Girls on the Run Announces Leadership Changes

JoLee Ford, founder of Girls on the Run (GOTR) of Southwest Washington, has announced her resignation as the organization’s Program Director and Council Director. Beginning in 2009, Keri Verhei will handle the Program Director’s responsibilities, while Christy VanCuren will take over as Council Director.

“We’re now a program of the YMCA, so it makes sense that Keri, who is their Youth Activities Director, assume the role of Program Director for Girls on the Run,” Ford said. “She will coordinate the sites, coaches, and curriculum delivery.”

VanCuren’s duties will include that of “friendraiser” and fundraiser. She and Verhei attended training sessions in North Carolina in October and are eager to get started.

“I’m nervous and excited to take over for JoLee,” VanCuren said. “She leaves very big shoes to fill. But I’m confident that Keri and I will be able to keep the program going strong.”

The national chapter of Girls on the Run was started by Molly Barker in 1996 in an effort to encourage positive emotional, social, mental, and physical development among adolescent girls. GOTR participants meet with coaches twice a week for twelve weeks, not only to train for a culminating 5K run but also to talk about age-appropriate issues that range from nutrition and alcohol use to teamwork and peer pressure.

Ford started the local program at Olympic Elementary in 2005. That year, eight girls participated. The spring 2008 session included 99 girls from Olympic Elementary, Mint Valley Elementary, Mount Solo Middle School, Cascade Middle School, Monticello Middle School, and Coweeman Middle School. VanCuren’s goal is to establish a GOTR program at every local elementary and middle school.

Pacific Surgical Institute has been a gold sponsor of GOTR Southwest Washington since 2007, assisting in the purchase of running shoes and water bottles for every GOTR participant.