Girls on the Run Collier County expands into Southwest Florida

Photos: UnitedHealthcare’s sponsorship helps support and raise funds for the Girls on the Run Southwest Florida after-school 5K and life skills training programs for more than 300 third through eighth-grade girls from 26 elementary and middle schools in Collier, DeSoto and Charlotte Counties. The April 21 and April 28 5K races are open to the public and help raise money for the after-school programs. www.gotrswfl.org

Girls on the Run of Collier County has recently merged with Girls on the Run programs in Charlotte and DeSoto Counties, creating Girls on the Run Southwest Florida. As part of this merger and growth, the organization also named UnitedHealthcare as its title sponsor for the 2018 Girls on the Run spring race series. The newly expanded program for Girls on the Run Southwest Florida now includes 26 elementary and middle schools from Collier, Charlotte and DeSoto Counties.

After-school 5K training and life skills program

The Girls on the Run Southwest Florida program is a 10-week, after-school 5K and life-skills training program for more than 300 third- through eighth-grade girls. Two sessions, with one each in the fall and spring each year, teach life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games to build confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Each session culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5K race—the UnitedHealthcare Girls on the Run 5Ks, April 21 in Charlotte County and April 28, 2018 in Collier County.

Research findings on the lasting benefits for Girls on the Run participants

Findings from an independent study show the Girls on the Run program has a significant impact on young women’s lives with 97 percent learning critical life skills and 85 percent showing improved confidence, competence, caring, character or connection. The girls who were the least active at the start of the program demonstrated a more than 40 percent increase in physical activity.

“Our partnership with UnitedHealthcare enables Girls on the Run Greater Southwest Florida to grow our program and outreach to support girls and schools with financial need,” said Christine McConnelee, executive director for Girls on the Run Southwest Florida. “The partnership is an ideal fit given UnitedHealthcare’s commitment to wellness and supporting community-based programs that educate youth and families about the benefits of healthy living and exercise.”

“UnitedHealthcare is honored for the opportunity to help grow and support Girls on the Run Southwest Florida,” said Nicholas Zaffiris, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Miami/South Florida. “The lasting benefits of this program for girls at a critical time in their lives, helping them to build confidence and become healthier and more fit is wonderful testimony to the impact Girls on the Run has on participants.”

In Florida, UnitedHealthcare serves more than 3.4 million people with a care provider network of 270 hospitals and more than 56,000 physicians statewide.

About Girls on the Run Southwest Florida

Girls on the Run is a transformational physical activity based positive youth development program for girls in the third through eighth grades. The girls are taught life skills through dynamic interactive lessons and running games. The program culminates with the girls being physically and emotionally prepared to complete a celebratory 5k running event. The goal of the program is to unleash confidence through accomplishment while establishing a lifetime appreciation of health and fitness. Girls on the Run Southwest Florida is a subsidiary council of Girls on the Run International, which has a network of 200+ locations across the United States and Canada. For more information, visit www.gotrswfl.org.