DAVE MCGILLIVRAY FINISH STRONG FOUNDATION

Empowering Kids to Dream Big and Finish Strong

 
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dave mcgillivray speaks to a room full of kids

Our mission at the Dave McGillivray Finish Strong Foundation is to inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity, expand literacy, and build community and self-esteem through running, reading, and performing acts of kindness.

Our vision is rooted in a belief that discovering a passion for physical activity, reading, and acts of kindness at a young age gives individuals self-confidence and self-respect, which empowers them to move forward—one step at a time.

Inspiring youth to build self esteem through physical activity

 Encouraging youth to grow their knowledge through reading

Empowering youth to build community through acts of kindness

“SET GOALS, NOT LIMITS.”

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Stop by to grab giveaways, shop books, and take photos breaking the tape with Flat Dave! Our team will be at the Boston Marathon Expo sharing our mission and vision with attendees all weekend long. Plus, head to the Expo Live Stage at 1 p.m. on Frid
Stop by to grab giveaways, shop books, and take photos breaking the tape with Flat Dave! Our team will be at the Boston Marathon Expo sharing our mission and vision with attendees all weekend long. Plus, head to the Expo Live Stage at 1 p.m. on Friday for 50 Years of Running Boston. World Marathon Challenge winner Becca Pizzi will be interviewing our founder Dave McGillivray about his long history with the race! Dave will be signing books at our booth immediately following. See you soon in Boston!
Join us this weekend at The Run Show Boston, a running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available — use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray
Join us this weekend at The Run Show Boston, a running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available — use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray will be speaking on Saturday, February 4, at 10:30 a.m. on a panel with Becca Pizzi and Kelly McLay, talking about their experiences participating in the World Marathon Challenge (running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents) and then again at 3:45 p.m. that day with his iconic “Defining Moments” presentation. We hope to see you there!
One element of our mission is to help children raise their self-esteem and confidence. One easy way to help impact this every day is to lead your child in practicing positive affirmations! Try sharing these with your kid and having them repeat them b
One element of our mission is to help children raise their self-esteem and confidence. One easy way to help impact this every day is to lead your child in practicing positive affirmations! Try sharing these with your kid and having them repeat them back to you to start the day. I am smart. I am capable. I am creative. I am kind. I am important. I am loved.
Did you know? Twenty-five million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently. Literacy is a crucial part of building a life of success in the future, and that’s why promoting reading is a crucial part of our mission!
Did you know? Twenty-five million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently. Literacy is a crucial part of building a life of success in the future, and that’s why promoting reading is a crucial part of our mission!
Our foundation is the continued legacy of Dave McGillivray and the dedication of DMSE Sports to fundraise for important causes. Dave’s Run Across America for the Jimmy Fund in 1978 marked the genesis of the running fundraising craze that is sti
Our foundation is the continued legacy of Dave McGillivray and the dedication of DMSE Sports to fundraise for important causes. Dave’s Run Across America for the Jimmy Fund in 1978 marked the genesis of the running fundraising craze that is still popular today. Over the last 18 years, we’ve raised and donated hundreds of thousands of dollars to causes that match our mission.
We hope you’ll plan to join us for the 2nd Annual Run Medford on September 23, 2023. The event supports our foundation, which in turn provides funding to local organizations making a difference in Medford. Stay tuned for more details!
We hope you’ll plan to join us for the 2nd Annual Run Medford on September 23, 2023. The event supports our foundation, which in turn provides funding to local organizations making a difference in Medford. Stay tuned for more details!
Add Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home to you and your child’s reading list! This full-color, inspiring picture book is about Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray’s 3,452-mile run
Add Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home to you and your child’s reading list! This full-color, inspiring picture book is about Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray’s 3,452-mile run across America in 80 days – and proceeds help support our foundation. Get your copy at the link in our bio.
Flashback Friday: it's time for a history lesson! The story of the Finish Strong Foundation actually begins in 2003, when we were originally founded as the DMSE Children’s Fitness Foundation. The foundation was reimagined and relaunched this pa
Flashback Friday: it's time for a history lesson! The story of the Finish Strong Foundation actually begins in 2003, when we were originally founded as the DMSE Children’s Fitness Foundation. The foundation was reimagined and relaunched this past year with our current branding and mission, which is to inspire and empower youth across New England and beyond to increase physical activity; expand literacy; and build community and self-esteem though running, reading, and performing acts of kindness.
We’re inviting race directors across the country to reimagine finishers awards for their kids’ events. Inspire your youngest participants by awarding them a book that encourages them to keep moving! Interested? Reach out to us for more in
We’re inviting race directors across the country to reimagine finishers awards for their kids’ events. Inspire your youngest participants by awarding them a book that encourages them to keep moving! Interested? Reach out to us for more information on this special offer.
The Run Show Boston is a new running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available - use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray will be speaking on Sat
The Run Show Boston is a new running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available - use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray will be speaking on Saturday, February 4 at 10:30 a.m. on a panel with Becca Pizzi and Kelly McLay talking about their experiences participating in the World Marathon Challenge (running 7 marathons in 7 days on 7 continents) and then again at 3:45 p.m. that day with his iconic “Defining Moments” presentation. We hope to see you there!
Stop by to grab giveaways, shop books, and take photos breaking the tape with Flat Dave! Our team will be at the Boston Marathon Expo sharing our mission and vision with attendees all weekend long. Plus, head to the Expo Live Stage at 1 p.m. on Frid Join us this weekend at The Run Show Boston, a running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available — use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray One element of our mission is to help children raise their self-esteem and confidence. One easy way to help impact this every day is to lead your child in practicing positive affirmations! Try sharing these with your kid and having them repeat them b Did you know? Twenty-five million children in the U.S. cannot read proficiently. Literacy is a crucial part of building a life of success in the future, and that’s why promoting reading is a crucial part of our mission! Our foundation is the continued legacy of Dave McGillivray and the dedication of DMSE Sports to fundraise for important causes. Dave’s Run Across America for the Jimmy Fund in 1978 marked the genesis of the running fundraising craze that is sti We hope you’ll plan to join us for the 2nd Annual Run Medford on September 23, 2023. The event supports our foundation, which in turn provides funding to local organizations making a difference in Medford. Stay tuned for more details! Add Running Across America: A True Story of Dreams, Determination, and Heading for Home to you and your child’s reading list! This full-color, inspiring picture book is about Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray’s 3,452-mile run Flashback Friday: it's time for a history lesson! The story of the Finish Strong Foundation actually begins in 2003, when we were originally founded as the DMSE Children’s Fitness Foundation. The foundation was reimagined and relaunched this pa We’re inviting race directors across the country to reimagine finishers awards for their kids’ events. Inspire your youngest participants by awarding them a book that encourages them to keep moving! Interested? Reach out to us for more in The Run Show Boston is a new running expo coming to Boston’s Hynes Convention Center February 4-5! Free tickets are still available - use code DMSE and grab your tix at the link in our bio. Our founder Dave McGillivray will be speaking on Sat
 

 

 

BOOKS THAT INSPIRE

 
 

Dream Big

Dave is a small kid who wants more than anything to be a professional athlete. But there’s a problem. You have to be tall to play basketball and big to play football. And Dave? He’s little. Dream Big is a touching story of rejection, determination, a beloved Grandpa, a Boston Marathon attempt, a Boston Marathon failure, and the good advice that finally got him to the finish line.

Finish Strong

Seven marathons on seven continents in seven days? Is that even possible? Finish Strong answers with an inspiring, “Yes!” The secret? Big dreams, hard work, and great friends!

Running Across America

An inspiring, true story about Boston Marathon Race Director Dave McGillivray’s 3,452-mile run across America in 80 days! Through 13 states, blistering heat, and being “pulled over” by a state trooper, Dave relies on good friends, family, a sense of humor, and sheer determination to fulfill a dream — and to help kids who can’t run.