Each year, Girls on the Run South Central Wisconsin awards two, $2,500 academic scholarships to program alumni, selected by a scholarship committee made up of community volunteers. Today, we are so pleased to introduce you to the first of two 2024 scholarship recipients, Lily Williams!

May is Mental Health Awareness Month, an important time to elevate the conversation about the mental health of girls. Anesis Center for Therapy is marriage and family therapy center helping people in Dane County navigate mental health in ways that honor culture, family, community, and faith. Back in October, Anesis therapist Brittany Neal, LCSW, served as a panelist at the Girls on the Run International Day of the Girl event, where she helped spread awareness about many important issues facing local girls and youth. This month, we invite you to take a moment to learn more about Anesis' work creating safe, equitable, and inclusive spaces for healing, including their first multicultural mental health conference in August.

Melissa Belk is a GOTR donor, SoleMate, and coach in her third season at Orchard Ridge Elementary in Madison. We recently got to ask her some questions about her "why" and experience as a coach. We hope it brings joy and inspiration to you! 

Fleet Feet is on a mission to empower the runner in everyone. Please enjoy hearing from Jessica and Matt, owners of the Fleet Feet locations in Madison and Sun Prairie, about the importance of a proper shoe fitting! 

Coaches like Shelley are the heart of what we do. Shelley is a retired elementary school teacher who taught for years at Elvehjem Elementary School in Madison. She is also a Girls on the Run coach who has been sharing her heart with our teams for 20+ seasons.

SoleMate Beth Giles-Klinkner is Interim Provost at Madison Area Technical College and a passtionate champion for the next generation of women and girls. Keep reading to learn her SoleMate story and what inspires her to empower girls and youth.

Long-time Girls on the Run of South Central Wisconsin volunteer Nancy Daly has been recognized by Girls on the Run International with their Remarkable Volunteer Award, a national volunteer recognition program that acknowledges the inspirational impact volunteers have on Girls on the Run.

Joan is a committed philanthropist and is on her own mission to inspire other women to join her in making a difference in the community through philanthropy.