In a world filled with uncertainty and stress, girls need a space to express joy, feel accepted, and find their own voice- a place like Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run (GOTR) Memphis inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. Girls on the Run is a unique, after school program for 3rd-8th grade girls that helps to improve girls’ social and emotional well-being and physical health. The 10-week program also teaches adolescent girls life skills and behaviors to help guide them through life, such as how to make intentional decisions, resolve conflict, make friends, and more. Girls on the Run places an emphasis on building the confidence of 3rd-8th grade girls and fostering their connection with one another. Adolescents are acutely experiencing the stressors of COVID 19-the absence of routines, a parent’s job loss or economic hardship, serious illness, social unrest. In addition, Memphis has the second highest rate of poverty among large cities of 500,000, both in overall poverty (27.8%) and child poverty (44.9%). With 65% of our participant’s families struggling to meet basic needs, especially during these Covid-19 impacted months, our program is critical for adolescent girls' mental and physical health. It provides them coping skills which will help them deal with stress and trauma in these trying times. In order to remove barriers, we raise funds each season to provide financial assistance for 70% of our girls. With corporate and grant funding down, we must extend our circle of generosity even further- to find the scholarship dollars for our participants.