2025 marks a major milestone for Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia (GOTR NOVA) — we’re celebrating 25 incredible years of inspiring kids to recognize their limitless potential and boldly pursue their dreams!
These last 25 years wouldn’t have been possible without the incredible volunteers who brought our curriculum to life and the thousands of girls who showed up with open hearts and boundless energy. This year, we’re shining a spotlight on them.
As we celebrate our anniversary, we’re celebrating you — the coaches, the participants, and the community members who made this journey possible. Be the HERo of your story is more than our anniversary slogan — it’s a tribute to the real-life heroes who have shaped GOTR NOVA.
How are we celebrating?
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Anniversary special on our podcast, Joyful Journeys, lasting the entirety of 2025
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Post-secondary education scholarship
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And more!
Since 2000, GOTR NOVA has served over 89,000 kids across the region, helping them build confidence, connect with their peers, and develop lifelong skills through our evidence-based curriculum. As we look back on our journey, we’re also excited to look ahead — and invite you to join us as we continue to empower the next generation.
Joyful Journeys
We’re excited to highlight the voices of individuals who have shaped our story — from former participants and coaches to dedicated volunteers and all five of our Executive Directors, on our podcast. Their stories are filled with inspiration, laughter, and a deep love for GOTR. It’s a celebration of our past, present, and future — and a reminder that we’re all on this journey together.
Interested in being featured?
Scholarship
To honor this special year, we’re thrilled to announce the launch of our first-ever post-secondary scholarship, created to support a GOTR NOVA alum as they continue their journey beyond our program. This scholarship will recognize an individual who exemplifies the core values of Girls on the Run and is making strides toward their future with courage, compassion, and confidence.
View the scholarship eligibility and apply by June 30, 2025.
Throughout 2025, you’ll also see small celebratory moments sprinkled across all corners of our community — from surprises at 5Ks to special shoutouts on social media, and fun throwbacks to our earliest days. These joyful gestures are our way of saying thank you for being part of the GOTR NOVA family.
Whether you’ve been with us from the beginning or you’re just joining the movement, we invite you to celebrate 25 years of joy, confidence, and connection with us. Here's to continuing to build a world where every girl knows she can be the HERo of her story.
Stay tuned. Stay inspired. And let’s make this a year to remember!