Reimagining Corporate Engagement and Support during the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend – and beyond!

When USA for UNHCR was invited to participate in RunDisney's 2024 Charity Program, it sparked an exciting opportunity to collaborate with one of its longtime corporate supporters, UNIQLO. 

Given UNIQLO's consistent commitment to supporting refugees, USA for UNHCR was excited and encouraged to think beyond traditional forms of collaboration. From the outset, the goal was to find creative ways to involve USA for UNHCR’s generous partners. USA for UNHCR aimed to uncover untapped avenues of support from UNIQLO, even those they may not have realized they could offer. 

The initial request was simple: could Uniqlo provide tech running shirts for Team Step With Refugees during two upcoming races? Generously, UNIQLO didn’t stop at the initial request for in-kind donations. 

With a flagship store in Disney Springs, Florida, the company offered to host a pre-race celebration for Team Step With Refugees during the Walt Disney World® Marathon Weekend. The idea was to create an environment where runners and everyday customers could come together, creating a shared space to connect, mingle and gain insight into global forced displacement issues.  

Upon hearing about the collaboration, UNIQLO’s outstanding employees quickly got involved, offering to help host the in-store race team celebration. Four employees even decided to run on Team Step With Refugees! 

In a realm where corporate partnerships often follow conventional paths, UNIQLO took a unique approach to supporting USA for UNHCR. This collaboration went beyond financial contributions to become a comprehensive approach involving in-kind donations, volunteer support and a genuine connection with the community. 

Thanks in part to UNIQLO’s support, 45 passionate runners crossed the finish line on behalf of USA for UNHCR during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend. Together, these runners raised $30,000 for forcibly displaced families around the world.