Girls on the Run NJ North Receives $5,000 from Rite Aid Healthy Future

May 9, 2023 – Girls on the Run NJ North has received a $5,000 grant from Rite Aid Healthy Futures designed to combat health disparities and advance fitness and friendships among adolescent girls.

The announcement comes as local Girls on the Run councils prepare for their spring 5Ks, end-of-season events that are well known for their powerful positivity and celebratory atmosphere.

Girls on the Run (GOTR) is a leader in positive youth development, and its experience-based curriculum creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. The organization currently operates 171 local councils across the United States and Canada, serving nearly 200,000 girls annually.

The latest funding marks the third year of partnership between GOTR and Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the public charity affiliated with Rite Aid that seeks to advance equity and opportunity for children and youth. The grant supports the two organizations’ shared commitment to strengthening and empowering local communities.

The Girls on the Run New Jersey North Council is serving 475 girls in their spring program. The Rite Aid Healthy Futures Grant will allow NJ North to break down barriers and provide their life changing program to girls in underserved neighborhoods. Title 1 school districts in Jersey City and Paterson are the beneficiaries of the grant this season.

The New Jersey North 5k will be held on Saturday, May 13th at 8 am at White Deer Plaza in Sparta. This family friendly race offers runners of all levels and ages the opportunity to participate in a timed 5K, while celebrating the girls in the GOTR program. Registration is available the day of the event. For details visit, www.gotrnjn.org.

Executive Director, Maureen Dykstra said, “Reaching girls at a young age to educate them about the benefits of exercise and the value of goal setting lays the foundation for a lifetime of healthy living. The empowerment component of the program emboldens the girls to have the confidence to achieve their full potential.”

“As a Rite Aid Healthy Futures Grant recipient, we are committed to expanding our reach to girls who typically wouldn’t have access to our inspiring program. We are grateful to Rite Aid for their dedication to our mission.”

The grants are funded through Rite Aid’s KidCents fundraising program. Generous Rite Aid customers can round up their purchases online or in-store to support children’s health and wellness. Healthy Futures reinvests the funds into Rite Aid communities through grants benefiting organizations such as Girls on the Run.

“We remain inspired by the commitment of Girls on the Run to create a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential and is free to boldly pursue her dreams,” said Matt DeCamara, executive director of Rite Aid Healthy Futures. “Our partnership will ensure that more girls have access to their innovative programming that addresses health disparities and racial inequities in communities, ensure girls can reach their full potential and futures.”

For more information about Girls on the Run NJ North, please email info@gotrnjn.org.