Girls On The Run Of Northern Virginia Receives Grant From Washington Women's Foundation For $14,050

FAIRFAX, Va., Aug. 19, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia has received a $14,050 grant from the Washington Area Women's Foundation on behalf of the Rainmakers Giving Circle. The Circle provides grants to organizations that improve the lives of under-resourced girls and young women in the Washington, DC region.

The grant will fund scholarships for 155 at-risk girls who attend elementary and middle schools in Alexandria, Arlington and Fairfax County to participate in the Girls on the Run program during the upcoming school year. The Circle expects to award an equal amount for scholarships in 2015, for a total investment of $28,100 over two years.

Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia (NOVA) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization based in Fairfax, VA that advocates and delivers programs for pre-adolescent girls that focus on health, fitness, character development, and positive reinforcement of each individual child.

Girls in grades 3-8 who qualify for free or reduced lunch at school can receive a scholarship to participate in the 10-week after-school program. Each year, volunteer coaches at more than 200 sites throughout Northern Virginia lead approximately 6,000 girls through the Girls on the Run curriculum and training for the end-of-season 5K run. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness.

"Providing economically vulnerable youth with access to programs that emphasize physical activity, self-esteem and healthy lifestyles is a step toward all girls in our region achieving their full potential, furthering the shared mission of Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia and the Rainmakers Giving Circle," said Katey Comerford, Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia. "We're excited by the prospect of working with another organization that shares our knowledge and passion for helping girls in the DC Metro Area gain the skills they need to positively connect with and shape the world."

Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia is accepting donations to fund additional scholarships for at-risk girls in Northern Virginia. For more information on how you can sponsor a girl, please visit our website at www.gotrnova.org.  For corporate sponsorship and volunteer opportunities, contact Emily Davis at [email protected].

Contact: Katey Comerford, Executive Director
Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia
703-273-3153/[email protected]

SOURCE Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia