At Girls on the Run Heart of Missouri, the mission: inspire girls in 3rd–8th grade to be joyful, healthy, and confident. Since 2011, this council is part of a movement blending physical activity with lessons on friendship, teamwork, and resilience.
Each spring and fall, volunteer coaches lead a 10-week program where girls meet twice weekly to run, connect, and learn. Sessions build toward the season’s highlight—a celebratory 5K that marks miles covered and confidence gained. For many, it’s their first race, and the finish line becomes a moment they’ll carry into school, friendships, and life.
The impact reaches far beyond the track. In Columbia, Girls on the Run partners with schools and community sites to ensure access, offering scholarships so cost is never a barrier. Programs like Heart & Sole, designed for middle schoolers, dig deeper into leadership and decision-making—equipping girls with lifelong tools for success.
The organization’s greatest challenge is reaching every girl who could benefit. Transportation, funding, and awareness remain hurdles, but the team works tirelessly with schools, donors, and volunteers to expand their reach.
This season, they’re especially thankful for the coaches, school partners, and sponsors who make each practice and 5K possible. Looking ahead, Girls on the Run hopes to expand into more schools across mid-Missouri—and they’re inviting the community to join in by volunteering, sponsoring, donating, or cheering at the next 5K.
Contact
Girls on the Run Heart of Missouri
511 East Walnut St · PO Box 30064 · Columbia, MO
573-222-0242
Love Columbia was founded on a simple but transformative idea: neighbors helping neighbors. The organization exists to connect people with relationships and resources so they can move forward—whether that means meeting basic needs, securing housing, or building a better financial future. Through coaching, classes, supportive services, and strategic assistance at the downtown Love Columbia Center, and practical resources through The Love Seat resale store, Love Columbia walks alongside people in crisis and those who are ready to take the next step toward their goals.
The impact is clear. In just the first half of 2025, the organization enrolled 1,740 adults and indirectly supported 2,261 children in their homes. More than 2,000 coaching sessions were provided, 352 households secured permanent housing, 301 evictions were prevented, 127 people landed jobs or better jobs, and 16 first-time buyers became homeowners. Even car repairs, tax preparation, and transitional housing are part of their wide-reaching support.
But the true heart of Love Columbia is seen in individual stories. One young woman, after receiving coaching and tutoring, raised her credit score, earned a certificate in accounting, and secured a better job. “Love Columbia means everything to me,” she shared. “They are not a stepping stone, but stairs to help people reach heights they never imagined.”
Each year, around 400 volunteers contribute time and skills—from helping a neighbor learn to budget to delivering a child’s bed. Donors extend that impact, funding urgent needs like rent, utilities, or car repairs.
This year, Love Columbia is especially thankful for the volunteers and donors who helped make possible a new transitional housing project—Love Forward Homes—which will begin housing families in 2026. Looking ahead, they hope to expand services, shorten waitlists, and continue strengthening the community, one neighbor at a time.
Contact
Love Columbia
1209 E Walnut St · Columbia, MO 65201
573-256-7662
At True North of Columbia, the mission is to provide safety, shelter, and support for survivors of violence—because every call to the hotline and every knock on the door represents someone finding the courage to seek safety. Founded on the belief that no one should face abuse alone, True North provides shelter, advocacy, and hope for survivors of intimate partner violence, sexual violence, sex trafficking, and stalking. Survivors come from every walk of life—friends, coworkers, neighbors—because anyone can be impacted by violence, and everyone deserves safety and dignity.
The need has never been greater. True North’s 24-hour hotline averages 400–500 calls a month, and the shelter has remained at full capacity for months. In 2025, the organization is projected to provide 20,000 support services, up from just 5,000 in 2022. Services include emergency shelter, case management, children’s programming, legal advocacy, and prevention education for local schools and University of Missouri athletes. With help from the Veterans United Foundation, a new shelter building will soon expand capacity, giving survivors more time and resources to rebuild their lives.
Behind these numbers are stories of resilience—survivors securing housing, gaining education, finding employment, and rediscovering confidence. None of this is possible without dedicated staff, volunteers, donors, and community partners.
This year, True North is most thankful for the courage of survivors and the community that stands beside them, proving that together, Columbia can be a place of safety, dignity, and hope.
Contact
True North of Columbia
1316 Parkade Blvd · Columbia, MO 65203
Crisis Line: 573-875-1370
Administrative Office: 573-875-0503
For more than five decades, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri has been igniting the power and potential of local youth through one-on-one mentorship. The mission is simple yet life-changing: connect children with caring adult mentors who can help guide, encourage, and inspire them.
Since 1968, the organization has served youth across Boone, Audrain, and Randolph counties. In 2024 alone, more than 200 children were matched with mentors—known as “Bigs”—who walk alongside their “Littles” as friends, role models, and supporters. Research shows that youth with consistent mentors are more likely to graduate, pursue higher education, and contribute back to their communities. Locally, none of the youth currently enrolled are involved in the juvenile justice system, and 87% aspire to complete high school and attend college.
The impact of mentorship ripples far beyond one child. A former Little, “John,” remembers his Big helping him buy a bike to start a paper route. That moment sparked the entrepreneurial drive that ultimately led him to become President and CEO of a local company. His story illustrates how mentorship strengthens not just lives, but the entire community and workforce.
Big Brothers Big Sisters offers three programs: Community-Based Mentoring, where Bigs and Littles spend time together in everyday activities; School-Based Mentoring, pairing volunteers with children during the school day; and Site-Based Mentoring, offered in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club.
This year, the organization is especially thankful for its 100+ current Bigs, whose dedication transforms lives one match at a time.
When a child is matched with a mentor, the entire community benefits—stronger students become stronger employees, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Every investment in mentorship is an investment in Columbia’s future.
Contact
Ann Merrifield · Executive Director
Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Missouri
4250 E. Broadway, Suite 1067 · Columbia, MO 65201
Office: 573-874-3677 · Cell: 573-864-1839
Born from the vision of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Missouri in 1952, Missouri Girls Town began with a simple but powerful idea: to provide a safe place for abused and neglected girls to heal and thrive. After opening its doors in Mountain Grove in 1959, the organization relocated in 1981 to a centrally located campus outside Kingdom City. Today, the 23-acre site includes residential homes, a counseling center, a dining hall, and a school—serving as both a refuge and a launchpad for young women across the state.
Missouri Girls Town’s mission is to support youth and families by providing therapeutic services and education to empower them to reach their full potential. Each year, girls come from across Missouri, including many from Boone County, to receive counseling, therapy, and life skills training that helps them overcome trauma and prepare for a brighter future.
The impact is deeply personal. One young resident, who entered after surviving childhood sexual assault, worked with therapists to process her trauma and gain the strength to testify against her abuser in court. Her courage reflects the resilience Missouri Girls Town helps foster every day.
Donors and volunteers play a critical role, bridging the funding gap not covered by the state. Events like Happy Hour for Hope and the Patrons’ Breakfast raise vital awareness and support. This year, Missouri Girls Town is especially thankful for committed partners, board members, and staff who ensure that when a girl needs them most, the doors are always open.
Contact
Missouri Girls Town
8548 County Road 142 · Kingdom City, MO 65262
573-642-5345
“Crossing the finish line isn’t just about running a race—it’s about building confidence that carries into every part of life.”
“Our mission is only possible because of the survivors who trust us, the volunteers who show up, and the community that believes every individual deserves safety, dignity, and a future free from abuse.”