Girls on the Run New Jersey East is thrilled to be a nonprofit member of the Burlington County Regional Chamber of Commerce, and we are grateful for the opportunity to be featured during Women’s History Month in March.

Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in 3rd through 8th grade. We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident through an experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running.

Our program makes an impact on girls at a critical age when their confidence and physical activity begin to decline. Research shows that girls’ self-confidence begins to drop by age nine, and that by age 14, their participation in sports decreases at twice the rate of boys.

Girls on the Run provides girls with fun, evidence-based afterschool programs to build their confidence, kindness and life skills. By linking physical activity and social-emotional health, Girls on the Run inspires girls to recognize their own limitless potential and accomplish their goals. At the end of every season, the girls all run a 5K distance together, accomplishing a goal they set for themselves at the start of the season. The mentorship of our volunteer coaches inspires girls to become tomorrow’s women leaders.

An independent study showed that 97 percent of Girls on the Run participants learned critical life skills that they use at home, school and with their friends. The study also found that Girls on the Run makes a stronger impact than organized sports and physical education programs in teaching life skills, such as managing emotions, resolving conflict, helping others, and making intentional decisions.

Since 2000, Girls on the Run NJ East has served more than 22,500 girls in Burlington, Mercer, Union, Essex and Morris counties. As a nonprofit organization, we are committed to ensuring our program is accessible and affordable for all. In 2023, we expect to provide financial assistance to at least 30 percent of participants. Our high-priority areas to establish new Girls on the Run teams this year include Pemberton, Mt. Laurel and Willingboro.

Each season, our teams give back to their communities in various ways. Last fall, the girls in Medford made friendship bracelets to cheer up patients at CHOP, while in Florence, the girls collected books and organized a Little Free Library at their school.

Participating in Girls on the Run transforms girls’ lives by helping them increase self-confidence, develop healthy relationships and feel good about themselves.

To learn more about how you can get involved with Girls on the Run in Burlington County, please contact Executive Director Suzanne Elliott. Interested in bringing the program to your community? Visit our website for more information about starting a team.