Bob Whip, president of Horizon Fitness, speaks out about our first national sponsorship:
Earlier this year, we proudly became a national sponsor of Girls on the Run© International (GOTRI), an organization dedicated to educating and preparing pre-teen girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
We are thrilled to be partnering with an organization that shares Horizon Fitness’s values and mission to promote a better quality of life. 2008 marks the first year Horizon has committed to a national sponsorship of any organization. Personally, I am excited to find an organization that we can support on this level that does great work for a terrific cause.
My personal involvement with the organization
I have personally experienced the positive effects GOTR can have on its participants. My daughter’s involvement with Girls on the Run of Dane County has given her a greater confidence in herself and in her interactions with other kids. She has always been outgoing, but you could tell that she didn’t have the same self-assurance of her sisters. I believe that GOTR has changed that. My wife, Cindy, also began coaching the Oregon site in the fall. She is a runner so it was a natural fit and she has been highly engaged with the mission of GOTR.
Another exciting aspect of working with GOTR is the increased involvement of Horizon employees. Kristin Gritt, our marketing specialist, is running a race in Alaska to promote GOTR. Other people have become coaches in local chapters and have volunteered in other capacities.
Check out other exciting things regarding our involvement with Girls on the Run:
Girls on the Run Coach of the Year Contest
This year, Horizon Fitness is also pleased to sponsor the First Annual National Girls on the Run Coach of the Year Contest. Volunteer coaches who teach and mentor the girls are vital to the success of GOTR. We want to help acknowledge the dedication of these coaches across the country. This contest allows the girls associated with this organization the opportunity to express why they think their coach is inspiring. Girls are able to send in an entry that showcases their creativity while outlining what it is that makes their coach a qualified candidate for this award.
The winning coach will be honored at the 2009 National Girls on the Run Summit in Charleston, SC, receive national recognition, and other great prizes including their very own Horizon Fitness product.
Buy Horizon Fitness products and support Girls on the Run
Furthermore, in continuing support of GOTR and its mission, Horizon Fitness is donating a percentage of the proceeds from the sale of each piece of high quality fitness equipment through the GOTR website. The products offered include the T81 treadmill, T82 treadmill, EX-56 elliptical and RC-30 recumbent bike. To find out more about these products or to make a purchase to support the Girls on the Run mission, visit www.girlsontherun.org.
We are proud of Girls on the Run
As a company, we investigated many community involvement partnership options over the years and this one felt right, not because of my personal involvement, but because they we were both at a size where our involvement could make a difference. GOTR provided an opportunity to make a strong impact with a great organization that has a great mission!
To learn more about GOTR, visit www.girlsontherun.org.