In every organization, there are those special individuals who don't just show up—they go above and beyond time and time again. Today, we're celebrating one such remarkable volunteer whose kindness, boundless energy, and unwavering support have become the heartbeat of one of our teams.
Since 2022, Sara has been far more than a volunteer with our organization. She's been a source of inspiration, a reliable presence, and a testament to what it means to serve with genuine heart. Beginning as a coach at The Whitney Young School, Sarah is now serving as the team’s Site Liaison and continues to go above and beyond at every turn.
We asked Sara to share a little bit about her experience with Girls on the Run and how it has personally impacted her. Like many of our coaches, Sara expressed an appreciation for the lessons taught in our curriculum and the fact that they are impactful not only to the participants, but to the coaches as well.
“This year’s curriculum especially hit home with the lesson about that inner voice in your head and how it sometimes can be negative,” Sara shared. “I had previously listened to a podcast about not listening to that inner mean girl and how to ignore her, and then, lo and behold, here comes a lesson in GOTR about the same thing. The lessons that GOTR brings to the girls are the same lessons that we as adults are still struggling with and I am glad to see these young girls get the tools to deal with these issues that I never received growing up.”
Sara’s work with children goes beyond her time with Girls on the Run. She is also a preschool teacher for the Cleveland Metropolitan School District and enjoys the opportunity to interact with some of her previous students through GOTR.
Sara sees running as both fun and as a method of self-care. Her love of the sport has led her not only to Girls on the Run, but also to serve as an Angel Runner for Ainsley’s Angels, which brings “inclusion without limits” and celebrates an inclusive community in the running world and beyond. Earlier this year, Sara connected our organization with Ainsley’s Angels, which was able to provide a running wheelchair for one of our program participants to more comfortably complete the 5K with her running buddies. Thanks to Sara, we look forward to working more closely with Ainsley’s Angels in the future to make our program and our 5K even more accessible.
When we asked Sara about her favorite memory as a volunteer so far, she shared that it wasn’t necessarily a single moment, but it’s the small interactions during the school day when she sees the girls use the knowledge and skills they learn at GOTR in their daily life. And, of course, she loves when the girls come to her for help with social situations knowing that she will be there for them as a trusted adult.
One particularly fun memory that has stuck with her from this past spring was from the 5K. “We had a dance party in the parking lot before the 5K,” she shared. “During the run, one of the girls was walking slowly and I was encouraging her to start running and she says to me ‘I am too tired to run. They made me have fun dancing for a half hour. Why did they do that?’”
As we reflect on Sara's incredible contributions, we're filled with gratitude for her presence in our organization.
To Sara, and to all the volunteers who pour their hearts into meaningful causes: thank you. Your dedication doesn't go unnoticed, and your impact extends far beyond what you might ever realize. We're honored to continue this journey alongside such an extraordinary individual, and we look forward to many more years of growth, service, and shared success together.
To learn more about being a Girls on the Run Coach, please visit: https://www.gotrnortheastohio.org/coach.