Thank You Community Hero
The COOR Community Hero for this week is Jill. She is the executive director for Girls on the Run of Western Colorado (GOTR). Girls on the Run is an organization that empowers girls in different ways and celebrates with a 5k run. The mission of GOTR of Western Colorado is to provide a program that is accessible, inspiring and experience-based. They also want GOTR to creatively integrate running while empowering girls to be healthy, respectful, confident and joyful for life.
The goal of the program is to empower all girls to:
- A strong sense of identity
- Give and receive support from a group
- Stand up for self in a healthy manner
- A healthy body image
- Understand self as important in the community
- Complete a 5K (3.1 mile) run/walk race
GOTR of Western Colorado works under the following beliefs while giving these same values to the 2600+ girls and 550+ volunteer coaches annually that participate in GOTR:
- Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making
- Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
- Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words, thoughts and actions
- Nurture our physical and emotional health
- Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
- Stand up for ourselves and others
This empowering organization started 19 years ago in Grand Junction with only 12 volunteer coaches and 40 girls. Since then, they have grown to encompass all of Western Colorado; however, Mesa County is still their home base. They currently host about 25% of their total coaches and participants. It costs about $55 for each girl to participate. The actual cost to GOTR for administering the program is roughly $110 per girl, so they cover the difference ( $55 per participating girl) through donations and sponsorships, as well as grant funding. National research on Girls on the Run programming has shown that GOTR has a positive impact on girls, especially on girls who most need it. So, it is really important that GOTR is affordable and accessible to ALL girls.
Jill says,
“At Girls on the Run, we believe that every girl can embrace who she is, can define who she wants to be, can rise to any challenge, can change the world. CAN. We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams.”
How YOU can also help empower girls:
- Become a volunteer coach!
- Girls on the Run is always looking for people that are role models and mentors for their participants. You don’t have to be a runner to be a coach either. You just need to believe in the mission of the program and have the desire and time to positively impact girls. Many of the coaches “run” their first 5K with the girls. The spring season is just around the corner – the program will run in Mesa County and surrounding areas beginning in February and running through May 4th. Coach registration will open in mid-November and training will take place in late January/early February. For more information on coaching, check out the volunteer > coach tab on their website – www.gotrwesterncolorado.org.
Call (970) 712-6059 to learn more about volunteering with Jill and Girls on the Run.
“Girls on the Run is changing lives throughout Western Colorado. GOTR girls are now graduating from college and making a positive difference in our community. We encourage you to find out more about GOTR and get involved – as a coach, as a GOTR 5K participant, as a 5K volunteer or as a financial supporter.”
About COOR Wellness
COOR Wellness is located in beautiful Grand Junction Colorado. They are Western Colorado’s premier wellness center, helping people feel and move better.
- Chiropractic care
- Massage therapy
- Health Coaching
- Nutrition Coaching
- Weight Loss
- Low Level Laser Therapy
If you’re interested in scheduling please call 970-712-6059 or book an appointment online