Our Story

Girls face social pressures and conflicting messages about how they should act and who they should be. Studies show that by adolescence, girls’ confidence drops about twice as much as boys’. Friendships become more complicated and challenging, girls’ perception of their academic ability declines, the likelihood of anxiety and depression increases and participation in physical activity plummets. We believe it doesn’t have to be this way. Girls on the Run of Northeast Wisconsin is an education and empowerment program that inspires girls (grades 3-8) to be joyful, healthy, and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. We were established in April 2012 with one team of 14 girls and since expanded to reach 6 counties across northeast Wisconsin. In 2018, we had 30 different teams and a total of 432 girls participate in the Girls on the Run program throughout the Fox Valley area. A recent study of Girls on the Run participants showed that 85% of girls who participated in the program improved in confidence, caring, competence, compassion, or connection to others. It is our hope to reach 500 girls in the coming year supporting our vision that every girl knows and activates her true potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams!