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Anne M. Mahlum is the Founder and CEO of Back on My Feet (BoMF), a strategic and unique nonprofit organization that promotes the self-sufficiency of the homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem. After launching in Philadelphia July 2007, it now also has chapters in Baltimore, Washington D.C., Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta and will launch in NYC in April 2012. Anne has led the organization to grow to a staff of 41, thousands of volunteers and hundreds of members.

Anne and Back on My Feet have been featured on several national news outlets, including NBC Nightly News, ABC World News, CNN Heroes, and The Today Show. For a complete list of national media pieces please click here. Anne has also received numerous awards for her work, which include:

ABC World News Person of the Week, 2008
CNN Hero, 2008
101 Top Philadelphia Young Leaders, 2008
Penjerdel’s Citizen of the Year, 2009
Champion of Health, Women’s Health Magazine, 2009
Young Professional of the year, Young Variety Club, 2009
Hometown Hero, Philadelphia 76ers, 2009
Next Generation of Leaders, Philadelphia City Council, 2009
Honorary Degree, Manhattanville College, 2009
Top 10 Fitness Heroes, Fitness Magazine, 2010
State Farm Community Hero Award, 2010
Bismarck High School Hall of Fame, 2010
Philadelphia’s top 40 under 40, 2010
Heroes Among Us, Boston Celtics, 2010
Alliance Inspiration Award, Philadelphia Alliance, 2010
Power 30 under 30, Apex Society, 2010
Circle of Excellence, CEO Magazine, 2011
Washington Business Journal's Top "40 Under 40," 2011
 

Anne regularly speaks at corporate events, academic institutions and conferences. She has spoken to intimate groups of 20 to as many as 35,000. She is mainly known as a motivational speaker on the simple, but powerful statemetn that one person can change the world, but she has also presented on turning your passion into your career, leadership, the business behind starting a nonprofit, fundraising, social change and of course, the issue of homelessness. Interested in having Anne  at your next event? Click here:

MORE ABOUT ANNE:

Anne's relationship with running began when she was 16 as it was her way of dealing with the unexpected situation of her dad's struggle with a gambling addiction, which tore apart her family. While Anne could never find a way to help her dad, she found her own answers in the life lessons that surround running, such as taking things one step at a time and learning the value of being on difficult roads. 10 years later, Anne's running had led her past a homeless shelter on 12th and Vine in Philadelphia where she began to develop a friendly, sarcastic rapport with some of the individuals staying there, who reminded her of her dad. During one morning run she realized that running could benefit them in the same way that it helped her and she felt in some way she could vicariously help her father by helping them. The organization had its first official run on July 3rd, 2007 and in three years has grown to a $5.5 million nonprofit with hundreds of members and thousands of volunteers in Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, DC, Boston and Chicago, Dallas, Indianapolis, Atlanta and NYC will launch in April 2012.

Anne is responsible for the vision, strategy and national fundraising efforts for Back on My Feet as it continues to expand across the country. The organization has seen more than 100 percent growth in revenue from 08-09 and 09-10 and is very deliberate about diversifying its funding streams.

In addition to creating BoMF, she has created unique events and campaigns within BoMF. One example is the Stroehmann Back on My Feet 20in24 Race Event. 2012 is the race's fifth year and is expected to net more than $350,000 for the organization.

Anne attended graduate school at American University where she obtained her master’s degree in political communications in 2003. She is an avid runner and has completed 10 marathons. It’s her goal to run a marathon on every continent and Antarctica is the last one on her list. She is originally from Bismarck, North Dakota. She currently resides in New York City.

A LETTER FROM ANNE

Thank you for your interest in BoMF and I can say with such confidence that in the pages of this website you will find inspiration, motivation, determination and commitment. The Back on My Feet program is 100 percent about results and our team is 100 percent committed to our mission of promoting the self-sufficiency of the homeless population by engaging them in running as a means to build confidence, strength and self-esteem.

In addition, BoMF has a larger mission of using sport to create social change. There are so many differences between all of us, but running reminds us just how similiar we are. When we run, there is no separation between race, gender, age or socio-economic status.

I’ve been a runner for most of my life and throughout the years, running has not only been my best friend, but it has taught me some of the greatest life lessons and it gives me so much pleasure to be able to share these experiences with the members of Back on My Feet. Life is about choosing different roads and our program teaches the importance of choosing the right roads lined with opportunity, hope and happiness.

A little about me…It's on the very flat streets of Bismarck that I discovered I was a runner. Running feeds my mind and soul; it is my daily therapy and it is because of running that I can fly. Each step reminds me that there are no unreachable dreams just like there are no unsolvable problems. There is just our limited perception of what is possible and only I get the luxury of determining what's possible for me. One of my goals is to run a marathon in all seven continents - just Antarctica is left, but I'm from North Dakota so I'm hoping I'll have some kind of advantage!

I moved to Manhattan in November 2011 and am very much enjoying the energy of the city.   In addition to running Back on My Feet, I enjoy running (obviously), playing chess (correction, winning at chess), building and creating, traveling and reading. I also have respectable skills on the basketball court...and I LOVE going to movies.

I went to college in Minnesota and graduate school in D.C, but I am astutely aware that learning comes not only from paying attention in class, but from listening to the symphonious sound of the city, watching people as they shuffle from one destination to the next and of course, from running through the streets of the most affluent neighborhoods to those that have experienced a little more hardship.

Back on My Feet is my way of making positive change. Running is one of the most empowering activities there is because there is no end. There is always another mile, another road, and another right turn. There is no buzzer and there is no referee. It has taught me so much about life, especially the simple notion that to get anywhere, you have to take it one step at a time.

Some words I live by:
"You have to be the change you want to see in the world."

"While we cannot control everything that happens to us in life, we can control how we respond."

"Watch your thoughts for they become your words, choose your words for they become your actions, understand your actions for they become your habits, study your habits for they become your character, develop your character for it becomes your destiny."

"Walk in like you own the place."

Warmest regards,
Anne