Mayor Francis Slay Co-Chairs 1St Girls on the Run Downtown Race

For more information, contact: Katie Helbig (314) 862-6266 [email protected]

For Immediate Release

Mayor Francis Slay Co-chairs 1st Girls on the Run Downtown Race

GOTR St. Louis Celebrates its 10-year Anniversary, Moving Race Downtown to Accommodate Growing Numbers of Participants in City’s Largest Timed 5k

ST. LOUIS (February 27, 2012) – In celebration of Girls on the Run St. Louis’ 10th anniversary and the organization’s inaugural race in downtown St. Louis, Mayor Francis Slay is joining GOTR-St. Louis Founder Jill Indovino as co-chair for the upcoming 5k race Saturday, May 12, 2012.

“We are extremely excited to have Jill and Mayor Slay as our co-chairs, especially since this is such a milestone year for us,” said GOTR Executive Director Courtney Berg. “We are celebrating our 10th anniversary, and our race has outgrown our previous venues, prompting us to move to downtown St. Louis. The participation of the Mayor and our founder elevates this event and highlights its significance.”

GOTR St. Louis started in 2002 when Indovino gathered just 20 girls on a park bench in Clayton to begin sharing lessons of empowerment and goal-setting. The growth of this life-changing after-school program for girls in third through eighth grade has been amazing. This year alone, more than 5,000 girls will participate between the two seasons, and the program is in more than 200 schools in 19 counties in eastern Missouri and western Illinois.

This rapid growth has prompted the organization to go from simply participating in other organizations’ 5k races, to hosting its own 5k race, first in Tower Grove Park, then Forest Park and now downtown on May 12, 2012. The race has become the largest timed 5k in St. Louis and GOTR St. Louis is forecasting approximately 6,500 runners, 350 volunteers and more than 3,000 spectators.

Mayor Slay is proud to support the race, and in fact, the Mayor’s Office is organizing a team for the event. “This innovative program empowers young girls, both physically and emotionally,” said Mayor Slay. “I celebrate the fact that Girls on the Run is teaching thousands of our region’s young women self respect and physical fitness, and I look forward to the 10th anniversary celebration and GOTR’s inaugural Downtown St. Louis 5k.”

The May 12 race is chip-timed and open to the general public. Individuals can participate by going to www.girlsontherunstlouis.org to register for the race or to volunteer. Those interested in donating to this worthwhile program can go to www.active.com/donate/2011-2012. About Girls on the Run St. Louis:

Girls on the Run St. Louis is a life-changing after-school program for girls in third through eighth grade – a critical time in girls’ self-development. The program is delivered through an interactive curriculum combining self-esteem enhancing lessons with uplifting workouts aimed to develop the whole girl – physically, mentally, emotionally and socially. Young girls are empowered with positive self-awareness and increased confidence; a sense of achievement by training for and running a 5k; and giving back to their community through a service project each season. Visit www.girlsontherunstlouis.org to learn more about the organization.