Search

Girls on the Run Puget Sound 

Description

Our Girls on the Run (GOTR) participants learn vital health, wellness and life skills they are not learning in school. The Washington State Superintendent of Public Instruction establishes the health and fitness learning standards for all public schools in the state, and our curriculum expands, complements and builds on core principles girls learn during the school day.

Mission Statement
We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.
Donate Now
Girls on the Run Puget Sound
1265 S Main St Ste 310 
Seattle 
WA
98144 
(206) 528-2118 

Kerin Brasch 
Executive Director 

Programs

Girls on the Run Puget Sound Programs

Our program specifically improves health and fitness outcomes for girls, addresses issues not covered in school curricula and helps some girls develop more appropriate social behavior. Parents and educators tell us that they notice a positive difference in girls who complete the program. The timeliness of educating girls before they enter upper level grades can make a huge difference when they encounter difficult choices and make important decisions that will affect their future during those crucial years.

Our program is a unique blend of life lessons in subjects such as bullying, cooperation with others, nutrition, values, positive and negative media messages that girls receive every day with a program for physical fitness. Girls learn how to think "out of the girl box" by making decisions and holding true to their own unique beliefs, values and goals. Nearly 100% of the participants complete the Girls on the Run 5K Run/Walk at the culmination of our 10-week program. Volunteer coaches and Running Buddies along with others in the community run and cheer them on to accomplish their goal.

Our curriculum and program, Girls on the Run, was developed by Molly Barker, MSW and four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete. Using her expertise in counseling and teaching along with research on adolescent issues, she founded Girls on the Run® in Charlotte, North Carolina, in 1999. Today over 200 councils operate in North America. Girls on the Run Puget Sound aims to serve all girls, and our potential to serve the public school population alone is tremendous. GOTRPS serves girls third through fifth grade in King County, and by our estimates we are annually reaching less than five percent of them.

Recent Successes and Current Challenges

In the past four years we have increased the number of participants in our program from 170 to over 950 girls. This is important as community and school programs are on the chopping block due to decreases in funding. We have identified a number of under-served communities to target for proactive outreach to establish sites and support their development over several seasons. 

In addition to general support, we need school champions to financially support and provide volunteers for specific schools in under-served communities participating in our Girls on the Run program.

Evaluation


Girls on the Run of Puget Sound (GOTR) is a curriculum-based, experiential learning program that uses the vehicle of running to teach self-respect and healthy living to girls in 3rd through 5th grades, before girls have started at-risk behaviors.

Proven Success
The GOTR curriculum—a structured, well-researched program refined through professional evaluations—is a holistic approach that encourages examination of the physical, mental, emotional and social self. Topics explored include nutrition, body image, media influences, and emotional self-expression, as well as substance abuse.

Accessibility and Cultural Competency
Its programs are initiated and located in neighborhood schools and community centers at the request of a member of that community—local leadership, as well as placement of programs in neighborhoods, makes it more accessible and convenient for girls to attend and for their families to become involved.

Now that it has established its programming, it is also reaching out to more underserved girls (more than 50 percent of program participants are on scholarships).

Collaboration
GOTR collaborates with community members to help run the program locally, recruits volunteer coaches and running buddies, and partners with local health groups to provide training and resources.

Financial Health
GOTR receives broad based community support. They have developed a workable model to deliver services by working with their collaborators. They ended their fiscal year on June 30, 2010 and preliminary results show that they increased their revenue $72,051 over the previous year (57%) and expenses increased $58,986 (45%). Expenses increased due to the addition of a full-time Executive Director.
 
Girls on the Run has doubled the size of its board and is now serving twice as many girls, growing from eight sites in 2009 to 57 sites in 2010-2011. It continues to balance high- and low-income sites in order to help fund the program costs. It has diverse funding sources and a three-year strategic plan focused on sustainability of its current sites while strategically expanding to reach more girls.

Grant History with The Seattle Foundation:

Grants Awarded through The Seattle Foundation Grantmaking Program:

DateAmountPurpose
6/26/2008 $5,000.00support general operating expenses.

Financials

Similar Organizations

Give broadly to Health & Wellness
If you care about increasing access to healthcare, ensuring everyone has basic health coverage, and promoting healthy lifestyles, then make a difference by giving to the Grantmaking Program.
Questions or comments about this organization?
Contact us to learn more.