In 2026, Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte proudly celebrates 30 years of empowering girls to be joyful, healthy, and confident. Our official 30th anniversary is September 16, 2026, marking three decades since our founding in Charlotte. Since our founding in 1996, we have walked, run, and grown alongside tens of thousands of girls — helping them build life skills, confidence, and a belief in themselves that lasts far beyond the finish line.
What started as a bold idea right here in Charlotte has grown into a powerful movement across the Greater Charlotte community. For three decades, Girls on the Run has been more than a program — it has been a safe space where girls learn to embrace who they are, support one another, and discover their inner strength.
Where It All Began
Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte is proud to be the founding council of Girls on the Run. In 1996, the organization began right here in Charlotte with just 13 girls. What started as a small, local program quickly revealed something powerful — when girls are given space, encouragement, and tools to build confidence, incredible things happen.
Those first 13 girls laid the foundation for a program that would grow far beyond a single school, shaping the lives of tens of thousands of girls across our region.
A group of Girls on the Run participants with Girls on the Run founder Molly Barker.
30 Years of Impact
Over the past 30 years, Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte has:
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Served more than 50,000 girls across the Greater Charlotte area
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Partnered with hundreds of schools and community sites
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Engaged thousands of dedicated volunteer coaches and supporters
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Created a welcoming, inclusive space where girls learn critical social-emotional skills through movement
Each season, every practice, and every celebratory 5K represents more than miles covered — it represents confidence built, friendships formed, and voices strengthened.
A group of Girls on the Run participants in the early years at practice.
More Than a Finish Line
At the heart of Girls on the Run is the belief that every girl is already strong and capable. Through our research-based curriculum, girls learn how to set goals, navigate emotions, resolve conflict, and stand up for themselves and others.
Our program reminds girls that their voices matter — on the track, in the classroom, and in their communities. And as they grow, that confidence ripples outward, shaping future leaders, mentors, and changemakers.
A group of Girls on the Run participants and community runners crossing the startline at a Girls on the Run 5K celebration.
Celebrating the Community That Made It Possible
This milestone anniversary belongs to our entire community — the girls who show up bravely each season, the volunteer coaches who lead with heart, the schools and sites who open their doors, and the donors and partners who believe deeply in our mission.
Your support over the past 30 years has helped Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte not only endure, but thrive.
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Girls on the Run Greater Charlotte staff partnered with Elliott Davis team members to prepare materials for an upcoming Girls on the Run season.
Looking Ahead to Our 30th Anniversary Year
As of January 2026, we’re kicking off a year-long celebration leading up to our official anniversary on September 16 — a milestone moment that honors our past while building momentum for the future.
As we celebrate 30 years in 2026, we’re not just reflecting on how far we’ve come — we’re looking ahead to the future. A future where even more girls across Greater Charlotte have access to programs that affirm their worth, nurture their confidence, and remind them they can do hard things.
Throughout the year, we’ll be sharing stories from the past, highlighting impact from the present, and inviting our community to celebrate alongside us.
Because 30 years in, our mission remains as powerful — and as necessary — as ever.
Here’s to the next generation of confident girls… and the many miles still to come.
Girls on the Run participants making silly faces during practice.