Local nonprofit hits the ground running
By the time they reach their teenage years, girls find themselves under an unprecedented amount of pressure and most have already faced a number of decidedly adult decisions. This kind of stress can take a toll on their self-esteem at a period in their lives when it’s more important than ever to establish healthy habits, physically, socially and intellectually. That’s where Girls on the Run Shreveport comes in. This local nonprofit organization, founded in August, “helps them figure out who they are, be a good friend, be a good teammate and work together,” said Beth Ann Menger, council director.
Menger first became involved with Girls on the Run in Washington, D.C., where she lived prior to moving to Shreveport for her husband’s medical residency. The organization had such an impact on her, she said, that she wasn’t as sad to leave D.C. as she was to say goodbye to Girls on the Run. She decided then to figure out a way to establish a council in Shreveport.
What’s so special about Girls on the Run?
It’s a character development program for girls in third through eighth grades. “We teach life skills through dynamic, interactive lessons and running games,” according to the organization’s website, www.girlsontherun.org. “The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.”
“They’re hitting so many goals at once, going through this program,” Menger said. The team’s hour-and-a-half practices are called lessons. The first half focuses on life skills, and the second half involves running. Throughout the season, the team figures out a way they can contribute to their community through a group project. A team in D.C., for instance, started a garden at their school, and the vegetables they grew were served in the cafeterias. Another group traveled to nursing homes in their area and sang Christmas carols during the holiday season. The project can be nearly anything, Menger said, “if it fits their personalities and meets their goals.”
A committee of 12 gathered this summer to tackle the intensive application process in order to establish a Girls on the Run council in Shreveport. Menger said they had to prove through extensive documentation that the area would benefit from the program. They were successful, and the group received approval shortly before Labor Day. The committee reformed in a board of directors, and now they’re busily fundraising, signing up participating schools, recruiting volunteers and planning Girls on the Run Shreveport’s first 5K, set to take place sometime in the late spring.
The 5K is, of course, the culmination of all the girls’ hard work during the season. Open to the public, the race is a celebratory event rather than a competitive one. “Anyone can run it,” Menger said. “But it’s not the type of race where people start throwing elbows to get to the finish. It’s not competitive; it’s more about celebrating the girls and what they’ve accomplished.”
Menger said the first time she watched a team of girls cross the finish line she was overwhelmed with inspiration. “They come across the finish line so proud of themselves,” she said. Right now, Girls on the Run Shreveport is working toward signing up local schools to participate in the program.
Fundraising, too, is high on the organization’s agenda. Girls on the Run International requires each council to pay a fee of $7,500, which covers the cost of training, marketing materials and other necessary items. The Shreveport council has so far raised about $6,000. Beyond that, any funds raised will go toward the program itself for expenses like shoes for girls who are not able to afford them and educational opportunities like scholarships.
Girls on the Run Shreveport also needs volunteers. “We’re always looking for people to help out on our race committee or our fundraising committees,” Menger said. In particular, they need people who are available to coach the teams. Coaching takes place immediately after school twice a week for 12 weeks. Anyone who’s interested in donating funds, time or talent should contact Girls on the Run Shreveport through their Facebook page, www.facebook.com/GOTRShreveport.
– Kelly Powell
Search: The Forum and City Life
