By Candice Wagener | Photography by Hillary Schave
If you participated in Madison’s largest turkey trot, you already have a connection with Amanda Marek.
As executive director of Active Youth Wisconsin, a nonprofit working to give kids accessible opportunities to be active and promote the physical and mental benefits of movement, Marek was responsible for acquiring the Birdie Derby race in 2023. All race proceeds go directly to Grants 4 Schools, which provides financial support to families and schools for health and wellness initiatives.
Grants 4 Schools has funded gaga ball pits, mindfulness paths, sensory rooms and more. Last year, they had five times more requests than they could fund. Next Thanksgiving, Marek is targeting 6,000 race participants, which would allow the nonprofit to fund every grant.
“Amanda is an exceptional leader, a deeply committed advocate for children, a tireless difference maker and a positive force in Dane County’s communities,” says Dr. Nicole St. Clair, Marek’s nominator and a board member at Active Youth Wisconsin.
In December 2024, the nonprofit formally rebranded as Active Youth Wisconsin and housed all of its programs, including Tri 4 Schools, the Birdie Derby, Grants 4 Schools and Minds in Motion, under the new brand. Marek explains this shift communicates that the organization is about more than just races and triathlons.
“[We can] start doing more with programming, financial aid and reaching more kids,” Marek says. “If we can get [kids] involved in something that encourages movement and helps [them] fall in love with fitness … they’ll have that foundation to recognize that fitness and movement is good for their mental and physical health.”
In the coming year, the organization is on target to work with 40-plus Dane County schools (currently they work with 30), which will equate to over 1,000 children, with a focus on low-income areas. Financial assistance is offered to about 40% of participants.
“We will never say no to a child that wants to participate,” says Marek.
WHAT WOULD YOU TELL YOUR YOUNGER SELF?
“Don’t be afraid to fail … I wouldn’t be where I am today if I wasn’t trying new things that were outside my comfort zone … sometimes that means failing.”
