When Ann signed her daughter, Jasmine, up for Girls on the Run Greater Richmond, she thought she was simply enrolling her in an after-school activity.

What she didn’t expect was how much it would support her, too.

Like many parents, Ann was looking for a way to help her daughter reconnect after the lingering effects of the pandemic's isolation. She was hoping Girls on the Run would help Jasmine get active and interact with other girls at school.

What happened next unfolded in small but meaningful ways.

A new friendship.
A little more confidence.
A willingness to try.

Then came a moment Ann will never forget.

As part of the program, the girls chose a community they wanted to impact and created a project together. Jasmine’s team decided to paint rocks with positive affirmations and place them around the school, spreading encouragement and kindness to others. (Kindness rocks!)

But what stayed with Ann wasn’t just the project itself; it was what happened after.

Jasmine kept going.

At home, on her own, she continued writing positive words and truly embracing them.

“Seeing her continue that at home, writing positive words and really believing them, that meant everything to me,” Ann shares. “It’s something I wholeheartedly support.”

That’s when Ann realized this wasn’t just a program her daughter attended. It was shaping how she saw herself.

And for Ann, that kind of impact is priceless.

“Having something like this across schools, building girl power and confidence while promoting healthy activity, it’s such a great opportunity for our girls,” she says.

And if another parent is unsure about signing up?

Ann’s answer is simple.

“Join. For sure. It’s girl power at its finest!”

And for Jasmine, that power is only just beginning, one step, one lesson, and one confident stride at a time.