GOTR Expansion to Serve More Youth in East Tennessee
Elementary school girls need quality, physical activity-based, positive youth development programs. During adolescence, physical activity tends to decline, and girls become at risk for obesity, diabetes, and depression, among other unhealthy outcomes. The lower physical activity coincides with lower perceived physical competence, self-esteem, and peer and family support. Girls on the Run Knoxville is the only GOTR program serving East Tennessee and operates only in Knox County. The organization’s impact has been significant; however, GOTR Knoxville’s territory has expanded across four additional counties: Anderson, Blount, Loudon, and Sevier. These counties contain 52 public elementary schools (48 of which are Title 1). This means that 92% of these schools have at least 40% of students who fall at or below the poverty line.