Annual Report - Girls on the Run Atlanta

Annual Report
2009-2010
www.girlsontherunatlanta.org
About this Report
2010 marked the tenth anniversary of Girls on the Run of Atlanta. Over those ten years we have
grown into seven metro Atlanta counties, running our programs in schools, parks and community
centers. The addition of each new program site allows Girls on the Run Atlanta to continue
expanding its reach and impact by promoting healthy lifestyles and increasing the self-esteem
of young girls in the metro Atlanta area. In the coming years, Girls on the Run Atlanta aims to
increase the number of program sites, expanding to more of Gwinnett County and to further
increase the number of Title I schools involved with the program.
While Girls on the Run of Atlanta looks forward to its future
advancements, this report takes a look back at the past year.
Contained in this report you will find a letter from the Executive
Director, a brief history of the program in Atlanta, key highlights
of the past year, accomplishments of the past decade and select
financial information. This report also acknowledges our sponsors
and our Board of Directors. We hope this annual report will allow
you to learn more about Girls on the Run of Atlanta and all we
have accomplished in the past year.
“Girls on the Run has taught me to be a better runner, a better person and how
to believe in myself. Girls on the Run gives you that wonderful feeling inside,
that no matter how bad your day has been, you have a secure place to go to where
everybody’s your friend and you feel like a million bucks.”
--Girls on the Run participant
1
From the Director
In 2010 we commemorated our ten year anniversary, marking a decade of educating and preparing girls for a lifetime
of self-respect and healthy living. Girls on the Run of Atlanta began its first season in Spring 2000 with three
programs and thirty girls in one county. As of the culmination of the Spring 2010 season, we have served over 6000
girls in seven metropolitan counties.
The 2009-2010 program year marked a major change in the way we deliver our program. We transitioned from a
once per week delivery to all 40 plus sites conforming with a twice per week delivery, doubling the program hours,
space needs and greatly increasing the time demands on volunteer coaches and participant families. We made this
change because research and results from other councils indicated greater impact with the twice a week delivery and
the curriculum was originally intended for this format. Change is always difficult and in the fall 2009 season we
experienced a significant, anticipated drop in participation from our steady 20% growth rate. The program stood up
to the test and after only one slow season we bounced back with our largest spring season and returning coaches and
sites.
Supporting our program delivery transition, we achieved our goal of implementing an Atlanta Specific Impact Study.
The results from the 2008 & 2009 Atlanta Council Impact Evaluations showed statistically significant improvements
in four key areas: self esteem, body image; commitment to physical activity; participation in physical activity. Firsttime participants showed major changes, confirming our belief that girls change their behavior and attitudes when
they are mentored and equipped with constructive decision-making tools.
This program year ushered in brand-new ways for Girls on the Run of Atlanta to communicate with our parents,
coaches, friends, sponsors and community. In September 2009, we launched our Facebook and Twitter pages and
Girls on the Run of Atlanta blog. In addition to launching social media pages, we developed a number of new media
and training pieces that garnered recognition and awards at the Girls on the Run International Annual Summit.
Girls on the Run of Atlanta collaborated with local and national corporations, universities and other non-profits to
strengthen our council and to better serve our community. We completed the Girls Collaborative project, joining
forces with a number of girl-serving organizations to raise awareness about the issues facing young girls in Georgia.
This project culminated with the release of a Public Service Announcement housed at girlscollaborative.com.
Community Partnerships shined with the Shoes to Schools program. Girls on the Run partnered with New Balance
and Phidippides Running Store, who initiated a plan to bring shoes to scholarship sites and fit each girl with a pair
of New Balance shoes, right on the spot! In keeping with our Community Outreach goal to increase our programs
in Title I schools, we initiated new grant partnerships whose funding will allow us to deliver additional programs in
underserved areas and to offer more scholarships to girls in need.
Girls on the Run of Atlanta is excited to move into a new decade of service in the 2010-2011 year. We will kick off
the fall 2010 season with an updated curriculum that incorporates new activities and concepts with a focus on giving
girls the tools to make healthy choices and recognizing and celebrating their gifts. We look forward to reaching, teaching and growing with Metro-Atlanta girls.
Sue Payne
Executive Director
2
Our History
10 Years Strong
Girls on the Run (GOTR) was founded in Charlotte, North Carolina, by Molly Barker, Master of
Social Work and four-time Hawaii Ironman triathlete. In 1996, she drew upon her background
in social work and love for running to create the first council of GOTR. The program began with
thirteen girls, a twenty-four-lesson curriculum and the mission of preparing girls for a lifetime
of self-respect and healthy living. Over the next few years, the number of girls in the program
steadily increased, which prompted not only growth to other cities but also the founding of Girls
on the Run International in 2000.
Girls on the Run reached Atlanta in 1999 when a grant from the Atlanta Women’s Foundation
made possible the founding of a local council. Since its conception, GOTR Atlanta has stayed
true to Molly’s vision by helping over 6,000 girls to develop high self-esteem and strong values
through running. Currently, GOTR Atlanta serves third to eighth grade girls in seven Atlanta
counties with programs in both the fall and the spring. The
GOTR program culminates in a 5K race, which gives the
girls something to aim for throughout the season. GOTR
Atlanta continues to grow and remains committed to
helping young women fulfill their potential by decreasing
participation in at-risk activities and showing the future
generation of girls how to be tomorrow’s role models for a
healthy, balanced lifestyle.
“It’s an awesome program that I wish I’d had
when I was a girl.”
- Marie (Participant’s parent)
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Highlights
Educating and Preparing Girls for a Lifetime of Self-Respect
and Healthy Living
Girls on the Run Atlanta continually sets high goals for itself and
constantly seeks to improve the lives of young girls in the Atlanta
area. The program stresses the importance of eating healthy, exercising, and avoiding drugs, alcohol and other high-risk behaviors.
More important, though, GOTR Atlanta aims to teach girls how to
make positive decisions that will help the girls to respect themselves
and increase their self-esteem. Highlights for the 2009-2010 year
include:
• Doubled program hours per girl - In fall 2009 we transitioned
our program delivery from once a week to twice a week for all
sites, going from 18 program hours to 36.
• Expanded into Gwinnett - Gwinnett County team joined the
sites in Coweta, Cobb, DeKalb, Fayette, Fulton, and Henry Counties, bringing total participation
to seven Atlanta counties
• Doubled the number of full scholarship programs - Community support has allowed us to
double the number of full-scholarships at Title I schools. In addition the number of full and
partial scholarships offered has increased over the past four years from 17% to 30%.
• Expanded Community Outreach - Our programs require strong community support from
volunteers, sponsors and host locations. This year we focused on reaching out to new communities. Marketing - media impressions increased tremendously
Social Media - Initiated blog, Facebook , twitter and Linked-in pages
Girls Collaborative - We joined forces with other metro Atlanta girl serving organizations to
create a public service announcement, www.girlscollaborative.com
• New GOTR Event - Girls on the Run of Atlanta hosted our own spring end-of-season race. For
the first time in our history we were able to provide both the fall and spring participants the
unique New Balance GOTR 5K experience.
“I learned that if you train and eat healthy, you
can run like you never have!”
- Corinna
4
Highlights
Martin Luther King Jr. Community Service Award
Earlier this year, Girls on the Run Atlanta received the Martin
Luther King Jr. Community Service Award from the Rollins
School of Public Health and the Goizueta Business School
at Emory University. This award is given to individuals and
organizations in the Atlanta area that honor Dr. King’s legacy and
belief that “life’s most persistent and urgent question is: what are you
doing for others?”
Sue Payne, Executive Director of Girls on the Run Atlanta, was presented with the award. The
award committee looks for organizations that are able to blend the values of public health with
principles of social justice. GOTR Atlanta was nominated because of the organization’s focus on
improving self-esteem and healthy living as a positive deterrent for young girls, which exemplifies
the award’s central values.
“I think that team involvement as well as instilling the importance of physical activity and
nutrition in young ladies is of the utmost importance. It is not only an excellent way to
combat future health related problems, but also a dynamic deterrence from involvement in
risky behaviors…Early involvement build[s] character, enhances self-esteem, confidence,
accountability and encourages assertiveness.”
- Dana Robinson (presenter)
“Thank you for providing such a wonderfully, healthy place for
girls. You are helping to shape the world with bright, confident,
healthy young women.”
- Julia (participant’s parent)
5
Accomplishments
“Celebrating Ten Years of Running Strong”
Top Ten Accomplishments of the Last Ten Years
1. Girls on the Run Atlanta begins operation with a generous grant from the Atlanta Women’s
Foundation.
2. Anna Hunter, Founding Council Director of GOTR Atlanta, receives Patti Foell
Community Service Award for contributions to Atlanta running community.
3. 30% of girls in underserved areas are supported by program scholarships.
4. GOTR Atlanta expands to encompass Henry, Coweta, Fayette and Gwinnett Counties.
5. The Atlanta Council kicked off the New Balance Girls on the Run 5k Race Series in fall
2008, hosting over 1,400 race participants. The number of participants made the Atlanta
race one of the ten largest council races nationwide.
6. Collaboration with other metro Atlanta organizations for young girls has helped to raise
awareness and funding for issues facing girls in Georgia.
7. GOTR Atlanta establishes its first Advisory Council in January 2009.
8. GOTR Atlanta receives the Pace Setter
Award for excellence in Marketing at
the 2009 Girls on the Run International
Summit.
9. GOTR Atlanta surpasses the 6,000 girls
served mark with an average of one-third
of the girls completing at least two seasons.
10.GOTR Atlanta receives the 2010 Martin
Luther King Jr. Community Service
Award.
“Girls on the Run taught me that if I can run a
5K I can do anything I put my mind to!”
- Sarah
6
Finances
Public Support and Revenue
Registration Fees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $94,374
Special Event Revenue. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,123
Grant Funding Received. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $49,250
Sponsorships Received. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,893
Individual Contributions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,927
Other SoulMates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $8,045
Other Investment Income/Merchandise. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,974
Total Revenues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $232, 586
*In-kind Donations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $48,266
Expenses
Program. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $168,160
General Administrative/Management. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $31,277
Fundraising . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $20,734
Total Expenses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $220, 171
Excess for Fiscal Year. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $12, 415
*In-kind donations off-set our program expenses making it possible to operate with low overhead. The majority
of these donations were goods and services for our two races. 100% of these donations went to support program
activities. Examples of In-kind donations include donated training and meeting space, reduced rates for background
checks and CPR/first aid training for our volunteer coaches, Pro-bono PR, Marketing and legal services.
FY 2010 Total Expenses
FY 2010 Total Expenses
14%
10%
76%
including in-kind donations
Program
12% 8%
Program
General
Admin./Mgmt.
General
Admin./Mgmt.
Fundraising
Fundraising
81%
7
Our Sponsors
National Sponsors
• New Balance
• Goody
• Kellogg’s Frosted Flakes
• Secret
• Horizon Fitness
Local Sponsors & Partners
ABC Imaging • Ackerman Foundation • Alston & Bird LLP • Atlanta Cupcake Factory • Atlanta
InTown Magazine • Atlanta Thrashers/Hawks Foundation • Atlanta Track Club Foundation
• Atlanta Women’s Foundation • Auto Trader • Caribou Coffee • Chik-Fil-A • Community
Foundation for Greater Atlanta • Cox Foundation • Crystal Springs • Decatur Rotary •
EVOS • Flying Biscuit • Ford & Harrison • FriendScents • Fuze Beverage, LLC • Gas South •
GoGirlGo! Womens Sports Foundation • Goody/Newell Rubermaid • 1-800-Got Junk • Great
Harvest • Hartographie • Hayes Family Foundation • Heery International • Highland Bakery
• HomeGrown Restaurants • Houston’s • Innovar Partners • ING Georgia • Junior League of
Atlanta • Kenny’s Pies • Learning Express • Lather Salon • McMaster-Carr Supply Company
• Michael Blair Productions • The Moorings Group LLC • National Association of Women in
Construction • New Balance • Operation Boot Camp • Phidippides • Private Bank of Buckhead
• SPANX • Thomson Tax • Trader Joes • United Parcel Service • West Stride • WFSH 104.7 The
Fish • Whole Foods
“We love supporting Girls on the Run. It’s the perfect match for our
purpose of building confidence in women of all ages. It’s amazing to see
first hand, as coaches, the positive transition that girls go through when
they are part of the program.”
- Jana Bartlett, Marketing Communications Manager at Goody/Newell
8
Meet the Board
Board of Directors
Nancy Nunn
Nadine Randall
Kelly Walsh
Marketing Chair
Center for Disease Control
Race Committee Chair
Emily Baker
Patricia Griffith
Treasurer-Elect
RedPrairie
Programs Committee
Jones Day
Leadership Committee
Ford & Harrison LLP
Susan Payne
Devry Ross
Angela Cross
Marie Hamilton
Council Director
Girls on the Run of Atlanta
Development Committee
FriendScents
Treasurer
Thomson Reuters
Leadership Chair
Innovar Partner
Paige Perkins
Taryn Taylor
Development Committee
Programs Committee
Emory University
Stacey Hovis Chapman
Susan Herzog
SoleMate Chair
HEERY International
Development Chair
Mellonie Fleming
Erin Wolf
Executive Chair
Suite Track LLC
Duggan Lansing
Development Committee
Program Committee
Generation Mortgage
Karen Newman
Elizabeth Fairman
Secretary
The Newman Group
Leadership Committee
The Bridgeton Group
Advisory Council
Gant Adams
Anne Harper
Jeannie Tarkenton
Checkpoint Mortgage Commercial
Harper Consulting
Community Volunteer
Cynthia Clanton
Anna Hunter
Kristine Yacovone
Administrative Office of the Courts
Community Volunteer
Community Volunteer
Laura Hale
Rebecca Lamberth
WXIA-TV
Duane Morris LLP
Leon L. Hale, Jr.
Monika Majors
Emory Univ.ersity, Grady Health System
The OneCare Company
“Our board is proud of the incredible progress Girls on the Run of Atlanta
has made in the past couple of years, especially in a tough economy.
We thank those who share our passion of helping each young girl in the
program build a healthy mind as well as a healthy body. Here’s to a great
2010-11 season!”
-Erin L. Wolf, Board of Directors Chair, SuiteTrack® LLC
9
Girls on the Run - Atlanta
5696 Peachtree Parkway
Suite A
Norcross, GA 30092
Phone: 678.992.2670
Web: http://www.girlsontherunatlanta.org