June's Girl Hero is the fabulous Meredith Easton Brown! Meredith has been coaching for Girls on the Run for over 10 years, volunteering from 2009 to 2015 and from 2021 to today! She is a driving force who goes above and beyond for her team, and a determined and compassionate coach and role model for the girls she coaches.
Most recently, Meredith coached for Team Sacajawea this spring at Sacajawea Elementary School where she was a GOTR Puget Sound Coach Award recipient and received a Super Star Award for being an overall outstanding coach. A fellow coach said this about Meredith in her nomination, "She is exceptional. Meredith has identified several thoughtful ways to help ensure all the girls feel included, recognized, and empower to make smart decisions. I admire her."
Meredith shared with us why she coaches for Girls on the Run, "I believe in girls! My drive to coach is fueled by my belief in the potential of girls to become stronger physically, emotionally and mentally through our curriculum. I try to instill in them respect for themselves and others and how to set and achieve personal and team goals. We teach them perseverance. Along the way, we teach them how to be a good, empathetic friend and surround themselves with good people. We want them to be self-confident when they enroll in middle school, ready to thrive in a bigger school. On our GOTR teams we create a supportive environment where girls can set goals, try their best, and even if they fall short, then we are there to encourage them. I believe in aspirational goals. I believe girls have Star Power inside that they can tap -- reserves of strength and perseverance. I love coaching kids to help them find it and use it to go the distance."
All of us at Girls on the Run Puget Sound are so lucky to work with such a dedicated and compassionate individual who believes in the power and mission of Girls on the Run. Thank you, Meredith, for all that you do for GOTR and for giving girls an opportunity to learn and grow, and to gain confidence and joy!