The Zac Plantz Foundation's Don’t Run Alone 5K Walk & Run

Zachary “Zac” Plantz was a Frankfort, IL native and a lifelong Chicago loyalist. While his time on Earth was limited, he maximized his 27 years by excelling at whatever life put in front of him, and ensuring he left his mark on this world. Zac had a knack for making old pals out of strangers, and anyone who spent five minutes with him knew why—he was engaging, gregarious, and charismatic; a true jokester. But there was also an altruism to Zac’s playful antics. His sincerity and warmth made him a shepherd of sorts for every odd-man-out, known to bridge the gap between old-timers and newcomers. Zac graduated near the top of his class at Providence Catholic High School, was an all-state football selection, and went on to earn a degree and become a rugby stand-out at the University of Notre Dame. He began his professional career in consulting, and, like everything else he did, found success in solving clients’ biggest problems while building an expansive professional network. At 25, Zac walked away from consulting to pursue his true passion, public service. He started building a name for himself in Chicago politics, working on local and state campaigns with future plans to attend law school. These career moves were stepping stones toward Zac’s ultimate life goal—to build a better city, a better country, and a better tomorrow for everyone he encountered along the way.

In the six years leading up to his death, Zac extended his attentiveness and passion to mental health advocacy. He left this earth with a dirty mustache that helped him single-handedly raise over $145,000 for the Movember Foundation, an organization dedicated to improving men’s physical and mental health. Zac was committed to fighting the stigma surrounding men’s mental health and used his Movember fundraising as a platform for raising awareness and encouraging vulnerability as a sign of strength. As part of this effort, Zac became an advocate for his own mental health, attending therapy and sharing his experiences openly with family and friends. We seek to further Zac’s efforts—shepherding the odd-man-out, championing education, leadership, and wellness.