When Katie Coughlin laced up her running shoes as a high school student, she discovered something bigger than the sport itself.

For 15 seasons, “Joyful Jen” Entwistle has been a steady source of encouragement, laughter, and heart at Girls on the Run in Medford.

At First Avenue School in Newark, coaching duo Sabrina Edmonds and Alyssa Pierce have been the steady heartbeat of their Girls on the Run and Heart & Sole teams.

When Venessa White first read about Girls on the Run (GOTR) in her local newspaper 13 years ago, she knew she wanted her daughter to experience it.

A junior at Princeton University and a three-season coach, Georgia brings boundless energy, empathy, and a splash of humor (even if her GOTR girls don’t always get her jokes).

For Matthew Litt, Girls on the Run NJ East isn’t just a local program — it’s personal.

Fiona Laddey first laced up her sneakers with Girls on the Run in third grade at Grover Cleveland Park in Essex County. What began as a fun introduction to movement and confidence would become a full-circle journey that helped shape the young woman she is today.

For Annie Seelaus, CEO of the women-owned investment firm R. Seelaus & Co., supporting Girls on the Run NJ East is about more than philanthropy—it’s about shaping a future where girls step into their power, speak up, and lead.