For Immediate Release
Media Contact: Kelly Plocharczyk Girls on the Run Executive Director (734) 765 6893 kplocharczyk@ymcadetroit.org
Detroit – September 4, 2019 – Girls on the Run of Greater Detroit has been awarded a grant from The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation Sports Matter program for $10,711 as part of the company’s ongoing commitment to provide access to sports for one million young athletes over the next five years.
Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development that is designed to enhance girls’ social, emotional and physical skills and behaviors to successfully navigate life experiences. The 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 trained and caring coaches in a safe and inclusive environment. It is the combination of the research-based curriculum, trained coaches and a commitment to serve all girls that sets Girls on the Run apart from other out of school programs.
The grant from The DICK’S Foundation will provide more girls with the opportunity to participate in Girls on the Run. An independent study found that the program is highly effective at driving transformative and lasting change in the lives of third – eighth grade girls. 97% of participants said they learned critical life skills such as how to resolve conflict, manage emotions, help others and make intentional decisions at Girls on the Run that they are using at home, at school and with their friends.
“Girls on the Run envisions a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams,” says Kelly Plocharczyk. “This grant from The DICK’S Foundation will help move this vision forward by providing opportunities for more girls to participate in our life-changing program.
“We are thrilled to partner with Girls on the Run to help inspire and encourage young girls to be healthy and confident,” said Aimee Watters, Executive Director of The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation. “Our goal is to help more than one million young athletes across the country play sports, and this is just one way we are doing that.”
Girks on the Run of Greater Detroit is one of 13 Girls on the Run councils to receive The DICK’s Foundation grant. In total, over $700,000 was awarded to councils in 11 states to advance the mission of Girls on the Run.
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About Girls on the Run
Based in Charlotte, N.C., Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization with local Councils in all 50 states. Founded in 1996 with 13 girls, Girls on the Run has now served more than 1.8 million girls. Over the course of the 10-week program, girls in 3rd-8th grade develop essential skills to help them navigate their worlds and establish a lifetime appreciation for health and fitness. The program culminates with girls positively impacting their communities through a service project and being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K event. With the largest 5K series by number of events in the world, Girls on the Run hosts more than 330 5Ks per year.
Girls on the Run is included as a top research-based program in a Social-Emotional Learning Guide developed by researchers at Harvard University and has been recognized by the National Afterschool Association (NAA) as one of the most influential after-school programs.
About The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation
The DICK’S Sporting Goods Foundation is an exempt 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation with a mission to inspire and enable sports participation. It was created by DICK’S Sporting Goods, Inc. as a private corporate foundation to support DICK’S charitable and philanthropic activities.
