Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Inc.

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Girls Gotta Run Foundation, Inc.

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Girls Gotta Run invests in girls who use running & education to empower themselves & their community.

|OUR VISION| Girls Gotta Run envisions a world that empowers and invests in the exceptional initiative of young women who are working to establish their place in the world as competitive runners and leaders in their communities, who are finding strength, courage and power in their pursuit of excellence, and who are achieving their fullest potential in running and society.

10/15/2026

When Deme Ketema (left) first joined Girls Gotta Run, she noted on her entry survey that she wanted to be "one of the best athletes" when she grows up. Well now, Deme and fellow GGRF student-athlete Gadise Negese (right) are well on their way, joining the Tirunesh Dibaba Sport Training Center!

Named after Ethiopian Olympic gold medalist Tirunesh Dibaba, the center is a performance-driven academy built to discover talent, develop disciplined athletes, and prepare them for national and international competition. Established by Ethiopia's Ministry of Youth Sports more than 15 years ago, the organization has placed 136 of their trainees on national teams, resulting in more than 40 national medals. The center also It also promotes gender participation in sport by giving female athletes equal training opportunities.

In their training, Deme will focus on the 1500m race, while Gadise will focus on the 3000m. Congrats to you both—we're cheering you on! 💚 👟

10/11/2026

20 years ago, Girls Gotta Run was created to ensure girls in Ethiopia had the resources they needed to keep running and stay in school.

That simple idea has evolved over two decades to become the GGRF we know today—an organization that impacts 1,400 lives annually, maintains a 98% high school graduation rate, and helps all student-athletes avoid early marriage and teen pregnancy.

We are incredibly grateful to the GGRF community for continuing to show up for these young women and invest in their futures. On this International Day of the Girl, you can continue to be part of this work by supporting our annual campaign.

Learn more: https://ggrf20.raiselysite.com/

10/07/2026

Run for Girls Gotta Run! We have THREE race entries left and one could be yours!

Runners who commit to our $6,000 fundraising minimum will receive an automatic entry into this Abbot World Major race, which will take place on March 7. Fundraising can be done through a variety of ways, and GGRF will support you each step (or stride) of the way!

The deadline to apply is October 23. Start your application today at the link: https://consoles.realbuzz.com/charity/girls-gotta-run-foundation/listing/1239/

10/05/2026

International Day of the Girl is this Sunday, October 11, and there's still time to get involved! 💚

This year, GGRF's IDG campaign also marks 20 years of Girls Gotta Run's global impact. Whether you'd like to donate directly, start your own fundraiser, or host an event, we'd love to have you celebrate with us!

Learn more at https://ggrf20.raiselysite.com/

09/24/2026

Girls Gotta Run is an organization for women, founded and led by women. 20 years ago, Patricia E. Ortman (left) was inspired to found GGRF after reading a news article about girls in Ethiopia. Kayla Nolan (right) joined the organization in 2010, eventually becoming GGRF's first Executive Director.

Kayla oversaw the development of GGRF's program model and its implementation at our program sites, an evolution that has led us to where we are today. She was also the leader who first developed GGRF's IDG Campaign, now our largest fundraising effort each year. Earlier this week, Patricia recognized Kayla's contributions to the org with a $1,000 donation to the campaign.

From Patricia and Kayla to the program directors, coaches, participants, mothers, and more who have helped expand GGRF's work and impact all these years, we are so incredibly grateful.

You too can be part of this movement by donating to our IDG campaign, live now at the link below.

👉 https://ggrf20.raiselysite.com/

09/19/2026

It’s Back to School Week for GGRF participants! 📚📓🏃🏿‍♀️

As we close out the first few days of school in Soddo and Bekoji, we wanted to thank all the donors who made it possible for these student-athletes to have the resources they need. From books to stationery to pens and pencils, every donation made or resource provided makes it easier for these young women to stay in school and pursue their dreams.

Here’s to another wonderful school year! If you’d like to be part of these efforts and make an impact in the lives of so many young women, you can donate to our 20th anniversary campaign at the link:

🔗 https://ggrf20.raiselysite.com

09/16/2026

For 20 years, GGRF has been working to support girls and their mothers in Ethiopia. Over two decades, we have grown and evolved our work to ensure we are always focusing on what GGRF's student-athletes need most to build confidence, stay in school, and become the women they want to be. This work has touched thousands of lives, impacted families, and changed communities across Ethiopia for the better.

This fall, you can help us mark this anniversary milestone by joining our annual campaign! Visit the link below to donate, start a fundraiser, or find out more about how you can host your own GGRF event.

Thank you for your support, big and small, over the last 20 years. We can't wait to celebrate with you!

👉 https://ggrf20.raiselysite.com/

09/04/2026

We close this week with so much gratitude for our team in Ethiopia 💚💪👟

Today marks the close of several days of staff onboarding and strategic planning in Addis Abada. This opportunity to gather in-person, brainstorm, give each other support, and look forward together has brought so much energy and momentum to the year ahead. We can’t wait! 👏

08/17/2026

Congrats are in order for alum Wosane Asefa, who won a silver medal in the 3000m Steeplechase at the Championships at the historic Hayward Field on August 7! 👏🥈

Wosane participated in the Girls Gotta Run program for three years before she was recruited to the Tirunesh Dibaba Sport Training Centre. At GGRF, she worked closely with Coach Fetiya, who she remains close with today.

This is the second silver medal for Wosane this year. In January, she placed second in the U20 World Cross Country Championships in Florida.

Way to go, Wosane! 🙌

📸 World Athletics

Address

3715 Jocelyn Street NW
Washington D.C., DC
20015

Website

https://girlsgottarun.org/

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