Girls on the Run Greater Piedmont, which serves Rowan County, has announced the appointment of Jenn Bass as the new executive director. 

Bass comes from Boone, where she spent the past seven years serving in various roles at local nonprofits in the area. Most recently she was the executive director of the Hunger and Health Coalition, a local food pantry and free pharmacy in Watauga County with more than 25 employees and serving over 1,000 people per month. 

“We are thrilled to welcome Jenn Bass to our organization,” said Board Chair Lauren Jarvis. “Her passion for empowering girls to activate their limitless potential and proven track record in building a service-minded community will be instrumental in driving our mission forward. We’re confident that under Jenn’s leadership, we will continue to expand our impact to not only help girls face today’s pressures but to be joyful, healthy and confident. I can’t wait to see her commitment to the communities we serve.”

“This feels like a dream come true to join Girls on the Run for the Greater Piedmont” says Bass. “As a retired college athlete, I understand how pivotal life skills can be, such as managing emotions, making intentional decisions and helping others. Organizations like Girls on the Run offer programs that teach just that; by inspiring young girls to recognize their inner strength, increase their level of physical activity, and imagine endless possibilities for themselves.”

Girls on the Run is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident using a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running.

Founded as a local chapter in 2006, Girls on the Run for the Greater Piedmont serves eight counties. In addition to Rowan, it serves Yadkin, Forsyth, Guilford, Davie, Iredell, Davidson and Alexander.

This fall season more than 270 girls are part of the program at 20-plus schools across the counties.

Throughout the months-long program in the fall and spring, girls in third through eighth grade develop essential social, emotional and physical skills to successfully navigate life experiences.

There are multiple ways to get involved including volunteering, coaching, signing up your school to participate or donating if able. Every third girl in the program is sponsored in some way, as noted in a release they never turn a girl or her family away due to financial limitations.

To get involved with the program or learn more, contact Bass at jenn.bass@girlsontherun.org or call 336-214-2175.