Girls on the Run Leaders Teach in Tampa

Many thanks to Girls on the Run for sharing this article with the community. Have news to share? Email editor Ryan Martin at ryan.martin@patch.com.

This week, two members of Girls on the Run St. Louis (GOTR-STL) shared their expertise on an international stage, teaching other Girls on the Run councils how to recruit, retain and engage volunteers.

Katie Helbig of St. Louis, GOTR-STL program director, and Amy Sheridan of Granite City, IL, GOTR-STL Illinois regional coordinator, delivered a presentation at the Girls on the Run International Summit, held in Tampa, FL, from Jan. 15-19.

The women were asked by the organization to present at the Summit because of the St. Louis Council’s success at recruiting and retaining volunteers, as well as its longevity and the large numbers of participants in its bi-annual 5k races.

The Girls on the Run St. Louis Council is one of the oldest and the third largest GOTR council in the United States. In fact, the council is celebrating its 10th anniversary in 2012 and has grown from one team of 20 girls in its first season to more than 5,000 girls participating in 2012 between two seasons. The program is in more than 170 schools in the greater St. Louis area and its 5k race has become the largest timed 5k in St. Louis.

“We are very proud of our council’s history in St. Louis,” said GOTR-STL Executive Director Courtney Berg. “This year, we will have served more than 10,000 girls in 10 years. We recognize that we couldn’t have accomplished this without our dedicated volunteers, our generous donors and our talented staff. It is an honor for us to be asked to share what we’ve learned over the years with the attendees at our International Summit.”

In addition to the presentation by Helbig and Sheridan, the owner of the St. Louis Council’s race management company, Matt Helbig, was asked to present on planning and marketing a 5k. Matt’s company, Big River Race Management, helps manage the councils’ 5k events.

About Katie Helbig:

Helbig first became involved with Girls on the Run as a coach in the fall 2007. The St. Louis native attended the University of Dayton where she ran cross country and earned a degree in public relations. She still enjoys running and racing herself, but found that she gets the most out of running from girls who she’s coached, both through Girls on the Run St. Louis and at her high school alma mater, Cor Jesu Academy, where she’s been the head cross country coach for seven years.

About Amy Sheridan:

Sheridan also began her involvement with Girls on the Run as a coach in spring 2008. A Granite City native, she graduated from Southern Illinois University – Edwardsville School of Business. She has three children and loves that Girls on the Run is a program she can participate in with her two daughters. She has completed two half-marathons and plans to train for a triathlon this year. 

About Girls on the Run St. Louis:

Girls on the Run St. Louis is a life-changing after-school program for girls in third through eighth grade – a critical time in girls’ self-development.  The program is delivered through an interactive curriculum combining self-esteem enhancing lessons with uplifting workouts aimed to develop the whole girl – physically, mentally, emotionally and socially.  Young girls are empowered with positive self-awareness and increased confidence; a sense of achievement by training for and running a 5k; and giving back to their community through a service project each season.

Girls on the Run St. Louis will celebrate its 10th anniversary with a variety of events this year, including a move of its race location to downtown St. Louis on Saturday, May 12, 2012 to accommodate the growing number of participants. Visit www.girlsontherunstlouis.org to learn more about the organization.