Welcome to Stride & Serve
Private, Home-Cooked Dinner Parties - Fundraising for the 2026 Chicago Marathon and Promoting Mental Health Awareness. Based in Chicago
Meet the Chef
Hi, I'm Lucas
Stride & Serve was created to bring people together around two powerful forces for good: movement and community. Through intimate, home-cooked dinner parties, we raise funds for mental health organizations while celebrating the positive impact that running can have on mental well-being.
The idea for Stride & Serve began in New York City, where I ran the 2025 NYC Marathon while fundraising over $11,000 for NAMI-NYC—an organization dedicated to helping individuals and families affected by mental illness build better lives through education, support, and advocacy. The months of training, the fundraising journey, and the race itself were transformative. Running became more than physical preparation; it became a tool for clarity, resilience, and mental strength.
That experience taught me two things: my story was worth sharing, and the combination of movement, purpose, and community can be incredibly powerful. Stride & Serve was born from that belief—creating meaningful moments around the table, supporting mental health causes, and inspiring others to experience the mental health benefits of running in their own lives.
Why Choose Us
A Private Chef Experience
Get all the benefits of a private chef
Stride & Serve takes care of everything—so you can focus on what matters most: great food, meaningful conversation, and supporting a great cause.
We handle:
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Grocery shopping
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Cooking
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Full clean-up
All you and your guests need to do is choose a date, gather around the table, and show up hungry
Mental Health Awareness
A Shared and Charitable Meal
Every Stride & Serve dinner directly supports mental health. 100% of proceeds are donated to Still I Run—the country’s only nonprofit running community dedicated to promoting the mental health benefits of running.
Still I Run works to defeat stigma, raise awareness, and empower individuals to use running as a tool for mental wellness—whether they’re seasoned runners or just getting started. Your seat at the table helps fuel that mission and expand access to mental health support through movement and community
An Experienced Cook
Former Private Chef Business Owner
I ran a successful private chef business during college, serving over 20 recurring clients and hosting private dinner parties. I cooked daily for groups of five or more, often preparing multiple meals per day.
That experience shaped my approach to food: thoughtful, reliable, and centered around bringing people together. Every Stride & Serve dinner reflects that same level of care, consistency, and attention to detail—so your experience feels both effortless and memorable.
