At Girls on the Run NJ East, a Bold Heart is someone who leads with courage, compassion, and conviction — and uses her voice to create opportunity for others.
This month, we are proud to spotlight Maria Gennari, a 19-season Girls on the Run coach and SoleMates supporter who was recently honored by the East Orange Education Association with the Keepers of the Dream Award.
Expanding Access in East Orange
Maria’s journey with Girls on the Run began with a simple email.
After rediscovering her love of running, she reached out about starting a team at Cicely Tyson Elementary School in East Orange in 2014. After learning more about the program, she was convinced it would be a great opportunity for her third through fifth grade students, but she expressed concern about families being able to afford the program fee.
Maria’s timing was perfect because Girls on the Run NJ East was in the early stages of launching a new initiative to increase access to the program in underserved communities by subsidizing program fees. Thanks to grant funding and Maria’s advocacy, 23 girls and 9 coaches at Cicely Tyson launched Girls on the Run’s first East Orange team in fall 2014.
Maria went on to work closely with GOTR board members to strategically optimize funds from corporations, foundations and individuals to reach more underserved communities. Her efforts helped expand access, increase diversity within teams, and ensure Girls on the Run NJ East reflected the communities it serves.
Her leadership has always extended beyond practice — removing barriers and building pathways for girls to belong.
A Moment of Resilience
One memory stands above the rest.
On a freezing November morning in 2014, 19 elementary school girls boarded a bus at 6:30 a.m. to run their first 5K. The early hour and biting cold could have kept them home — but they showed up.
When they crossed the finish line, nearly all completing their very first 5K, the pride on their faces said everything. Some ran the whole way. Some ran and walked. All supported one another.
“They didn’t just run a race,” Maria reflects. “They discovered their own resilience.”
Honored as a Keeper of the Dream
Receiving the Keepers of the Dream Award reflects more than a decade of dedication to the girls of East Orange.
“Showing up for the 3rd through 5th grade girls of East Orange has brought me immense satisfaction,” Maria shares. “Turn-keying the joy of completing a goal, striving for positive inner self-talk when doubt creeps in, and celebrating the uniqueness of each of our coaches and athletes has been at the core of this recognition.”
Her hope is that this recognition inspires even more schools in East Orange to embrace the curriculum and growth mindset that come with being a Girl on the Run.
A Life Rooted in Journey and Joy
Maria is a proud New Jersey native whose love of running began long before Girls on the Run. Inspired by a father who coached her elementary school soccer team and encouraged “lap running” at every opportunity, she learned early that movement builds resilience.
She is also the proud mom of two independent adult daughters who embody the same confidence and self-advocacy she works to nurture in her GOTR girls. Beyond the classroom and practice field, Maria has rescued and adopted out more than 100 cats over the past decade, partnering with local rescues to support humane cat rescue and adoption efforts in East Orange.
And when she’s not teaching, coaching, or rescuing kittens, you’ll likely find her riding her motorcycle alongside her husband and friends — embracing her belief that life is truly “all about the journey.”
Maria Gennari doesn’t just coach a team. She expands access, strengthens community, and ensures more girls see themselves at the starting line — and the finish line.
That is Bold Heart leadership in action!