Member Spotlight: Girls On The Run

We caught up with the team at Girls On The Run and Members at Workbox – River North, to learn more about their company’s mission, how they’re utilizing their private workspace at Workbox, and their plans for 2026.

Tell us a little about your company!

At Girls on the Run-Chicago, we believe every girl deserves the opportunity to build confidence, develop resilience, and discover her limitless potential. Through our two research-based programs—Girls on the Run for grades 3–5 and Heart & Sole for grades 6–8—we combine social-emotional learning with physical activity to help girls strengthen their emotional, social, and physical well-being.

Over the course of an 8–10 week season, girls meet twice a week to explore topics like self-confidence, emotional regulation, healthy relationships, and self-advocacy while training for a celebratory, noncompetitive 5K. The 5K isn’t about finishing first—it’s about setting a goal, persevering, and recognizing how far they’ve come.

Access is at the heart of our work. We partner with more than 200 schools and community organizations across Chicagoland, prioritizing girls in historically underserved communities where safe, affirming spaces are needed most. Since 1999, we’ve served more than 120,000 girls, equipping them with the skills, confidence, and connections to thrive today and for years to come.

What is your company’s mission, and what problem are you working to solve?

At Girls on the Run – Chicago, our mission is to inspire girls to be healthy and confident using a research-based curriculum that creatively integrates running. At our core, we bolster the mental and physical health of adolescent girls through a curriculum that builds social-emotional skills, such as self-awareness, relationship skills, and responsible decision-making. We endeavor to create a world where every girl knows and activates her limitless potential.

What do you love most about what you do?

I love being able to hear from our community on the different ways Girls on the Run has impacted their lives. Their stories are inspiring and are constant reminders of how important it is to continue creating spaces where every girl feels seen, supported, and empowered.

At Workbox, our mission has always been about Member Success. What does success mean to you?

Success is about making a lasting impact. At Girls on the Run Chicago, success means ensuring every girl has the confidence, skills, and support to recognize her limitless potential. It also means bringing together a community that believes in investing in girls because when girls thrive, our entire community thrives. Knowing that our work is helping shape the next generation of confident, compassionate leaders is what makes this work so meaningful to me.

What do you enjoy most about being a part of the Workbox Community?

The friendly staff, efforts to create community like having activities and events for tenants, the flexible work spaces, and the options to utilize other locations.

Is there anything else you’d like people to know about your company?

Join us for an unforgettable evening at the 2026 Girls on the Run–Chicago Hope & Heart Gala on Friday, September 18, at Morgan Manufacturing. Together, we’ll celebrate the unstoppable Heart Power of girls across Chicagoland and recognize the dedicated champions whose generosity and commitment make this transformative work possible.

To learn more about Girls On The Run and all the great things they’re up to visit https://www.gotrchicago.org/