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Learn about the generous donors who have established charitable funds through Stark Community Foundation.
Next week, more than 1,100 mentors, friends and supporters from Stark County and beyond will combine exercise with celebration as they participate in a 5K race to mark the end of Girls on the Run East Central Ohio’s spring season.
The Spring 2026 5K will take place at the Duncan Plaza in Massillon on May 9, and increased participation in the event is representative of the growth the program has shown in recent years.
During its fall and spring seasons, Girls on the Run teaches essential life skills while providing positive role models and a healthy extracurricular activity for third- through eighth-grade girls. Participants spend eight weeks meeting twice a week for practices with trained volunteer coaches who facilitate lessons that blend physical activity with skill development like managing emotions, fostering friendships and expressing empathy.
Each season culminates with a celebratory 5K event where participants and coaches come together with community members to celebrate their accomplishments and show off their hard work. This closing event gives participants of all abilities a tangible sense of accomplishment as they cross the finish line, and instills confidence along the way.
Founded in 2009 as a local chapter of the international nonprofit, Girls on the Run East Central Ohio has involved more than 8,000 girls from nearly every school district in Stark County and locations in Carroll, Columbiana, Mahoning, Tuscarawas and Wayne counties.
In 2025, Girls on the Run’s fall and spring seasons served 738 girls among 48 local sites and involved more than 180 volunteer coaches.
Funding from donors, local organizations and grant programs allows Girls on the Run to make its programming accessible for all by providing financial assistance for participants on a sliding scale based on family income.
Learn more at www.gotreco.org.