Girls on the Run Georgia is pleased to be the recipient of a $35,000 grant from the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund supports charitable organizations that integrate organized sports, academics, and youth development activities for young people up to age 18.
Girls on the Run Georgia is a physical activity-based positive youth development (PA-PYD) program that is designed to enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. We offer two programs: Girls on the Run for 3rd to 5th graders, and Heart & Sole for 6th to 8th graders.
The 12-week program’s intentional curriculum places an emphasis on developing competence, confidence, connection, character, caring, and contribution in young girls through lessons that incorporate running and other physical activities. The life skills curriculum is delivered by caring and competent coaches who are trained to teach lessons as intended. The program inspires girls to build lives of purpose and to make a meaningful contribution to community and society. This comes to life through a key element of the curricula when each team creates and executes a community service project. The season concludes with a celebratory 5K event. Completing the 5K gives the participants a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals.
The gift of $35,000 will provide the funding needed to provide seven sites, 100 participants, with the evidence-based program. This project is targeting girls and gender-expansive youth in 3rd-8th grade at high-need sites in Greater Atlanta. These sites are in historically marginalized and under-resourced communities where youth have had limited access to after school programming due to socioeconomic factors and related barriers such as lack of transportation to and from activities, lack of safe and well-lit practice areas, registration and equipment fees, and limited volunteer support.
“We are incredibly grateful for the support from the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta,” said Lea Rolfes, executive director for Girls on the Run Georgia. “This funding not only supports our mission to inspire confidence and promote healthy lifestyles, but it also reinforces our commitment to expanding our reach and creating opportunities for even more participants in the communities we serve and those we look forward to serving in the future.”
“Supporting sports-based youth development programs is an investment in healthier, stronger communities,” said Cynthia Padilla Pearson, program officer – TogetherATL. “By promoting access to physical activity, fostering mentorship and prioritizing well-being, we see the 'limitless potential' in everyone.”
About Girls on the Run Georgia
At Girls on the Run, our mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. Since 2000, Girls on the Run Georgia has empowered more than 40,000 participants to embrace these values. Girls on the Run Georgia (formerly Girls on the Run of Atlanta) proudly serves several thousand girls a year in communities in and around greater Atlanta, Athens, Central Savannah River Valley (CSRA), and North Georgia and is actively expanding in areas of Georgia that aren’t currently served by existing Girls on the Run councils.
We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. Visit girlsontherunatlanta.org for more information.
About the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta
The Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta inspires and leads the Atlanta region toward equity and shared prosperity for all who call it home. TogetherATL is the Foundation’s strategic ethos, working through a collaborative approach with community stakeholders, donors, nonprofits and others to examine complex challenges the region faces and create solutions that build a thriving region. Started in 1951, the Community Foundation shepherds approximately $1.5 billion in current assets through its 1,000+ donor funds, while simultaneously raising and deploying more than $120 million annually to thousands of nonprofit organizations. For more information visit: cfgreateratlanta.org or connect with the Foundation via Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn.