Fourth grader Kayleigh Howard of Chestnut Hill heard about an after-school program called Girls on the Run, but it wasn’t offered at Norwood-Fontbonne Academy, where she attended school. 

So Kayleigh told her mother, Colleen, that she wanted to participate. 

An avid runner herself, Colleen Howard knew the benefits of developing a hobby that could last a lifetime. So she took action, and together with the school administration brought the program to Norwood-Fontbonne Academy (NFA). Howard, a mom of three, volunteered to coach the team, and before the season was over, she was offered the job of executive director for Girls on the Run Philadelphia, headquartered in Chestnut Hill. 

That was nine years ago. Back then, the executive director role was part-time, and the program – which uses running to teach self-confidence and empower girls – had only 76 participants in six locations in the city. 

This year, Girls on the Run Philadelphia celebrated its tenth anniversary. Colleen’s role is now full-time with a staff of three, and the program is offered in both the fall and spring seasons at 75 schools and recreation centers across the city, including NFA, Allens Lane Park, and Emlen and F.S. Edmonds schools. Each season, approximately 800 girls are enrolled, and the program is about to reach the 10,000-girls milestone.

“What makes the Philadelphia Council unique is that close to 80% of our girls receive scholarships to participate,” said Howard, during an interview in the council’s office at 40 West Evergreen Ave. This huge need for scholarships requires extensive fundraising, which has become a big part of Howard’s job. 

She was quick to emphasize, however, that she doesn’t do it alone. “We are lucky to have so much support,” she said. “Our incredible executive board and associate board help us raise $300,000 annually.” 

This is accomplished with the help of individual donors, corporate sponsorship and campaigns such as Giving Tuesday and the Annual Appeal, which is currently underway. This year the executive board will match up to $20,000 in donations made through the end of the year, a commitment that illustrates their personal investment in the organization’s mission.

The way Colleen sees it, a donation to Girls on the Run (GOTR) is an investment in Philadelphia. Many participants attend schools where there are few to no options for after-school programming. More than half are from families with annual incomes under $29,000. 

And due to the transformative power of the program, GOTR can change the trajectory of their lives. The research-based curriculum is targeted at the ages when girls’ self-confidence decreases as bullying rises. 

 Participants meet twice a week for 10 weeks. Each lesson cultivates life skills by focusing on three core elements: identity, connectedness and empowerment. Topics include positive self-talk, choosing friends and compromise. Participants take these lessons of empowerment into their classrooms, homes and futures. 

“Our program strengthens our community by developing essential life skills in young women who grow into citizens who will not only reach their potential but will help Philadelphia reach its potential,” Colleen said. 

GOTR has countless testimonials about the program’s impact, Colleen said. 

Take the story of Judelly, a student who was shot in the leg when she was a bystander during a shooting incident. Despite having a bullet lodged in her leg, she was able to participate in the program and complete the end-of-season 5K run.  Another student runner talked her mother into replacing Cheetos with healthy snacks after the lesson on nutrition. A coach who is also a teacher described how an insecure fourth grader who never spoke up in class transformed into an eager class participant who regularly raised her hand with confidence. 

The GOTR 5K that the girls run is unlike any other. There are no transponder timers, no runners breaking records and no bibs with unique numbers. Every girl wears #1 on her bib, coaches don capes, and runners wear pink tutus. Girls are accompanied by running buddies who cheer them along the whole way. Some girls run the entire course, others combine walking and running, but every one of them shares the same goal – to cross that finish line. 

This season’s 5K was held at the Navy Yard on Sunday, Dec. 3. More than 820 girls in grades 3 to 8 worked towards this goal for 10 weeks. Smiles shone and joyful tears were shed as they crossed the finish line and were hugged by coaches and families. 

Colleen’s daughter Kayleigh, now a 19-year-old college freshman, clearly remembers crossing the finish line of her first 5K.

I remember feeling so great about myself, and there were so many people cheering me on,” she said. Since first convincing her mom to bring GOTR to her school, Kayleigh has run many races, including three Broad Street Runs. Inspired to give more girls in Philadelphia the opportunity to experience GOTR, Kayleigh raised scholarship funds as a “SoleMate” while training for two of her races.

“The GOTR motto is ‘unleashing her unlimited potential,’” said Colleen. “That is exactly what our program does. Whether or not you become a runner, what matters most is that you learn how to set goals and find your potential.”  

For more information, visit gotrphiladelphia.org. Paula Riley is a long-time Chestnut Hill resident and freelance writer.