Ep 54: Girls on The Run with Liz Kunz and Allie Riley

Today I am joined by Liz Kunz and Allie Riley from Girls on The Run. For 25 years, Girls on The Run has been empowering young girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively uses running as the method of learning. 

Sport specialization at a young age has made sports competitive and exclusive so much so that by the age of 14, girls are dropping out at twice the rate of boys. As a result, girls are missing out on the character building and life skills gained from participation in sport.

The Girls on the Run program serves girls between the ages of 8-12, right at that critical point when their confidence is plummeting and their need for positive self talk, empathy, confidence and belief in self is so incredibly important. 

Through their 10 week program led by volunteer coaches, Girls on The Run is helping young girls to make the important connection between their physical and emotional health when they truly need it the most. 

About Elizabeth Kunz Chief Executive Officer

 As a lifetime advocate for girls’ and women’s issues, Liz has always encouraged others to recognize the power they have to create and transform their own lives and the world at large. Liz spent the first decade of her professional life in corporate America before transitioning to the nonprofit sector in 1996. It was while working at the YMCA that she first learned about Girls on the Run. Its mission – inspiring girls to be joyful, healthy and confident – profoundly resonated with Liz, and she started volunteering for the organization in 2002. She joined the staff as Chief Operating Officer in 2006 and has served as CEO since 2008. Liz has presided over an incredible period of organizational growth and brings significant expertise to Girls on the Run in setting strategic direction and creating an inclusive culture of empowerment, gratitude and joyful purpose. Liz enjoys singing and dancing – particularly to alt-rock music – and if she won the lottery, she would buy land to rescue as many animals as possible. 

About Allison Riley, Ph.D., MSW Senior Vice President, Programming and Evaluation

With more than 10 years of experience designing, implementing and evaluating physical activity-based positive youth development programs, Allie oversees the development and delivery of all programming and training at Girls on the Run to ensure maximum impact. Allie earned her Ph.D. in social work with a specialization in positive youth development in social settings from Ohio State University. She also holds a master’s degree in social work with a concentration in clinical practices with children and youth from OSU, a master’s degree in kinesiology from Purdue University, and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of Virginia. Allie has completed multiple Olympic-distance triathlons, half marathons and a marathon.

Connect with Girls on The Run

Website https://www.girlsontherun.org

LinkedIn https://www.linkedin.com/company/girls-on-the-run-international

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/girls.on.the.run.international

Instagram https://www.girlsontherun.org

Twitter https://twitter.com/GOTRI