• KP Challenge
          • The KP Challenge is a series of three great, local races — Saint Fennessy 4K, Fitger’s 5K, and Park Point 5-Miler — that are strategically placed throughout the year to help participants build their endurance and stick to a regular training schedule.

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    • Saint Fennessy 4K
    • Fitger’s 5K
    • Park Point 5-Miler & 2-Mile Walk
    • Minnesota Mile
    • North End Nightmare 5K
    • Youth Races
    • Volunteer
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            Our tremendous community of volunteers plays a significant role in helping the Young Athletes Foundation to create memorable and successful events for our runners. More than 1,000 volunteers are needed throughout the year to support our fundraising race events for the YAF.

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    • Sponsors
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            The Young Athletes Foundation was created to serve the community, and for more than three decades we have done that with the help of our local and regional business partners. With events throughout the year, our sponsors assist greatly in our mission of  providing pathways of opportunity to youth in athletic programs and encouraging healthy lifestyles.

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    • Charity Runners
          • Our kids. Our community. Our future.

            Do you want to run for free AND add more meaning to your miles Sign up ahead of Grandma’s Marathon weekend to be a charity runner for the Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), and your success in reaching the finish line can help someone else reach theirs.

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  • VISIT Grandma's Marathon

Grant Program

GRANTED!

The YAF recognizes that some organizations may have durable equipment needs while others may have non-equipment, financial needs that address the rising participation costs or fees for youth involved in the organization’s activities. 

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Since 1990, the YAF has awarded nearly $570,000 to our community’s youth and recreational athletic organizations through the grant program.

Organizations may apply for both scholarship and equipment funds on the same application, not to exceed $3,000. The YAF will consider applications for grants for participation scholarships as well. 

Organizations who have received a grant from the YAF in the past are eligible to reapply after at least 2 calendar years.

The YAF Committee meets on the 2nd Wednesday of every odd-numbered month, to review grant applications. 

2024
Bentleyville Tour of Lights — $3,000

2023
Bentleyville Tour of Lights — $3,000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $3,000
Cyclists of Gitchee Gumee Shores (COGGS) —$3,000
Duluth Area Family YMCA — $2,992.97
Duluth Girls Fastpitch — $3,000
Duluth Nordic Ski Club — $1,500
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $3,000
Girls on the Run Minnesota — $3,000
GND Community & Activity Center — $3,000
Hartley Nature Center — $2,998.90
Kids Golf Legacy Fund — $3,000
Lakewood PTA — $3,000
Minnesota Expos Youth Baseball Club — $3,000
Piedmont Youth Hockey — $3,000
Proctor Rails Junior Football — $3,000
Twin Ports Gymnastics Club — $3,000
Two Harbors Baseball Boosters — $3,000
Western Duluth Little League — $3,000

2022
Cloquet HS Pep Squad — $2,057.34
Duluth 709 Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Area Family YMCA — $2,815.40
East Select Soccer — $3,000
Family Freedom Center — $3,000
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Club — $2,926.47
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Proctor Synergy — $3,000
Woodland Area Hockey Assn. — $3,000

2021
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $3,000
Cloquet Nordic Ski Club — $3,000
Duluth Wolfpack Lacrosse — $400
Giving Back to Junior Golf — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $3,000
University Nursery School — $750

2020
Duluth 709 Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $1,375
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $1,100
Korkki Nordic — $3,000
Woodland Hockey Assn. — $3,000

2019
Chester Park Improvement Club — $3,000
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $750
Duluth XC Ski Club — $3,000
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Assn. — $2,739.98
Jungle Boy Boxing — $3,000
North Country RIDE — $3,000
North Shore Wrestling Club — $3,000
Two Harbors Heat Softball — $3,000

2018
Carlton Amateur Hockey — Assn. $2,726.02
Congdon Park Foundation — $975
Congdon Park Recreation Assn. — $2,584.70
Duluth 709 Baseball — $2,335
Duluth Area YMCA — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $1,000
Duluth Curling Club Junior Program — $3,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
GND Development Alliance — $3,000
Lake Superior Swim Club — $3,000
Lifehouse — $2,450
North Shore Rugby — $2,821
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $3,000
Superior Amateur Hockey Assn. — $2,000

2017
Jungle Boy Boxing — $814.10
Korkki Nordic — $3,000
Morgan Park Youth Softball — $1,300
Northwood Children Services — $500
West Duluth Little League — $2,785

2016
Cloquet Youth Baseball — $3,000
Duluth Chargers Lacrosse — $3,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Encounter Skate Park & Youth Center — $2,880
Jungle Boy Boxing — $2,185.90
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $2,890
Washington Elementary — $500
Woodland Hills — $3,000

2015
Boys and Girls Club — $491.39
Carlton Area Hockey — $2,800.91
Cromwell Area Community Club — $3,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,750
Duluth Curling Club — $3,000
Duluth-Vaxjo Soccer Exchange — $750
Lifehouse — $3,000
Minnesota Biathlon — $2,900
Positive Energy Outdoors — $3,000
South Ridge Hoops Club —$2,636.23
Valley Youth Center — $2,600

2014
Bentleyville — $3,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,600
Courage Kenny Rehab Institute — $3,000
Encounter Skate Park & Youth Center — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,746.97
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
St. James Home of Duluth — $3,000

2013
Bentleyville — $3,000
Boys and Girls Club — $718.92
Carrie Tollefson Camp — $3,000
Choice Unlimited — $1,050
Cloquet Ski Club — $3,000
Courage Center Duluth — $3,000
Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball — $2,000
Duluth Area YMCA — $2,500
Duluth YMCA Youth Corps. — $496
Harbor City International School — $375
Jungle Boy Boxing — $2,284
Korkki Nordic — $2,990
Lumberjack Laps — $300
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Residential Services — $3,000
Salvation Army, Duluth — $3,000
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $2,775
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $3,000
Superior HS Basketball Rec League — $950
Valley Youth Center — $1,000

2012
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,680
Congdon Cougar Chase — $471.98
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Duluth Rowing Club — $3,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,805
Korkki Nordic — $2,976
Lakeview Christian Academy — $250
Minnesota Biathlon — $2,955
Neighbors of Lower Chester Park — $3,000
North Shore Wrestling — $3,000
North Shore Youth Rugby Assn. — $2,000
Piedmont Youth Hockey Assn. — $3,000
Salvation Army Toy Drive — $750
Woodland Hills — $3,000
YMCA — $1638.73

2011
Active Kids Association of Sport — $500
Alborn Youth Baseball — $1,600
Boys and Girls Club — $584.41
City of Proctor — $3,000
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $3,000
Courage Center Duluth — $2,846
Duluth Area Youth Basketball Assn. — $1,600
Encounter Youth Center — $1,000
Jungle Boy Boxing — $1,250
Lumberjack Laps — $108
North Shore Wrestling Club — $3,000
Piedmont Hockey Assn. — $1,110
Positive Energy Outdoors — $570
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $3,000
South Ridge Cross Country — $1,200
South Ridge HS Nature Club — $1,602
St. John’s School — $1,440
St. Michael’s School — $1,107
Twin Ports Boxing Club — $1,000
Two Harbors Kayak Festival — $400

2010
Boys and Girls Club — $550
Carlton Amateur Hockey Assn. — $1,000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,200
Congdon Cougar Chase — $601.20
Duluth Rowing Club — $1,625
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Encounter Youth Center — $2,000
Grant Community School Collaborative — $500
Junior League of Duluth — $2,671
Lumberjack Laps — $275
Salvation Army, Duluth — $3,000
Twin Ports Miracle League — $3,000
Woodland Hills — $3,000
YMCA, Duluth Olympic Spirit Celebration — $1,500

2009
Boys and Girls Club — $1,000
Courage Center Duluth — $2,950
Duluth Amateur Youth Basketball Assn. — $2,000
Duluth Rowing Club — $2,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $3,000
Duluth XC Ski Club — $2,340
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,500
Nemadji Golf Club — $2,000
Proctor-Hermantown Girls’ Hockey — $1,089
Salvation Army Rookie Basketball — $2,837
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $3,000

2008
ARC Northland — $750
Arrowhead Alpine Club — $1,600
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $1,928
R.E.A.C.H. — $1,550
Seeds of Hope Youth Ranch — $2,000
Superior Amateur Hockey Assn. — $292.50

2007
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $1,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $2,000
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $939.03
North Country RIDE — $1,993.93
YMCA — $925

2006
Courage Duluth — $1,260
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $5,000
Duluth Heights Hockey — $500
Duluth Girls’ Hockey Assn. — $600
East End Girls’ Fastpitch Club — $2,040
North Country RIDE — $2,959.92
R.E.A.C.H. — $2,000
Twig Hockey Assn. — $700
Upper Shore Center for Athletics — $4,547.15
YMCA, Camp Miller — $4,000

2005
Carlton PTA — $2,000
Cloquet Ski Club — $4,200
Courage Duluth — $2,000
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $5,000
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,500
Mesabi East Swimming — $2,000
Salvation Army, Superior — $2,210
West Duluth Little League — $2,000
Youth for Christ Encounter — $2,000

2004
Cloquet Area Youth Wrestling Assn. — $5,000
Duluth Boat Club — $2,900
“Learn to Golf” Program, Nemadji GC — $800
Muscular Dystrophy Assn. — $3,591
Neighborhood Youth Services — $1,000
North Shore Swim Club — $2,500
Twin Ports Gymnastics — $2,500

2003
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Courage Duluth — $1,100
Duluth Boat Club — $1,800
Duluth Junior League Football — $2,462.70
North Country RIDE — $3,000
Salvation Army, Superior — $500

2002
Arrowhead Youth Soccer Assn. — $1,000
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Courage Duluth — $1,960
Duluth Biathlon Education Assn. — $1,500
Duluth-Superior Sailing Assn. — $4,100
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $300
Neighborhood Youth Services — $1,500
Proctor Little League — $2,225
Salvation Army Bike Drive — $600
Woodland Hills — $2,500

2001
Arrowhead Alpine Club — $1,100
Duluth Biathlon Education Assn. — $1,350
Duluth Curling Club — $1,932
Duluth Speedskating Club — $500
East End Basketball Assn. — $922
Hermantown Little League — $1,179
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $300
North Shore Swim Club — $1,000
Proctor Area Softball Assn. — $1,400
Salvation Army Bike Drive — $315.20
Salvation Army, Superior — $1,500
Tourney Sport USA — $200
Twin Ports Gymnastic Club — $1,500

2000
Chester Bowl Improvement Club — $2,500
Duluth Denfeld Youth Basketball — $300
Duluth Denfeld Soccer Club — $2,257.15
Duluth Speedskating Club — $2,187
Eastern Little League — $500
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club — $337.50
ML-WR Junior Olympic Volleyball — $1,000
Proctor Area Flag Football — $1,000

1999
Courage Duluth — $1,500
Duluth Denfeld Youth Basketball — $300
Duluth Friends of Tennis — $1,500
East Duluth Girls’ Hoops Club — $1,000
Eastern Little League — $500
North Shore Swim Club — $750
Salvation Army, Superior — $2,500
US Team WGD — $250

1998
Central American Legion Baseball — $250
Central Area VFW Baseball — $250
Central Little League — $600
Courage Duluth — $1,250
Duluth High School Nordic Coaches — $5,000
Duluth Speed Skating — $2,000
Junior Olympic Volleyball — $250
LPGA Girls’ Golf Club, Lake Superior Region — $1,250
North Shore Swim Club — $3,000
St. Scholastica Basketball Camp — $30

1997
Gitchi Gummi Soccer Assn. — $200

1996
Duluth Central Cross Country — $100

1995
Neighborhood Youth Services — $200

1994
Mont du Lac Ski Club — $200

1993
n/a

1992
Boys and Girls Club — $500
Children’s Miracle Network — $100
Proctor Area Community — Center $250

1991
East End Basketball Association — $100

1990
Duluth Speedskating Club — $750

YOUNG ATHLETES FOUNDATION

The Young Athletes Foundation (YAF), the charity arm of Grandma’s Marathon, was created in 1990 to assist with the promotion and development of healthy and active lifestyles for youth throughout Carlton, Cook, Douglas, Lake, and St. Louis Counties. Since its inception, the YAF has donated more than $1.3 million to the community’s youth athletic, recreational, and nonprofit organizations.

If you are interested in volunteering for any of our Young Athletes Foundation (YAF) events or have any other questions, please contact our Program Director Alivia Nelson via email at [email protected] or call our office at (218) 727-0947.