Girls on the Run Northwest Indiana is celebrating a milestone anniversary! Fearless Fifteen - Celebrating 15 Years of Empowering Girls in the NWI is being celebrated all throughout 2022. This local non-profit began in 2007 with a team of fifteen girls at Merkley Elementary in Highland. From these humble beginnings, it has grown exponentially having served to date over 16,5000 girls across a ten-county service area.

Girls on the Run is about so much more than running! It is a ten-week, after-school program that teaches research-based social-emotional lessons designed specifically for the challenges that 3rd-8th grade girls face. The program recognizes the important connection between body and mind and is centered around fun and accessible physical activity, ensuring we are strengthening physical - as well as emotional - health.

Lessons are intentionally delivered in a safe and inclusive environment where girls can be themselves and make meaningful connections with teammates and mentors. One participant said, "Girls on the Run could make any girl fearless...when you are surrounded by people you trust, respect, and care for, nothing can hold you back from being the most beautiful version of yourself!"

"One thing that sets us apart from other youth programs is that we train our coaches to create a safe and inclusive environment where girls can be themselves and make meaningful connections with teammates and mentors. We believe that these connections are even more valuable now, as our kids have spent so much time being disconnected from their peers," Jill Schlueter-Kim, Executive Director said.

Get involved and be a part of this life-changing program with these amazing events this 15 Anniversary Year:

• Girls Making Waves spring season registration is open now until the ten-week season begins the first week of March
• Dream it. Do it. Be it. Girls on the Run International’s virtual event on Thursday, March 31 featuring Simone Biles
• Sneaker Soirée premiere annual fundraiser is Saturday, April 23 at Whitehawk Country Club, Crown Point
• Girls on the Run Fearless 15 5K end-of-season celebrations on May 14th & 15th as well as November 5th & 6th

For a list of locations that have Girls on the Run teams this spring along with information on events and how to get involved, go to the Girls on the Run Northwest Indiana website: www.gotrofnwi.org.

📸: Executive Director, and Founder of Girls on the Run Northwest Indiana, Jill Schlueter-Kim hosts very first practice at Merkley Elementary. Girls on the Run is celebrating its fifteenth year empowering girls in Northwest Indiana. This spring is their thirtieth season!