Girls on the Run Celebrates 12 Years in Hampton Roads

Earlier this year, when The Dragas Companies celebrated our 50^th anniversary, we announced that we would honor the golden anniversary by giving back in Hampton Roads. For years, we have been a sponsor for Girls on the Run events, and this year, we were thrilled to celebrate their 12^th anniversary with them during the Girls on the Run 5K! The Dragas Companies has been a proud supporter of Girls on the Run Hampton Roads since its beginning 12 years ago, and we were so excited to volunteer at the 5K on Sunday, May 20. However, our support goes well beyond this annual event. Our CEO, Helen Dragas, was instrumental in starting the South Hampton Roads Chapter in 2006 by writing the first check to seed the chapter.

Girls on the Run shapes lives for girls in grades third through eighth. It’s a program that ignites passion, self-esteem and confidence, and it allows girls to unleash their limitless potential. Girls don’t have to love running to participate in the program, they just have to be willing to cross the boundaries of their comfort zones and try something new. This 5K is to inspire girls and show them that the finish line is just the beginning! As part of our commitment to giving back to the community, we also awarded Asics running shoes to 50 girls in the Girls on the Run program who may not otherwise have access to quality running shoes. As a company who loves our Hampton Roads community, we can’t thank Girls on the Run enough for forming a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a joyful and healthy world for young women. When Girls on the Run started in the area in 2006, there were only 34 girls. Today, Hampton Roads has over 100 schools participating and has seen over 12,000 girls participate in the program. What an amazing growth! For information on our local GOTR chapter, including details on how you can get involved, visit www.gotrhr.org.