In continued support of helping girls across the nation, and the women who coach them to become fearless and confident, Always, the world’s leader in feminine protection, is once again partnering to donate to Girls on the Run, a non-profit organization that provides a physical activity-based positive youth development program for girls in third through eighth grade.
The Always #LikeAGirl campaign informs that half of girls lose confidence at puberty. Insight from Girls on the Run explains that, just as they’re entering this stage in their lives, girls’ confidence begins to drop at the age of 9, and by the time they reach the age of 10, their physical activity levels begin to decrease as well.
In an effort to combat this issue, Always has partnered with Target to support Girls on the Run for a second year. Together, the companies have contributed $1.8 million in support of moving the organization closer to meeting its goal of serving two million girls by 2021.
As in the past, this donation will go toward increasing access for girls to participate in the program. Nearly half of participants require some kind of financial assistance, and this donation will help eliminate financial barriers to allow more girls to enroll in Girls on the Run. New this year, the donation will also go toward investing in the coaches that guide the girls to success, because behind every determined Girls on the Run girl, there’s a devoted coach helping them gain the confidence they need to keep doing the activities they love.
“For decades, Always has been committed to champion girls’ confidence, which is why we are so excited to be continuing our partnership to support Girls on the Run,” said Marty Vanderstelt, Brand Director, North America Always, at Procter & Gamble. “We’re delighted that we’re able to contribute to an organization, such as Girls on the Run, which shares our passion for providing girls with the tools they need to continue moving confidently towards accomplishing their goals.”
Amy Purdy is a Paralympic Snowboard Medalist, author, inspirational speaker and girl empowerment advocate. “Helping girls grow in confidence is so important, and I know what a big impact coaches and mentors can have at this critical age. That’s why I’m honored to support Girls on the Run, in partnership with Always and Target,” said Amy Purdy. “I’m really excited to be helping girls all across the country find role models who can encourage them to fearlessly overcome challenges and, with hard work and determination, never stop fighting for their dreams.”
A study conducted by Girls on the Run found that 97 percent of participants learned critical life skills through their participation in the 10-week curriculum4. Through a unique coach-guided program, girls are encouraged to take on new challenges in a non-competitive environment to help build their confidence and inner strength. The bonds girls and coaches form over the course of the season are an important part of building that sense of security, allowing girls to stretch and grow. The program culminates with a 5K celebration, which provides girls with a sense of accomplishment when they triumphantly cross the finish line. To showcase the impact of the program, Always and Target created a video that demonstrates how Girls on the Run and their dedicated coaches are working to inspire young girls to realize their full potential.
“We are truly grateful for the continued support from Always and Target, two organizations that are making strides to help us expand our reach to girls all across the country,” said Theresa Miller, Chief Engagement Officer at Girls on the Run. “Not only will their support help us advance our mission of inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident, but it will also help us support our incredible volunteer coaches who help make this program a success.”
For more information on Girls on the Run visit, www.girlsontherun.org.
