Heisman Fund supports equitable growth in girls’ sports

In September 2022, Girls on the Run Georgia — the physical-activity-based positive youth development program that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident — received a $45,000 grant from the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund.

The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund supports charitable organizations that integrate organized sports, academics and youth development activities for young people up to age 18. In 2021, The Heisman Trophy Trust expanded the Fund to Atlanta and Dallas.

The grant to Girls on the Run provided funding for ten teams of approximately 15 girls each based at schools in metro Atlanta during the fall 2022 season. Along with covering the program fees, the grant also helped provide participants with items that enable them to participate in the program comfortably, including running shoes, sports bras, sports hijabs and healthy snacks.

“We are so grateful for this support from the Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund with the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta. It means so much to the amazing girls who are a part of these ten teams,” said Lea Rolfes, executive director for Girls on the Run Georgia. “We applaud the Trust for recognizing the data that shows that social-emotional learning is academic support.”

The program grew 43% from fall 2021 to fall 2022, reaching over 1400 participants across 93 teams, many of them Black and students of color from underestimated communities.

The participants and Girls on the Run staff aren’t the only ones who feel the impact. Coaches, parents and other partners also see positive results sparked from the grant.

One caregiver describes the impact of the program on her daughter.

“This was my 4th grader’s first extracurricular activity and after-school practice. We are so thankful for the shoes and discount, as we would not have been able to afford it otherwise. She really learned a lot, is more confident and responsible, and made some cool friends. She loves her Girls on the Run medal. She wears it every day. She said she is sad that it is over and will participate every year that she can.”

Girls on the Run believes that every girl, regardless of her family’s financial status, should have access to its curriculum-based programs that creatively use running to reinforce critical life skills, including managing emotions, intentional decision-making and goal setting. To learn more, visit girlsontherunatlanta.org.

The Heisman Trophy Youth Development Fund at the Community Foundation for Greater Atlanta provides project/program-specific funding support to sports-based youth development organizations in the Greater Atlanta region. Grant applications are now open and the deadline to apply is May 1. Interested organizations can learn more and apply here.

Photo credit: Tiffany Farmer