Everyday Akron Team Member Melanie Mohler chatted with Erin Mathews, Girls on the Run Northeast Ohio Marketing & 5K Director about Girls on the Run and their upcoming 5K event.
What is Girls on the Run?
The Girls on the Run program provides a transformative experience for young girls in 3rd through 8th grade, providing a supportive environment where they develop essential life skills while forming meaningful friendships.
Through interactive lessons on important topics like making healthy decisions, building positive relationships and celebrating their own unique qualities, participants gain practical knowledge that benefits their overall well-being. Physical activities are woven into each lesson and adaptations are available for children of all abilities to ensure that every girl is able to participate at her own pace.
One of the highlights of each season is a participant-led community impact project where participants identify a local need, develop an action plan, and implement meaningful solutions. This hands-on experience of civic engagement not only benefits the community but also empowers the girls with leadership skills, boosts their confidence, and instills a sense of purpose.
The season ends with a celebratory 5K event where every participant learns that great things are possible when you keep moving forward. Parents and school administrators consistently report remarkable positive changes in their girls’ attitudes, communication skills, and willingness to take initiative both at home and school, demonstrating the program’s profound impact on participants’ development into confident, community-minded young women.
Where are Girls on the Run programs offered in the Akron area?
Girls on the Run serves Cuyahoga, Lake, Lorain, Medina, Portage and Summit Counties. This spring, our program is being offered in 60 locations with 995 participants enrolled.
In Akron, the following sites are participating this season:
- Crouse CLC
- Hyre CLC
- Judith A. Resnik Community Learning Center (CLC)
- Portage Path CLC
- Mason CLC
- Rimer CLC
- Ritzman CLC
- Shaw JCC
- St. Anthony of Padua
- Windemere CLC
You can find other Northeast Ohio locations here.
We provide all of the materials, training and resources needed to deliver Girls on the Run programming at any location across Northeast Ohio, so if someone is interested in bringing Girls on the Run to their community next season, now is the time to reach out to learn more about starting a site.
When and where will the Girls on the Run 5K be held?
The Girls on the Run 5K will be held on Saturday, May 17, 2025 at Canal Park in Akron. Gates open at 10:30am.
This event is open to the public, family-friendly and non-competitive, which means it’s not a timed race. Everyone is encouraged to go at their own happy pace! We’re also planning on a pre-race dance party before the 12:30pm start time.
How can someone support Girls on the Run, either at the 5K event or in general?
Coming out to our 5K is a great way to see our program in action and support the organization. Whether you want to participate in the 5K, sign up to volunteer or just want to come cheer on the girls, there are plenty of opportunities to get involved.
If you really want to go the extra mile (pun intended), we welcome you to sign up to fundraise for Girls on the Run through our newest event, the Legacy Breakfast. As a non-profit organization, our program relies on fundraising to provide scholarship dollars for any participant with a financial need to ensure that all girls can participate in our program.
Fundraisers can earn special experiences within our 5K event, including a free 5K registration, their name on the stadium billboard, a ticket to the Legacy Breakfast and even the opportunity to be a part of the action by being an official starter or a special guest passing out medals at the 5K finish line!
Anything else we should know about Girls on the Run or the 5K event?
While our name might suggest it, Girls on the Run is not a running program. We’re a positive youth development program that uses fun, interactive lessons and activities that are designed to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.
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