History of the Race

In August of 2000, Jim Vrettos, a member of the Rotary Club of Chicago - Financial District invited a small group of people to meet at the McGaw YMCA in Evanston, Illinois to discuss an idea to raise funds for Rotary International's global program to eradicate polio from the face of the earth-the PolioPlus Program. It was then and there decided that a "Race to the Finish" would be organized for the Summer of 2001: an 8k race for runners and a 5k race for walkers through the streets of Evanston and along its beautiful lakefront. Officially sponsored by Rotary Districts 6440 and 6450, the June, 2001 Race to the Finish proved to be a grand success.

Since then, the Race to the Finish has been held annually in June of each year. In total, the Race has raised nearly $500,000 for the PolioPlus Program. Over the years, special guests of the Race have included Frank Devlyn, President of Rotary International, Kristin Castillo, Miss Illinois, and Alison Rosatti from NBC-Channel 5 News in Chicago.

Sadly, Jim Vrettos passed away on July 13, 2003, shortly after the third Race to the Finish. Over the years, Jim worked tenaciously to see that each of these races succeeded. He was an inspiration to all of us.