FW: Girls on the Run...

 So another Marathon is upon me.  I'm training for my 4th Chicago Marathon, which will take place on October 9, 2011.  I'm raising funds for Girls on the Run International and am asking you for your support in the endeavor to raise funds during my training and runnning of the marathon.  This money I raise will be dedicated to Girls on the Run, Johnson County Iowa.  Due to my work hours I'm unable to volunteer coaching hours to this AWESOME program  so I figured the least I could do would be donate the funds raised during this marathon season to help those girls involved with Gilrs on the Run in Johnson county Iowa. 
 
If you have never heard of Girls on the Run here is the scoop:
 
 
The Girls on the Run® mission is to educate and prepare girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.

Girls on the Run, founded by Molly Barker in 1996, is a life-changing, learning program for girls age eight to thirteen years old. The program combines training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. The goal of the program is to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, and physical development.

The Girls on the Run objective is to reduce the potential display of at-risk activities among its participants. The goal is fewer adolescent pregnancies and eating disorders, less depression and suicide attempts, as well as fewer substance/alcohol abuse problems and confrontations with the juvenile justice system.
 
Mission Statement:
We inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running
 
Vision:  
We envision a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams
 
Core Values:
Girls on the Run honors its core values.  We strive to:  
1.        Recognize our power and responsibility to be intentional in our decision making
2.       Embrace our differences and find strength in our connectedness
3.       Express joy, optimism and gratitude through our words,thoughts and actions
4.       Nurture our physical, emotional and spiritual health
5.       Lead with an open heart and assume positive intent
6.       Stand up for ourselves and others
 
Who could say "no" to an organization whose mission statement, vision and core values really get to the heart of where so many of us want to be, have been, or where we want girls we personally know to end up in in life.  If interested in supporting my endeavor please go to http://www.active.com/donate/SoleMates2012/nvanwaning to donate. Your donation is tax deductible.  
I am thankful for any donations big or small to go towards this great organization and great mission, and as the bottom picture depicts- I hope I inspire you to donate to my endeavor.
 
Natalie