Running Strong for American Indian Youth® was co-founded in 1986 by Billy Mills (Oglala Lakota) and Gene Krizek after the two men bonded over their mutual desire to help those impacted by generational poverty and adversity each had seen on their travels around the world.
Billy, who became the Olympic champion in the 10,000-meter race at the 1964 Tokyo Games, made it his priority to give back to his community and create a better future for Native American youth. His dream to serve his home community of the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation and Native communities across the country was supported by Gene’s extensive experience in Congress, foreign service, and the U.S. Air Force.
Together, they founded Running Strong under Christian Relief Services, beginning with the essential goal of bringing water to the people of Pine Ridge. Over time, they forged partnerships across Indian Country that continue to create lasting change today.
Running Strong’s work began primarily on the Pine Ridge and Cheyenne River Indian Reservations in South Dakota. Today, we proudly serve over 30 rural and urban Native American communities. We work closely with communities to implement solutions tailored to each community’s needs, and support Native-led organizations that align with our mission, providing holistic support across generations.
Running Strong is dedicated to strengthening Native communities by meeting critical needs, preserving culture, and empowering the dreams of Native American youth.
We build the capacity of local Native communities so they can overcome challenges and shape their own futures guided by culture, driven by youth, and rooted in trust.
We address immediate needs such as access to clean water, nutritious food, warm clothing, and heating assistance, challenges that many Native families still face due to systemic inequities and geographic isolation. But our work doesn’t stop there.
We also invest in long-term, community-led solutions: empowering Native youth, revitalizing Indigenous languages and lifeways, supporting Native artists and entrepreneurs, and providing safe spaces and education to help families thrive for generations to come.
Every program is developed in close collaboration with Native communities to ensure it reflects their priorities, values, and cultural traditions. Whether it’s launching youth leadership grants, funding community events, or supporting family gardens, our initiatives are guided by native knowledge and community-defined goals.
We are proud to uphold the highest standards of transparency and impact. Running Strong is recognized by:
We also invite you to meet our leadership team, view our annual reports, and review our financial transparency to see how we responsibly steward our resources.
Your support helps provide more than just essentials, it fuels hope, resilience, and opportunity for Native families. Together, we can help Native youth achieve their dreams and build a stronger future rooted in tradition and community.
