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    Focus on Philanthropy: Girls on the Run of Central Ohio

    When Girls on the Run started in 1996 in Charlotte, NC, self-esteem was known to peak at age 9. Today, as the program coaches girls through more than 200 councils nationwide, that peak already happens even earlier, at age 8. Using the curriculum dreamt up by founder Molly Barker these councils teach young girls in third through eighth grades how to manage issues like self confidence and body image all while getting them ready to run their first 5K.

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    Taking place in any neighborhood hub, like a school, church or community center, Girls on the Run of Central Ohio applies this curriculum in neighborhood hubs around Central Ohio, in schools, churches and community centers. Coaches appear for 10 weeks at a time in the spring and fall, bringing with them the day’s challenge, which entails exploring concepts like empathy, helpful assertiveness, or working through social conflict.

    It’s often scenario-based, encouraging the girls to consider how they’d feel if, for example, they dropped their lunch tray and spilled everything in the middle of the cafeteria, and how they’d help someone in that situation. Once they reach their movement goal for the day, the girls receive a group energy award, where they “acknowledge one another for exemplifying the skill of the day and really embodying the Girls on the Run core values that they set as a team,” said Jess Sparks, Council Director for Girls on the Run of Central Ohio.

    “It’s noncompetitive, which can be difficult, because at some of our sites they live in very competitive neighborhoods — for resources, for acknowledgment, for popularity,” Sparks continued. “There’s just so much competition pushed onto our girls from societal forces and their families, and their communities … and these girls are feeling it, you can see it in them.”

    They’ll have time to strive for individual success as they pursue athletics beyond the program. For now, through surrendering the need to compete, Girls on the Run participants learn how to build other girls up through collaboration.

    “It’s great to see when the lightbulb comes on and they see, ‘Wow, we really can accomplish more when we work together,’” Sparks said.

    While the program isn’t designed solely for girls from high poverty neighborhoods, their sliding fee scale caters to those communities anyway. Offering their 10-week program for $150, Girls on the Run allows families to pay as little as $10 to participate. If that’s too much, they’re still accepted. Using money gathered through fundraising, Girls on the Run can offset the lack of payment and continue to provide curriculum materials, coaches with training experience, the 5K, and material assistance, including running shoes, socks, t-shirts, running shorts and pants, bras, hats, scarves and gloves.

    At the end of the season, Girls on the Run puts on their 5K, convening their 1,200 participants from 100 sites to run, skip or jump across the finish line.

    “For the girls, it’s really powerful for them to see one another and knowing that each other has gone through the exact same program, and that there’s some commonality and common thread that runs through all of them for that experience,” Sparks said. “It’s a wonderful day.”

    luckys-marketFocus on Philanthropy is a feature series sponsored by Lucky’s Market that highlights Central Ohio nonprofit organizations involved in their Bags for Change program. Encouraging the use of reusable bags, the program grants a $.10 credit per bag or the option to donate it to a local nonprofit. Lucky’s will also match the donation.

    For more information, follow them on Twitter at @luckysmarket and like Lucky’s Market on Facebook.

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    Lauren Sega
    Lauren Segahttps://columbusunderground.com
    Lauren Sega is the former Associate Editor for Columbus Underground and a current freelance writer for CU. She covers political issues on the local and state levels, as well as local food and restaurant news. She grew up near Cleveland, graduated from Ohio University's Scripps School of Journalism, and loves running, traveling and hiking.
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