After running a marathon, most athletes are resting and recuperating. But there’s no rest for Ryan Hall. The day after placing fourth in the New York City marathon, Ryan Hall was volunteering with World Vision to help children in need in the Bronx.

Ryan, an Olympic athlete known for his distance running, won the marathon at the 2007 U.S. Olympic trials and placed 10th at the Olympic marathon in Beijing. He also holds the record for the fastest U.S. runner in the half marathon at 59:43.

Excellence in running is only one of Ryan’s passions. He and his wife, Sara, have used their visibility to raise awareness about issues of poverty in the U.S. and Africa. They’ve participated as members of Team World Vision, a program where marathoners can join World Vision’s team to help raise awareness about World Vision’s humanitarian work around the world and here in the U.S.  

To celebrate the New York City marathon, Ryan and Sara donated funds to buy school supplies that would fill 100 backpacks for children in New York City. The day after the marathon, the couple arrived with family and friends at World Vision’s office in the Bronx for an afternoon of filling backpacks with schools supplies.

After assembling the backpacks, Ryan and Sara presented them to teachers serving in Title 1 schools, where at least 70 percent of children qualify for free or reduced-fee meals. The staff will ensure the backpacks are given to students in greatest need.

Because the Halls are committed to end poverty one step at a time, 100 students in need in the Bronx now have backpacks filled with supplies that will help them succeed in the classroom this year.

The Halls are so committed to caring for those in need that they have their own nonprofit: The Halls Steps Foundation. Their goal is to make a difference toward ending poverty “one small step at a time.”

Their faith also is an important part of their running. After getting connected with World Vision, Ryan said, “Joining Team World Vision was an answer to prayer. Now we have something very tangible that we are fighting for out on the track, roads, or grass: to help the sick, orphaned, and poor all over the world.”

The Halls know that ending poverty can be a daunting endeavor but, as with a marathon, eliminating poverty is possible to achieve one step at a time. Their small steps are making a big difference in communities across our nation and the world.