THE PEOPLE BEHIND THE KENYA MARATHON DINNER
Our Team
Meet the volunteers who plan, host, and run the Kenya Marathon Dinner each year — on the ground in Chicago and behind the scenes with Kenya's elite runners.
LEADERSHIP
Faith Chepkwony
Founder & President
Faith Chepkwony is the Founder and President of the Kenyan Marathon Dinner (KMD), an organization she has proudly led since 1998. Her passion for giving back and helping others is deeply rooted in her DNA and inspired by the example of her mother, who devoted herself to supporting those less fortunate, building community, and ensuring that people in need had food.
Faith’s commitment to service extends far beyond hosting an annual celebration. She recognizes the extraordinary dedication, discipline, and hard work of Kenya’s elite marathon runners who come to Chicago to compete in the Bank of America Chicago Marathon. Believing that their stories of perseverance can serve as a powerful source of inspiration, she works tirelessly to bridge the gap between these world-class athletes and the local community.
Educational and cultural exchange are foundational pillars of KMD’s core mission. Under Faith's leadership, the dinner serves as a vibrant educational forum, drawing attendees such as Northwestern University’s Kiswahili language classes to foster cross-cultural awareness and experiential learning. She has also spearheaded regional, cross-cultural initiatives uniting East African voices, including key collaborations with the Ethiopian and Tanzanian communities to celebrate international Kiswahili Day.
To further strengthen KMD's impact, Faith has cultivated robust relationships with key diplomatic, community, and international organizations. A centerpiece of this effort is KMD's strategic collaboration with the Kenya Embassy in Washington, D.C., working together to officially honor and celebrate these elite sports stars as vital global athletic ambassadors.
A notable highlight of her leadership includes partnering with Gotabgaa International to sponsor the attendance of the legendary two-time Olympic champion, Dr. Kipchoge Keino, bringing unparalleled inspiration to the event. Additionally, KMD partners with Team World Vision and Transcend Academy to advance shared values of opportunity, empowerment, and global citizenship.
A central pillar of Faith’s vision is inspiring the next generation to dream bigger, work harder, and support one another. She actively coordinates outreach programs with local high schools and college track teams, granting young student-athletes the rare opportunity to meet and learn directly from Kenya's elite runners. Furthermore, her hands-on volunteer work with World Sports Chicago facilitated impactful elementary school visits, bringing together US Olympians and international marathon stars to promote sports, youth wellness, and cultural exchange.
For Faith, the Kenyan Marathon Dinner represents more than a gathering—it is a dynamic, year-round celebration of community, culture, athletic excellence, and the transformative power of giving back.
faithchepkwony@kenyamarathondinner.com
LEADERSHIP
Don Owino
Chief Operations Officer
Don Owino serves as Chief Operations Officer, where he mobilizes resources and builds the relationships that drive the success of the Kenyan Marathon Dinner. He serves as a liaison with elite runners from the Republic of Kenya, overseeing event logistics and management, media representation, technical consultation, and corporate sponsor outreach. His radio background has also honed his natural ability as an MC and communicator, skills he regularly brings to the event's public-facing moments and media presence.
Don makes frequent trips to Kenya to engage directly with key stakeholders in the Ministry of Sports and Tourism, strengthening the partnerships that support the event's success.
Through his work with the AMG Agency, Don brings vast experience organizing large-scale events across the country — from hosting major artists in Chicago and beyond, to events centered on the Kenyan Diaspora, including the Las Vegas Sevens Rugby tournament and other Kenyan cultural celebrations. This breadth of experience is what positions Don so naturally within this space, continuing to strengthen relationships within the Kenyan Diaspora community and create opportunities for connection and collaboration.
Beyond his professional and community work, Don takes great pride in being a father to his young adult twin daughters — whom he describes as his greatest accomplishment.
donowino@kenyamarathondinner.com
LEADERSHIP
Sheila Wesonga
Secretary
Born and raised in Chicago, Sheila Wesonga has dedicated her life to being in service of others.
As a community organizer she continues to shape public policy in education, healthcare, and the environment. As an entrepreneur she secures funding through grant administration, assists with employment opportunities and help businesses grow. She does all of this and more while being a wife of 40 years to a Kenyan athletic legend, a mother and grandmother.
Raised by parents who relocated from Mississippi during the Great Migration, Sheila was taught the enduring values of hard work, family, service, and a deep admiration for diversity and culture. Her Mississippi roots exposed her to the rich crossroads of Southern influences: connecting music, language, traditions, and cultures of Memphis, New Orleans, Dallas, and Atlanta.
These experiences shaped Sheila’s appreciation for diversity and strengthened her commitment to building bridges across communities. She proudly carries these values forward through her family, work, and community service.
sheila.wesonga@kenyamarathondinner.com