Founder’s Story

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When I first became a lead and mold inspector, I wasn’t just walking into homes I was walking into the lives of families fighting invisible battles. I saw firsthand how something as simple as chipping paint or hidden mold could quietly steal a child’s health, interrupt a mother’s peace of mind, or weaken a family's foundation. I met parents doing everything in their power to protect their children, yet still losing sleep over conditions no one should ever be forced to live in. That’s when I realized: inspections alone weren’t enough. I had to be part of a larger fight for safety, justice, and dignity in every home.

At the same time, running became more than a physical act for me. It was and still is a spiritual reminder that healing takes motion. That no matter how far behind we feel, every step forward is a step toward reclaiming our power. Running became my therapy, my clarity, my protest, and my promise. That spirit birthed the Run for Second Chances program, an initiative that gives inner-city youth a path to discipline, confidence, and hope through mentorship and athletics.

The Whittaker Foundation was born at the intersection of these two truths: that housing is health, and movement is medicine. We are here to protect environmental health, to provide workforce training that creates real opportunity, and to uplift young people through programs that remind them they are not defined by where they come from but by how far they can go.

My goal is simple: to create healthier homes, stronger families, and brighter futures for every person we touch. If you believe in second chances, if you believe in community, then I invite you to walk with us or better yet, run. Because together, we can build communities where everyone has the chance to breathe clean air, stand tall, and chase the life they deserve.

 — Marco Whittaker, Founder