Girls Gotta Run Foundation Incorporated
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I first heard about Girls Gotta Run from a teacher at the school where I work and was immediately intrigued because of former work I have done in Africa in addition to my love of running (I coach cross country and track). The mission of the organization is extremely laudable at a time when women's rights and the oppression of women worldwide is becoming a more-recognized and crucial issue in the media. Having visited the girls in Ethiopia, I can attest to how committed and motivated these young women are to work their way out of poverty through running and make a better life for themselves as well as improve the situation of their families and communities. The girls being supported by Girls Gotta Run are also encouraged to stay in school (rather than marry and give birth at an early age), knowing full well that a good education will be equally important in their ability to one day support their families. Running is helping to not only keep them in school but give them the confidence, security, resources and nourishment to achieve these goals. Pat has done a good job of incorporating both the arts and running communities to help raise awareness and support for this important cause. She is very open to suggestions, input and feedback and is inspired by the stories of these girls on a daily basis, working painstakingly to bring them the support and resources that they need. I have loved being involved with this organization and its new and innovative way of helping to empower women in desperate need.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
Seeing how happy the girls were when I delivered running shoes and clothes to them. I also witnessed girls speaking with confidence and purpose, talking about wanting careers, learning to support themselves and their families and giving back.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Getting to meet and know the girls and seeing the impact the organization is having on their lives.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Wonderful - everyone is so willing to give of their time and so motivated to help these girls. Everyone has been very helpful, flexible, invested and engaged.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Make a much bigger difference in the lives of these young women who would otherwise follow the fate of generations before them... getting married at young ages, having children and never getting an education or a chance to be self-sufficient.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2009
I continue to support Girls Gotta Run and a year or so ago, I had a wonderful experience producing a promotional video for Girls Gotta Run. I worked directly with the director of Girls Gotta Run, Pat Ortman, as well as board members and volunteers in the process of producing the video. I conducted interviews with board members and volunteers and was inspired by their passion to the cause of empowering young girls around the world. For example, I was struck by Pat Ortman's story of how she learned about the struggles of young girls in Ethiopia through a newspaper article and was moved to take action to provide the simple yet crucial service of delivering running shoes to young women athletes in Ethiopia. It is inspiring to hear her story of recruiting her friends and family members to join the cause, including her fellow artists. I was impressed by the depth of volunteers' knowledge and experience with the issues surrounding Ethiopian girls and the powerful role that athletics and art play in their development. As a filmmaker, I love the creative spirit that pervades Girls Gotta Run, which makes great use of art, music, and other forms of cultural expression to further the organization's mission. For example, I loved being a part of a "shoe art show", a fund-raising event in which artists created paintings and sculptures incorporating shoes or running. Girls Gotta Run is an organization filled with creativity and positive energy, which really comes through in the video that I produced.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
The positive results of the organization come across in hours of video that I have seen in which girls smile and exclaim their joy with running, and express their thanks to Girls Gotta Run.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
I've enjoyed the creative atmosphere, especially the art and music that is present at organization fundraisers and events.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
Staff and volunteers are passionate, creative, experienced, knowledgeable, and great to work with.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
If Girls Gotta Run had 10 million bucks, it could nearly complete its current mission of providing running shoes to girls in Ethiopia, and then expand to other countries around the world.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
When I first met Pat Ortman, I was a participant in a Women's Caucus for Art show in Takoma Park that benefited Girls Gotta Run Foundation. I read the photos and heard the story, and I knew I wanted to help. I applied for a Fulbright to Ethiopia with a proposal to organize a visit to meet the girls while in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Connecting in country proved a challenge since internet, server, and power outages are frequent in Addis, but Pat stepped in from DC and made a call which allowed me to connect with the group. In August 2009, I taught one of the teams' English class with my colleagues (all teachers), and we shared sweet and salty tea over some really inspiring conversations. They taught me new words in Amharic, and it was clear that their lives and opportunities are dramatically increased by the resources that Girls Gotta Run Foundation. To actually hold their hands, embrace them, take photos, share stories was one of the most significant experiences I have had in adulthood. When I returned back to Philadelphia, I arranged a show of Women's Caucus for Art work at Holy Family University to benefit GGRF, and we raised money through art sales, donations, and a raffle. I have been independently fundraising through the sale of my photographs of women and children in Ethiopia, and I will continue to do with no stop. A coffee table book is planned for future fundraising. Overall, I am extremely pleased with my experiences with this nonprofit.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
This is because I actually embraced and held the hands of the women who the organization serves in Ethiopia.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
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Ways to make it better...
I had been able to arrange more than one site visit with the team while in Ethiopia.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every month
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
My husband, Stephen Fraunfelter, and I have lived all over the world as a military couple. We have seen the sadness that dictators and Iron Curtains lay at the feet of the people of their countries. And we know we cannot turn our backs or walk away from doing something to help. When Pat and Jim approached us for help we knew that all of the money we were giving to them would go to help the girls so we jumped right in. We are proud to see the work that GGRF has pulled together has grown into such a strong network of support. We do not have children and this is our way of paying forward for a stronger world by helping young people climb out of desperate situations. And we are blessed to be member of GGRF since its inception.
The Great!
I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
I am proud to be a member of GGRF, because I have seen the good works that the foundation has accomplished over the past 5 years. From just supplying shoes to giving support and guidance to the girls with other supplies and items to the families.
Ways to make it better...
If I had to make changes to this organization, I would...
Give GGRF a lot more money so they can help a lot more girls.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
My money is going directly to the foundation and isn't being syphoned off for expensive homes and flashy cars.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
I think the board of directors are the hardest, most unassuming people in the world. They truly want to make a difference in the lives of young women.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
Change the lives of a whole nation. The program doesn't just give money, it changes the circumstances of the way these women will grow and educate themselves and their families.
Ways to make it better...
If I had lived closer to the foundations headquarters. I would love to have met the women that the organization has helped and heard what they think would help even more for the girls to keep growing.
In my opinion, the biggest challenges facing this organization are...
Financial support from people concerned about the prosperity of the next generation.
One thing I'd also say is that...
It has been an honor to know Pat and Jim and their dedication is apparent every time I receive an email from GGRF, of how much the girls have changed and grown over the years.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About once a year
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
I first learned about Girls Gotta Run Foundation (GGRF) through their excellent and widespread reputation within the Washington DC running community. However when I learned more about their organization I realized a main strength: they reach out to so many more people than just runners. Their board of directors, advisory board, volunteers, and network of supporters spans the communities of not only running but also education, international development, and art. Through all of these connections they achieve unique success in two critical areas: 1) raising funds, and 2) distributing those funds in an informed, considered, and knowledgable way, such that their mission is achieved as effectively as possible. With regard to raising funds, it is a rare organization that can raise money through art sales, portions of online book sales, and marathon running all in the same year! It is this diversity of consideration that has enabled a small organization comprised entirely of volunteer help to nonetheless raise exceptional amounts of money. Then, with regard to distributing funds, GGRF has partnered with a total of four ‘teams’ of female Ethiopian athletes. These teams include Team Tesfa (20 girls), the Simien Girl Runners (10 girls), Team Naftech (7 girls), and Running Across Borders (my own organization; 5 girls). Team Tesfa and Running Across Borders are based outside of Ethiopia while the Simien Girl Runners and Team Naftech are operated entirely by Ethiopian citizens. Thus a balance of perspectives are represented among these partner groups, as are perhaps a balance of approaches toward the mission of supporting impoverished Ethiopian girls who are training to become runners. It has taken the diversity and balance of GGRF’s network to successfully make such a variety of connections, and carefully evaluate the funding needs of each group. GGRF is a unique and interesting foundation with a strong impact on the world through the mission it pursues.
Photos
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I've personally experienced the results of this organization in...
the ways it has provided essential funding to assist with the operations of my organization Running Across Borders.
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
the creative and careful approach they have taken to raising funding and distributing it such that it has the greatest positive impact on its mission.
The kinds of staff and volunteers that I met were...
extremely interesting, intelligent, talented, and dedicated people from a wide diversity of disciplines.
If this organization had 10 million bucks, it could...
support every girl in Ethiopia who has a passion for long-distance running (which is a LARGE fraction of the country's female population), by allowing them to escape servitude and live better lives through pursuit of this passion.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
My friend Pat Ortman, a DC area retired women's studies professor, was inspired by a Washington Post article titled
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What I've enjoyed the most about my experience with this nonprofit is...
Being involved with publishing accounts of the teams supported, of art exhibits and events to raise funds for the organization, and of news accounts and interviews about the organization.
How frequently have you been involved with the organization?
About every week
When was your last experience with this nonprofit?
2010
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