When thousands of employees gather in downtown Dallas for the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge, it’s easy to focus on the start line—the buzz of team shirts, the cheers, and the shared goal of finishing strong. But the most important part of this event happens after the race.
On Thursday, May 7, 2026, the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge will bring more than 2,200 runners, joggers, and walkers together from nearly 90 organizations for a 3.5-mile run/walk and post-race celebration. And once again, the beneficiary is United Way of Metropolitan Dallas, whose mission is simple and powerful: unite the community to create access and opportunity so all North Texans can thrive.

The miles add up in more ways than one. United Way’s work helps students build early literacy,
connects neighbors to better jobs and financial stability, and expands access to health and wellness resources. It’s a long-distance commitment to education, income, and health for all who call Dallas home.

The finish line is where the work begins.

For many events, the story ends when the last participant crosses the finish line. For United Way, that’s when the real work accelerates.
Funds raised through the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge help power a network of community partners and programs focused on measurable outcomes—because improving lives isn’t a sprint.

In the past year alone, United Way of Metropolitan Dallas and its partners helped change lives across North Texas at scale—supporting students, strengthening workforce pathways, and connecting neighbors to health resources.

“Families across the Dallas area are working every day to get ahead – finding stable work, making sure their kids are reading on grade level, and getting connected to the health resources they need,” said Jennifer Sampson, McDermott-Templeton president and CEO of United Way of Metropolitan Dallas. “Funds raised from the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge help us stay in stride with those families all year long. It strengthens our programs and helps us focus on resources where they’ll make the biggest difference.”

United Way’s strategy follows a clear course to keep North Texas moving forward together:

• Education: Early literacy and grade-level reading aren’t just academic milestones—they’re future opportunities. When children build strong reading skills early, they’re more likely to stay on track in school and graduate prepared for what comes next.
• Income: Financial stability shapes nearly every part of a person’s life—housing, health, and the ability to plan for the future. United Way’s work supports career pathways, job training, and tools that help families build savings and reduce reliance on high-cost alternatives.
• Health: Good health is foundational at every stage of life. United Way and its partners connect North Texans with resources that support wellness, nutrition, and access to affordable healthcare coverage—so families can stay healthy and keep moving forward.

A Team Event With A Team Impact

What makes the Corporate Challenge special is right in the name: it’s a team race. Coworkers show up for each other, companies run side-by-side with other employers, and the city turns a few miles of streets into a shared experience.

That same team spirit is how United Way drives lasting change—bringing together corporate partners, grassroots organizations, schools, and neighbors around shared goals. The result is a community-wide relay: one organization hands off to another, services connect to outcomes, and progress continues step-by-step.

“Across North Texas, our partnerships are built on showing up for clients, colleagues and communities—and the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge is one of the most exciting ways we do that,” said Belen Garren, Vice Chair of JPMorganChase’s Market Leadership Team in North Texas.

“Race day is powerful. We love coming together to celebrate these connections, show our gratitude to the local community, and support United Way’s year-round work that helps families move forward.” 

For nearly 50 years, JPMorganChase has hosted the event in locations across the world from New York City to China to Australia. This year, the bank has 16 locations across six continents. More than 7,200 companies and more than 230,000 runners participated across the globe last year. This is the fifth running of the JPMorganChase Corporate Challenge in Dallas-Fort Worth in the current era. The event previously visited Dallas from 2001 to 2004.