Thanks to your support, Girls Thrive received a grant from WFM this year to sustain their program when it was needed most.

Girls Thrive is a small nonprofit in Helena, and 2020 WFM grantee, that offers three multi-week sessions a year that empower girls through a variety of physical activities and educational lessons designed to promote self-confidence, self-esteem, and positive body image. It is also a great example of how many of our grantee organizations continue to thrive through dedication and innovation, despite the multitude of challenges this year.

When the Governor issued the shelter-in-place order at the end of March, Girls Thrive was just preparing to launch their spring session and had to decide whether they would be able to successfully hold it online or cancel it. Knowing the young program participants needed the physical and mental consistency more than ever, Girls Thrive adapted and their coaches put together their first ever 8-week spring virtual session. They continued to provide positive content online and encouraged girls to get outside and get active with incentives provided by local businesses. In one challenge, participants were motivated to find five different wildflowers while out in the Montana wilderness, by a reward of a piece of jewelry from a local jeweler.

By the fall session, the girls were able to gather in small groups, but the program could now only serve fifteen girls, instead of its normal twenty-five. Coaches were required to take temperatures and trained on how to deal with COVID-19 symptoms. While the weather was still nice, they tried their best to keep workouts outside, running around town and mountain biking local trails.

Learn more about Girls Thrive on their website.