Girls on the Run of NOVA

Specific Need

Though the name "Girls on the Run" evokes images of girls running around a track, that's not us - our program is foremost about addressing the social and emotional health of our participants with interactive lessons.

Donations made to Girls on the Run of NOVA via Give Choose 2025 will support core costs so that participants who do not have the means to pay a registration fee can still access this positive, structured, afterschool program and build the strength, health, and confidence they need to succeed.

Girls on the Run of NOVA knows that building confidence, building strength, and forming healthy habits are lifelong lessons. We need your help to ensure all local girls have access to the tools they need to face life's challenges. GOTR NOVA offers need-based financial aid as well as program fee discounts. $210 covers the cost of a full season scholarship for a girl in need.

Mission

We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. We are not a running club! And while physical activity is a component of the program, Girls on the Run primarily equips elementary and middle school girls with the social-emotional skills (like positive self-talk, putting yourself in someone else's shoes, standing up for yourself and others, and more) they need to thrive as they grow.

Profile

The Girls on the Run curriculum is delivered by trained Volunteer Coaches who mentor and guide the girls through experience-rich lessons that promote healthy lifestyles and a positive self-image.

While in the program, participants engage in activities that develop skills and values related to self-awareness and self-care, selecting healthy social relationships, and empowering them to have a voice in their personal well-being as well as the well-being of the larger community. Each season culminates in a celebratory 5K event, where participants from across the region come together to achieve a tangible sense of accomplishment.

Since 2000, Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia (GOTR NOVA) has helped more than 87,000 local kids increase their physical activity levels, learn healthy behaviors, and improve their self-esteem through evidence-based, team-based after-school programming enriched with female mentors.

As we celebrate our 25th anniversary in 2025, we reflect on a legacy of innovation and growth, including our recent strategic focus on more effectively meeting the needs of girls from low-income communities. This milestone year underscores our commitment to ensuring every eligible participant has access to the tools and support they need to thrive.