Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge
Narrative
1. Organizational Overview
Mission and History of Girls on the Run
Our Mission
We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which
creatively integrates running.
Our Vision
We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly
pursue her dreams.
We strive to:
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Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making
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Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
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Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
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Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
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Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
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Stand up for ourselves and others
History: Girls on the Run of the High Country (GOTR-HC) officially started in September of 2009. Our
affiliated sponsor, Appalachian State University’s Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Institute
for Health and Human Services (IHHS), allows GOTR-HC to provide programming in Watauga, Ashe,
Alleghany, Avery and Wilkes counties. Hard work and dedication has proven it is possible to realize the
dream and mission of positively impacting our girls and daughters in a way that will empower them for
a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
Molly Barker established Girls on the Run in Charlotte, North Carolina in 1996. Through continuous
training, communication and mentorship, Molly has entrusted the stewardship of Girls on the Run to
qualified Council Directors from around the country. Mary Sheryl Horine serves as the Girls on the Run
of the High Country Council Director. With the help of a board of directors, she uses her extensive
background in public health and youth program development to help make a difference in the lives of
our local girls.
The Girls on the Run curricula, the heart of the program, provides pre-adolescent girls with the necessary
tools to embrace their individual strengths as they enter middle and high school. By serving girls at this
young age when societal influences and peer pressure hasn’t become overwhelming, girls tend to be
receptive and excited by the idea of self-reliance and self-acceptance—traits that they will forever rely
upon. Written by Molly and Dori Luke, LCSW, there are now 3 GOTR and 1 GOT (Girls on Track) curricula,
all based upon research in the field of adolescent issues. The earliest version of the 24 lesson curriculum
was piloted in 1996 with 12 girls. Annually, there are now over 120,000 participants in GOTR in 200
different councils throughout the United States and Canada. With over 52,000 volunteers, Girls on the
Run is one of the most successful, rapidly growing and impactful non-profits in the United States.
Current Core Program
Girls on the Run is a positive youth development program which combines training for a 5k with an
interactive curriculum to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles in pre-teen girls. Our curriculum
addresses many aspects of girls’ development- their physical, emotional, mental and social well-being.
Lessons provide girls with the tools to make positive decision and to avoid risky adolescent behaviors.
Girls on the Run is much more than the program itself though. It is a philosophy. It is a way of being. It
not only impacts the girls who participate in the program, but supports efforts to provide an environment
for all girls and women that nurtures, develops and celebrates their strengths.
2. Proposed Program
The Established Need
The topics covered during the 12-week program are based on research 1 which documents problems
expressed by students that fall into three classifications: lack of identity, lack of connectedness and
feelings of powerlessness over one’s own life. There are currently no comparable DYS programs to Girls
on the Run. It is a unique curriculum in the developmentally based youth sports programming arena
that incorporates physical activity to teach specific and well-defined social and individual skills. Research
validates that the development of these skills prevents the future display of at-risk behaviors including
1
Fantini, Regaining Excellence in Education, Merrill, 1986
early onset of sexual activity, disordered dating, depression, anxiety, substance or alcohol abuse and
confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
Indicator of Social Change
The indicator of social change that best applies to this program is a shift in individual and community
behavior. In fact, one favorite motto of Girls on the Run is: “Changing the World One Girl at a Time!” By
educating and preparing pre-teen girls for a lifetime of healthy living, we not only promote social change
and awareness in that one individual, but in every other individual she connects with including family
members, peers, teachers, etc. Adult women who serve as the role models and coaches in the program
report gaining as much, if not more, than the girls through their participation.
Program Objectives and Strategies
The curriculum incorporates training for a 5k non-competitive walk/run with lessons that inspire third
through eighth grade girls to develop essential life skills. In addition to the components of the program
listed below, girls choose and conduct a community service project and complete a 5k running event as
a group at the conclusion of the season. The 12-week curriculum is divided into three parts that foster
healthy growth in each of the problem classification areas listed under “established need” above:
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The first four weeks provide participants with opportunities to examine their own core value and
ascertain what makes them unique, learn about their individual strengths while setting personal
goals and explore the importance of being physically and emotionally healthy.
The second four weeks provide opportunities to explore getting along within a group, lean active
listening and assertiveness skills, recognize the importance of managing conflict with others and
examine the components of good decision-making skills.
The final four weeks provide participants opportunities to explore their responsibility to the
community, analyze cultural messages girls receive from the media and other institutions, define
community and their collective and individual roles in it and to recognize the power they have to
change the world in a positive way by implementing a community impact project.
Proposed strategies to meet the objectives:
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Advertise the program, location and registration details (goal: 10 sites each semester, 300
participants)
Recruit qualified adult coaches to serve as mentors (goal: 40 coaches)
Train coaches in the curriculum, obtain background checks, train in CPR (goal: satisfactorily train and
obtain background checks on 40 coaches)
Conduct site evaluations to insure program is being conducted as intended (goal: conduct 20 site
evaluations)
Organize a safe and fun 5K run twice per year ( goal: two 5Ks are held)
Potential Inhibitors
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Transportation: Our experience shows that logistical considerations are a major determinant of
whether or not girls can participate. If they have no transportation to and from the GOTR site,
then their participation is unlikely. To make it easier for parents/guardians, the ideal location for
Girls on the Run programming is at elementary schools. However, meeting space at schools is
often at a premium and consent for use is typically at the discretion of the school principal.
Additionally, schools tend to have limited indoor recreation space for use during inclement
weather and some schools, such as Hardin Park Elementary school, don’t have sufficient outdoor
space for running activities. Working with each county’s school system is essential although a
potential factor that could slow our progress.
Parental consent from girls most “at-risk”: occasionally we have experienced that even when girls
are enthusiastic about participation, fees are lowered and transportation issues are resolved,
family circumstances still won’t allow for some girls’ participation. We want our program to be
accessible by every girl in the High Country, but we concurrently need the consent of each girl’s
parent/guardian in order for that participation to take place.
Schedules: Depending on the county in which the girl lives, she might have numerous after school
possibilities and conflicts. Other more remote areas have few to no afterschool activities for girls.
Potential Accelerators
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Health Change in the Environment: We’re finding that more and more parents want their girls
to participate in GOTR for the added benefit of becoming physically active and potentially even
developing a love for running that could last them a lifetime.
Longevity: As a program now in its 5th year, we’re starting to become a familiar and trusted
program in the school system and after-school activity that girls count on from semester to
semester. We have found that “word of mouth” advertising from girls and parents who have
participated is our best source of program promotion.
Population Served
Girls on the Run is unique in that its curriculum is highly beneficial to any girl in the 3rd – 8th grade
regardless of socioeconomic status, weight or body type, public/private/homeschooled background,
race/ethnicity, able-bodiness, religious affiliation or geographic location. Girls on the Run operates its
12-week program twice a year coinciding with the school calendar. Each group has a maximum
enrollment of 15 girls per site with numerous sites operating per session. Family involvement is also
encouraged throughout the 12-week period through the use of the “Grown-Up Guide,” (both in English
and in Spanish) a full-color booklet that enhances the curriculum and its application to life at home and
in the community. We estimate that we will have an impact on 300 girls in 2014-15, 75 coaches and
approximately 900 family members and numerous teachers and acquaintances.
Organizational Capacity
Girls on the Run of the High Country is an affiliate program of IHHS at Appalachian State University.
While the program receives no financial support from the university, it does receive guidance, fiscal
oversight and liability coverage. Additionally, through ASU partnerships, GOTR-HC receives outstanding
volunteer support from students, faculty and staff. IHHS strives to link people and programs at the
university with areas of health need in the community. The advisory board of GOTR-HC is represented
by respected community members and leaders and strives to guide the program in it limitless potential.
GOTR-HC has one part-time paid position which is filled by Jackie Dyer. Jackie coordinates all the GOTRHC sites and assists the Council Director in maintaining program operations. Mary Sheryl Horine, Council
Director, receives in-kind funding through ASU and has both programmatic and fiscal oversight over
GOTR-HC matters.
Participant Recruitment
Girls will be recruited to participate in the program via letters sent home in school folders,
demonstrations in schools, advertisements in the local newpapers, PTO/PTA listservs, word of mouth,
referrals from medical and mental health providers, school counselors and social workers. Additionally,
prior participants in the program are encouraged to repeat participation. Girls/women who have
participated previously and are now beyond the age limit are encouraged to become volunteers and to
possibly apply to become assistant or junior coaches.
If offered the opportunity, every girl in the High Country would benefit from participation in GOTR. We
strive to insure that inability to pay program fees is not a barrier to participation and that we welcome
all girls that are in the correct age range. We make it clear in all paperwork and advertising that financial
aid is available and that program fees are waived for those who are not able to pay. For the 2014-15
school year, we also plan to lower participation fees in order for more girls to be able to participate.
Collaborating Organizations
Girls on the Run of the High Country is pleased to collaborate with three community organizations that
share our belief and values in fitness as a way to foster positive self esteem: The Appalachian Regional
Hospital System’s Paul Broyhill Wellness Center, The High Country Triple Crown and the ASU College of
Health Sciences. Additionally, we partner with various community sites that host the GOTR program.
New sites are in development in Avery, Wilke’s and Alleghany Counties for the 2014-15 time period.
3. Evaluation Plan
Social Change Impact
The heart of the GOTR program is to positively influence girls so that they may reach their full potential
as young adults and as women. It is crucial that girls understand and believe their own positive strengths
and are able to communicate those strengths with confidence. As our program grows and more and
more girls are impacted, we believe we will see a population of young girls that embody the core values
of the Girls on the Run Program:
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Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making
Embrace our differences and find power in our connectedness
Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
Stand up for ourselves and others
Progress and Criteria for Success
Our ultimate criterion for success is that all our girls finish the program with a solid understanding of the
above core values. If our girls are able to individually tap their own beauty and strengths, then we will
have been successful. Societal change is very slow to take place and not easily recognized. However, as
this wave of confident young women proceed through high schools throughout the High Country and
the United States, we will see greater achievements and fewer negative outcomes as evidenced by more
community involvement and fewer high school dropouts, more health conscious behaviors and less
substance abuse, more overall happiness and less depression and low self-esteem.
Evaluation Methods
Girls on the Run has been repeatedly studied and measured and has a proven track record of success.
The GOTR-HC program will be evaluated in the following ways:
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Coach recruitment and training: two coaches per site meet the program requirements (must be
over the age of 18, CPR certified, a satisfactory multi-state criminal background check); coaches
must attend a half day training to review curriculum and program requirements.
Program participant recruitment: a minimum of 8 girls will be enrolled per site and will attend
90% of the 24 classes each session.
5k event key indicators: two 5k events are planned and successfully attended by program
participants; each girl will have a running buddy over the age of 18
Site evaluations to be conducted by the GOTR-HC advisory board: all sites receive a “satisfactory”
grade or higher each session.
GOTR-HC Budget 2014-15
Number Projected Participants
300
Number of coaches
75
Full Registration Fee/participant
$100
Percentage paying full fees
40%
Percentage@ partial scholarship
21%
Percentage @ full scholarship
38%
Revenue:
Earned
19,575.00
Grants, Sponsorships, Donations
13,700.00
5k Registrations
3,750.00
Total Revenue:
37,025.00
Expenses:
Operational
14,500.00
Training
3,800.00
Salaries and benefits
17,853.00
Membership Fees
2,245.00
Total Expenses
38,398.00
WFBR Budget Narrative
Coach/Council Training: $1,000
GOTR coaches are required to attend a training prior to each year’s GOTR sessions. $1000 has been
budgeted to pay for training expenses including a CPR instructor, criminal background checks, supplies
and curricula for the training.
Participant Scholarships: $3,000
GOTR-HC estimates that 60% of our girls will require financial assistance in order to be able to
participate in the program. The budget request includes $3,000 to be dedicated towards scholarship
support. This will cover registration fees for 40 girls who are eligible for free and reduced lunch.
Total WFBR Request: $4,000.00
Other Funding for Program
GOTR-HC also receives funding support from The High Country Triple Crown and in-kind donations
from Appalachian State University. Girls on the Run of the High Country hosts an annual fundraising
event called the Luck o the Lassie, held each year near St. Patrick’s Day. In 2014 we also were
fortunate to receive grant support from High Country Recreation.
Without funding support from the Women’s Fund of the Blue Ridge, the program will continue to
operate. However, we will be limited in the amount of funding we can provide for girls to participate
who may not be able to pay the full program fees.