Art Anderson has been a proud sponsor of Girls on the Run of WestSound since 2019. That’s 5 years of supporting the mission: to inspire girls in 3rd through 8th grade to recognize their inner strength and develop positive self-esteem through a combination of running and social-emotional learning. The program is much more than just running. Girls on the Run uses a 10-week curriculum that incorporates discussions, activities, and running games to teach essential life skills. These skills include:
- Building healthy relationships
- Setting goals
- Communicating effectively
- Managing emotions
The program culminates in a celebratory 5k event where the girls can showcase their newfound confidence and accomplishment.
“[WestSound Girls on the Run] theme for the 2024 5K was Better Together – it is clear that is a fact. The encouragement heard all across the course helped get runners, walkers, rollers across the finish line! Togetherness strengthens & makes us all better! The piece you played in the past year has added to the “togetherness”, and you are an important part of our mission & movement, which is massively appreciated!!!”
– Jane Duea, Executive Director of Girls on the Run WestSound
Why Is This Program Important to Us?
Research suggests that girls’ confidence levels can drop significantly as early as age 8 and can fall by 30% between the ages of 8 and 14. This drop can be particularly steep starting at age 12. A 2023 survey showed the percentage of girls who described themselves as confident was lower at every grade level up until 12th grade compared to a 2017 survey. The lowest percentage was in 9th grade, when only half of girls said they were confident. A VERY similar situation happens in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) world. Young girls gain interest in STEM subjects at age 11 and then lose it again by age 15. This is referred to as the STEM Gap.
One of the top reasons this occurs is a lack of interaction with mentors and role models. If a girl can’t see herself represented in a career, then she is unlikely to pursue it. We want and need more women in the engineering field. A more diverse workplace is a better place to work and produces a better product for the client. Currently only 16.5% of the AE (Architect and Engineering) field is made up of women. Programs like Girls on the Run support the mission to inspire young girls and support the confidence needed to pursue avenues that might be perceived as difficult.
“Thank you Art Anderson team!!!! YOU made a huge impact with your generosity in the past year, creating possibilities that inspire joy, health & confidence! We truly could not serve the incredible youth in our community without you!”
– Jane Duea, Executive Director of Girls on the Run WestSound
If you would like to learn more about Girls on the Run you can visit their website https://www.gotrws.org/.
If you would like to read more about the STEM Gap you can visit https://www.aauw.org/resources/research/the-stem-gap/
Add’l sources – Bureau of Labor Statistics 2020 and www.edweek.org