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NVLife_Feb_2014

janet tod & GIRLS ON THE RUN Inspired coaching sets girls on the right track to health and confidence 11661 w6w w www..nwnA.AnPPAAAVPVAAALVLLALELEYLYLELIYFILFEIEmFmaEagmgaaazgzeinaeinzein. c. co.omcmo m When she retired from corporate communications/ human resources in 2004 and moved to St. Helena from Colorado, Janet Todd wasn’t sure what she would do next. She knew it would involve giving back to the community, particularly girls through sports. Luckily for Napa County girls and their families, Todd (a competitive triathlete) participated in a race in Marin where Girls on the Run (GOTR) was the charity partner, and instantly became inspired. Janet reached out to three women friends to apply for the local, non-profit charter and Girls on the Run Napa Valley was born, started in 2006 and serving two schools in St. Helena. A national program, GOTR is facilitated by positive volunteer life coaches who use a research-proven, experience-based life skill curriculum which creatively integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, caring, healthy and confident. Locally, 2,000 girls in twenty-one schools throughout Napa County and Fairfield have participated. After fifteen seasons coaching girls while trying to create a sustainable non-profit business, one might think Todd might have lost her passion, but that’s not the case. “Each season is just as special and uplifting as the first,” said Todd, who works with a small volunteer board and staff. Janet is known as “Joyful Janet” in the GOTR world, and when you meet her you totally get it. When she starts talking about GOTR, her eyes sparkle and she is smiling big as her passion for empowering girls shines. Visit GOTRnapavalley.org for more information about this fun and positive girl-empowering program. ▲


NVLife_Feb_2014
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