Erica Schulte started running as a child to cope with difficult times in her tender life. She remembers, "My mom was single with six kids, so my childhood was a little rough. I actually started running as a very young girl around the neighborhood because it was kind of my exit from general life stress."
The benefits from running inspired the Rose Productions founder to host Muse, a yearly celebration of women in food, drinks, and the arts, where 100 percent of the proceeds go to Girls on the Run for Greater Kansas City. She is also a board member of the organization that promotes inner strength, physical activity, confidence, and possibilities for girls in third grade and up.
Girls on the Run International was founded in 1996 with just 13 participants. Today, the organization serves more than 2 million girls from across the country. The greater Kansas City chapter, founded in 2007, has impacted around 45,000 young women.
Schulte says, "Personally, it's very impactful for me to support Girls on the Run because it specifically focuses on building self-confidence, helping young girls have tough conversations at school with friends that they don't know how to navigate, and just learning how to be brave and to go for it. During the spring and fall seasons of the program, girls run twice a week for an eight-to-ten-week period that ends with a celebratory 5K."
The non-profit is divided into programs serving girls of all ages. The primary one is for those in third through fifth grades, designed to inspire them to discover and grow their self-confidence through a blend of physical activity and life skills development. The participants learn to manage emotions, show empathy, and develop friendships. They also run every week.
Schulte says, "Most of our teams are programmed through the local school districts, and we rely 100 percent on volunteer coaches. No one is getting paid to take these girls out there, and our communities have been so supportive."
Middle school-aged girls join the Heart & Sole program, tailored to their specific age group, to feel supported and inspired as they strengthen both their physical and emotional health. Also, high school-aged young women can join the Junior Coach program to develop leadership skills and make a difference in the lives of younger participants.
"Being a part of this organization is definitely a full-circle thing for me as an adult," Schulte says. "Many young ladies have probably had a moment of insecurity. Just feeling like you're not enough, don't look the right way, or wondering if you have the right friends. It should be everyone's right to be able to do what they need to feel confident in themselves."
To learn more about Girls on the Run for Greater KC and to sign up for a program, volunteer, or donate, visit the website: gotrkc.org.
No one is getting paid to take these girls out there, and our communities have been so supportive.
It should be everyone's right to be able to do what they need to feel confident in themselves.