Funding will support both Spring and Fall programs as well as initiatives to improve volunteer and participant retention and diversity.

May 8, 2023– Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley has received a $20,000 grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures designed to combat health disparities and advance fitness and friendships among adolescent girls.

The announcement comes as local Girls on the Run councils prepare for their spring 5Ks, end-of-season events that are well known for their powerful positivity and celebratory atmosphere.

Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a leader in positive youth development, and its experience-based curriculum creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. The organization currently operates 171 local councils across the United States and Canada, serving nearly 200,000 girls annually.

The latest funding marks the third year of partnership between GOTR and Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the public charity affiliated with Rite Aid that seeks to advance equity and opportunity for children and youth. The grant supports the two organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening and empowering local communities.

Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley will utilize funding to increase program awareness in all neighborhoods, improve volunteer and participant diversity and retention, and remove barriers for participation and volunteerism.

Liz Fones, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Lehigh Valley recently stated that “we are thrilled to be part of such an impactful initiative, and to have the support of Rite Aid Healthy Futures.  Our goal is to reach young women from neighborhoods that may not otherwise have access to our programming, and to do so we need volunteers who understand these communities”.

The grants are funded through Rite Aid’s KidCents fundraising program. Generous Rite Aid customers can round up their purchases online or in-store to support children’s health and wellness. Healthy Futures reinvests the funds into Rite Aid communities through grants benefiting organizations such as Girls on the Run.

“We remain inspired by the commitment of Girls on the Run to create a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “Our partnership will ensure that more girls have access to their innovative programming that addresses health disparities and racial inequities in communities, ensure girls can reach their full potential and futures.”