GOTR-STL staff are busy preparing for the upcoming fall 2013 season! 

We are always working to improve our program delivery and operations to continue serving as many girls as possible throughout the St. Louis region.

 

But let's take a moment to reflect on the amazing spring 2013 season that just ended. It was our largest season ever!!!! Did you know that ...

• More than 350 new coaches were trained at the beginning of the season
• We served more than 3,500 girls
• More than 2,400 scholarships were given totaling nearly $200,000
• We had teams at 159 schools, 45 of which were brand new
• More than 160 pairs of shoes were given to girls in need
• Nearly 7,500 people ran in our 5k
• Approximately 1,100 volunteer coaches helped deliver this life-changing program this past season

The momentum for this program continues to grow! Thanks again to everyone who made the spring 2013 season so successful. We're already excited about the fall season, which will kick off with practices starting the week of September 9!  

 

Meet the GOTR office's new team members

With continued growth in its program across 19 counties in Missouri and Illinois, Girls on the Run St. Louis is excited to announce two key staff additions. Meet the dynamic women who will help us serve a record number of girls in the 2013-2014 school year!

Lindsey Apple, Program Coordinator, joined the GOTR-STL team in May 2013. Originally from Troy, Illinois, Lindsey grew up playing soccer locally and upon graduating high school, signed to play for McKendree University in Lebanon, Illinois. As a college athlete, Lindsey pursued and received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology with a minor in Sociology. Knowing that she wanted to make a significant impact in the lives of others, she continued her education and earned a Masters in Social Work from St. Louis University, specializing in Non-Profit Administration. She and her husband, Jake, currently reside in Edwardsville, Illinois, serve in their local church, Newsong Fellowship, and love the surrounding community (including the awesome MCT trails for biking and running). Lindsey is thrilled to be a part of the GOTR St. Louis team and the wonderful things that the organization represents!

What is your favorite GOTR moment?

All of it!  It's great to work with some of the most encouraging women and then to celebrate being a girl with a generation of young ladies; everything we do and everything we work towards has significant impact and I love being a part of it!

Kristen Waddell, Volunteer Coordinator, first learned about Girls on the Run when she relocated to St. Louis in 2006.  Kristen has seen GOTR-STL from many angles, as a coach at Mason Ridge Elementary in the Parkway School District, GOTR-STL parent, and SoleMates partner through her work at FLEET FEET, and is excited to be part of the mission to empower girls for a lifetime of healthy living!

Kristen has a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration and has a background in program development and event and volunteer management, primarily in the running industry.  Her passion will always be the marathon distance (though she has recently turned to triathlons), as it challenges mind and body - and allows her to spend many miles with her running buddies.

Kristen is supported by a wonderful husband (Andrew) and three awesome kids (Alexa, Alek, and Amber).

What is your favorite GOTR moment?

The most recent fav was at the 2013 spring 5K where my mom and I got to walk the race together.  At our pace, girls and their running buddies were flying by us in a sea of painted faces, pink shirts, and ear-to-ear smiles!  Just past mile two, three girls passed us and one came to almost a complete stop saying she was tired and couldn't go on.  Her teammates grabbed her hands and pulled her up the hill and they took off towards the finish line together. W-O-W.

Help build each team's supply box 

Each season Girls on the Run St. Louis equips every team with a box of supplies to help them carry out the lessons outlined in the Girls on the Run and Girls on Track curricula. This summer, we would greatly appreciate in-kind donations of the following supplies to help keep our costs as low as possible. You may have some of these items laying around your house ready to unload onto us!

• Standard mailing labels
• Packages of loose leaf paper
• White poster board (Large or small)
• Colored card stock, any color
• Craft loops (the kind used to make potholders, available at Hobby Lobby)
• 12" Beach Balls
• Marbles (small size)
• Markers (20 washable-fineline) 
• Paper horns
• 65-quart tubs with latches for the lids
• Package of plain M&M's (12.60 oz)
• First Aid Kits

Feel free to drop off any donations at the Girls on the Run office or contact us at (314) 862-6266 to make pick-up arrangements. If you have any questions, please e-mail Tanya.

Don't have access to these items but still want to help?  You can make a monetary donation to Girls on the Run St. Louis to help underwrite the cost of supply purchases and "Build a Box!" Your tax-deductible gift will provide a crucial piece of the program to our girls.  Visit our website to make a donation.  Thank you!