By Jamie Botta, Communications and Outreach Manager, Girls on the Run of the Triangle
Julia Boltz, middle‐school winner of the first #CarrieOn Award, shared her heart for service by volunteering for Book Harvest’s annual Dream Big book collection event, held in conjunction with Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. The #CarrieOn award is named in memory of Carrie Holderman Gilmore, a long‐time Girls on the Run of the Triangle coach and staff member who lost a courageous battle with breast cancer in May of 2016. In the wake of her death, friends and family joined to create the GOTR Triangle Carrie Gilmore Memorial Fund, with the intention of annually recognizing three girls – one elementary school‐aged, one middle school‐aged, and one rising college freshman who exemplify the GOTR values and the heart for service that Carrie embodied.
As part of the application process, Julia was asked to name a nonprofit to which she would like to give a monetary donation and donate two hours of her time. Julia’s choice of Book Harvest stems from her love of reading and desire to see all children have access to books. During the Dream Big event, Book Harvest collected 48,334 books to give to Triangle children to improve literacy. In addition to Julia’s time, GOTR of the Triangle made a $200 donation to Book Harvest in her name, received on behalf of Book Harvest by Daniele Berman.
Applications for the #CarrieOn Awards will be available annually each fall with the recipients announced in November. For more information or to make a contribution to the fund, please contact Ronnie Bower, Special Projects Manager, GOTR of the Triangle at ronnie@gotrtriangle.org, or visit www.gotrtriangle.org/donate.
GOTR of the Triangle is a nonprofit, physical activity‐based, positive youth development program (PA‐ PYD) for girls in grades 3‐8 designed to develop and enhance girls’ social, psychological, and physical competencies to successfully navigate life experiences. Its mission is to create a world full of joyful, healthy, and confident girls acting on their values and opportunities. As the name implies, running is a part of the program, but the primary focus is empowerment. Its experience‐based curriculum is designed to help girls across the Triangle recognize and activate their limitless potential.
Throughout the program, girls complete lessons to help them develop their competence, feel confident in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with compassion, create positive connections with peers, coaches, and adults, and make a meaningful contribution to their community. For more information about Girls on the Run of the Triangle, or to sign up for the 15th Annual QuintilesIMS Girls on the Run 5K event April 29, please visit www.gotrtriangle.org.