's work with a variety of local charities, visit the company's charity page.