Joyful Journeys

In this episode of Joyful Journeys, Communications Manager Sammy sits down with Rachel Yep of the Clarendon Run Club to explore how a shared commitment to community has grown into a meaningful partnership with Girls on the Run NOVA.

Together, they discuss the Clarendon Run Club's volunteer experience at the GOTR NOVA 5K, the energy and encouragement their members bring to participants, and the power of showing up for the next generation. The conversation highlights how simple acts of service can create lasting connections and why investing in community benefits everyone involved.

Whether you're a runner, volunteer, or simply passionate about building stronger communities, this episode is a reminder that when people come together with a shared purpose, they can make a lasting impact.

This week on Joyful Journeys, our Director of Engagement, Ashleigh, sits down with women from the Heavy Construction Contractors Association (HCCA) to discuss what it means to build connection, confidence, and community as women working in a male-dominated industry.

For nearly 70 years, HCCA has supported the heavy construction industry, and today, the women within the organization are creating opportunities to connect, support one another, and build camaraderie across the field.

That shared commitment to creating supportive spaces made a partnership between HCCA and Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia a natural fit. From organizing snack drives to volunteering at our 5K celebrations, HCCA members have found meaningful ways to give back while strengthening their own connections with one another.

The support goes both ways! GOTR NOVA has brought GOTR for Grown-Ups lessons to employees at The Anderson Company, creating opportunities to explore the same confidence-building and life skills at the heart of our program.

As Liliana shares in the episode, “Failure doesn’t mean the end, it means you are learning and growing.”

Tune in to hear more about women supporting women, finding community in the workplace, and how the lessons we learn as girls can continue to serve us throughout our lives.

Julie Leonard joined Enterprise Knowledge as its first Human Resources hire at the height of COVID. This week, she joins GOTR NOVA Director of Development Catherine Kellar on Joyful Journeys to share how a connection between two organizations has grown into an impactful partnership.

Since 2022, Enterprise Knowledge has contributed nearly $10,000 to GOTR NOVA through sponsorships and creative fundraising efforts. Their annual step challenge alone has raised more than $7,000!

Julie shares how the missions of EK and GOTR NOVA align through a shared belief in embracing our differences and finding strength in our connectedness. That connection comes to life through EK’s step challenge, where employees set personal step goals—mirroring the way Girls on the Run participants learn to set and work toward goals at practice and beyond.
Tune in to hear more about the partnership between Enterprise Knowledge and GOTR NOVA, the impact of their annual step challenge, and how organizations can find meaningful ways to give back to their communities.

Interested in partnering with GOTR NOVA? Learn more and get in touch at www.gotrnova.org/partner.

What turns a first introduction to Girls on the Run into years of involvement and support? This week on Joyful Journeys, we’re joined by monthly donors Jen and Tamara to hear how they first discovered Girls on the Run and why the mission continues to resonate with them today. 

Having both grown up attending all-girls schools, Jen and Tamara understand the positive impact that supportive, empowering environments can have on young people. They share how that experience influences their decision to give back and help create similar opportunities for the next generation.

Jen reflects on how monthly giving has become part of her routine, a consistent way to align her giving with her values and invest in the growth she wants to see in the world. Tamara shares her own journey with GOTR NOVA, which has included coaching and even serving as President of the Board of Directors for two years!

They also discuss the powerful experience of seeing the program come to life at the GOTR NOVA 5K Celebration and knowing their support is helping more kids build confidence, cross the finish line, and develop skills they can carry with them for years to come.

This week on Joyful Journeys, our Executive Director, Caroline, is joined by three outstanding members of the Girls on the Run NOVA Board of Directors: Olga Autote, Esther Beard, and Patty Troppe!

Get to know Olga, Esther, and Patty as they look back on the dream jobs they imagined for themselves growing up—from marine biology and dolphin training to becoming the first woman president or an F-15 pilot—and share the journeys that ultimately led them to where they are today.

While their careers may have taken them in different directions than they once imagined, each found their way to Girls on the Run through a unique path. Hear how volunteering with another council, experiencing a GOTR 5K firsthand, and learning about the organization from a coworker ultimately connected them to GOTR NOVA—and inspired them to serve on our Board.

Tune in to hear more about the experiences that shaped them, what drew them to Girls on the Run, and the impact they’re making as members of our Board of Directors.

This week on Joyful Journeys, we're joined by three incredible community leaders from Clark Construction, Wegmans, and LMI.

Colleen Kerins, Chris Holland, and Christen Smith share why their companies invest in Girls on the Run NOVA and in the next generation of confident, compassionate leaders. While their organizations may operate in different industries, they all believe in the power of supporting today’s youth and strengthening our community through volunteer service.

From volunteering at our celebratory 5K to serving on our Board of Directors and Associate Board, their commitment goes far beyond sponsorship.

Tune in to hear how meaningful partnerships create lasting impact for our participants, our volunteers, and the entire community.

This week, we're joined by three members of the Girls on the Run NOVA Coach Advisory Council (CAC), a dedicated group of volunteer coaches who help shape the future of our program by providing valuable feedback, ideas, and perspective.

While they come from different backgrounds, careers, and stages of life, they all share one thing in common: a passion for empowering kids to recognize their limitless potential.
Tune in to hear what first inspired them to become coaches, the moments that have stayed with them, and why they continue coming back season after season.

Feeling inspired? You can make a difference, too. Learn more about becoming a Girls on the Run coach at www.gotrnova.org/coach.

Welcome to a new season of Joyful Journeys, where we’re highlighting some of our superstar supporters! In this episode, we’re hitting the pavement with Light Horse Track Club—and we mean that literally. They recorded this episode while out on a run!

Hear from Light Horse Track Club co-founder and Executive Director Dustin Sweeney, along with club members Chelsea and Andy, about the partnership between Light Horse and Girls on the Run. Andy also has a special connection to GOTR as he gets ready for his first season coaching his daughter’s team.

Listen in to hear how Light Horse Track Club and Girls on the Run align, support one another, and work together to fulfill their missions in Northern Virginia.

Katie Ramboyong joins us on Joyful Journeys to share her family’s deep connection to Girls on the Run! Katie’s story truly embodies the spirit of GOTR, as she was a participant in elementary school, a 5K volunteer in high school, her sister was her teammate, their mom coached the team, and her dad ran beside her as her Buddy Runner. As Katie says, it was a whole family affair! 

From crying through her first 5K to crying across the finish line at her first marathon, Katie’s dad has been by her side every step of the way. In this episode, she shares the heartwarming story behind those tears, and the joy and growth they represent. 

Though running wasn’t her favorite part of GOTR as a child, the lessons she learned stuck with her. Today, she still carries one in particular with her every day and credits Girls on the Run for helping her discover a lifelong love of physical activity and confidence in motion.

This week on Joyful Journeys, we’re joined by Julia, who has worn many Girls on the Run hats over the years! From coach to SoleMate to her current role on a committee with our sister council, Girls on the Run DC, she has always found meaningful ways to keep GOTR in her life. Her story is a wonderful reminder of the many ways to get involved with the organization and how each experience can fuel a deeper passion and commitment.