With aims to combat health disparities and advance fitness and friendships among adolescent girls, Rite Aid Healthy Futures has renewed its partnership with Girls on the Run (GOTR) through a $1 million grant supporting the organization's continued inclusion, diversity, equity and access (IDEA) work. The announcement comes as local GOTR councils prepare for their end-of-season 5Ks.

GOTR's experience-based curriculum integrates running to inspire girls to be joyful, healthy and confident. The organization currently operates 171 local councils across the United States and Canada, serving nearly 200,000 girls annually.

The recent funding marks the third year of partnership between GOTR and Rite Aid Healthy Futures, the public charity affiliated with Rite Aid. The grant supports the two organizations' shared commitment to strengthening and empowering local communities.

The $1 million grant will benefit the GOTR headquarters as well as the 50 local councils in Healthy Futures' footprint, with funding focused on the continued development of GOTR's IDEA program. In particular, GOTR is focused on reaching girls from underserved communities, promoting a culture of inclusion across the organization, building a culturally competent curriculum and increasing local resources in key communities.

Local councils will use the funds to diversify their coaching staff, increase program access for girls of color and further enhance programming that acknowledges the needs and realities of their communities. Funds will also go to strengthening the organization's core programming and training while supporting sustainability across local councils, many of which are still recovering from the impacts of COVID-19.

The partnership between Healthy Futures and GOTR was established in 2020, with an initial grant of $1 million supporting programming during the pandemic. The 2020 grant contributed to GOTR's swiftly adapting services and programming to serve girls meaningfully and safely during the pandemic.

Together with donors, Rite Aid associates, community partners and neighbors, Rite Aid Healthy Futures, formerly known as the Rite Aid Foundaion, has donated more than $15 million a year to causes, initiatives and organizations that make a difference in people's lives. Visit http://www.RiteAidHealthyFutures.org to learn more.