Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan Executive Director, Danielle Plunkett recognized at Athena International Leadership Summit.

ANN ARBOR, Mich., October 15, 2012 – Danielle Plunkett, winner of the 2012 Washtenaw County Athena Leadership Award, was selected from a pool of more than 6,000 past and present Athena award recipients, as one of 30 for special recognition at the Athena International Leadership Summit in Chicago this week. Athena International will showcase a broad representation of accomplished women and Athena winners from various professions and geographic regions as part of their Diamond Anniversary Celebration of 30 years of Athena leadership. Danielle is being honored by Athena for her work with Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan.

In 2003 Danielle began volunteering as a coach for Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization that envisions a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams. The life-changing program inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum, which creatively integrates running. After meeting Girls on the Run’s founder, Molly Barker, Danielle knew that she had found her home. She was hired as the Program Coordinator for Girls on the Run of Southeastern Michigan (GOTRSEMI) in 2005 and in 2008 Danielle was promoted to Executive Director. Danielle has helped grow GOTRSEMI’s reach from 215 participants to serving over 2,000 girls and families yearly.

“It is a tremendous honor to be selected for this Athena International recognition. I am humbled being in the same room with so many incredible women. And I am grateful for the opportunity to wake up everyday and work side-by-side with Molly Barker (founder of Girls on the Run), Liz Kunz (President of Girls on the Run International) and the other directors, staff and volunteers who have dedicated their lives to serving the mission and vision of Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run is much more than an after school program. It is a movement created to support and empower girls so that they can rise above the stereotypes and perceived limits imposed on them, celebrate and advocate for themselves, and become the world's next generation of leaders."- Danielle Plunkett

Plunkett received the 25^th annual Athena Award in Ann Arbor, on March 16, 2012. The Women's Council of Washtenaw County sponsors the award locally and is a professional organization that supports women in business by providing superior and pertinent educational programs. WCWC strengthens and mentors their members through networking and community involvement while cultivating strong, professional relationships.
 For more information about the Women's Council of Washtenaw County log onto http://www.wcofwc.org/. For more information about Girls on the Run log onto www.girlsontherunsemi.org.