raising funds and empowering girls
DANCE WITH YOUR GIRL
My 40th birthday comes at a pivotal point in my life’s journey. To celebrate, I’m inviting you to dance—for me, for yourself, for your girl and girls everywhere. Whether we’ve known each other for decades or months, this is a reintroduction to someone new.
It took me almost 40 years to meet my empowered self. It’s time you meet the real me too.
And while we get reacquainted, dance your way through the
VALUES OF GIRLS ON THE RUN and be inspired to support this worthy cause.
NURTURE OUR PHYSICAL
SPIRITUAL
EMOTIONAL HEALTH
+
Girls on the Run Value:
feel the rhythm + the beat
Two years ago, my life took a turn. A lifetime of chronic illness revealed itself as a lifetime of suppressing emotions to help others feel better about themselves. I grew up believing my needs mattered less than others'. And the impact on my being was all of a sudden unavoidably apparent. I saw where this pattern had the biggest hold and I started to do something about it.
Little by little, I found my voice. I came out to myself and my closest circle. I am bisexual and have been always--just never felt confident or supported enough to acknowledge my identity, even to myself.
In the throws of self-discovery, 2020 began with setting intentions for the year. I wanted to be in the best shape of my life by 40. Physically, emotionally and mentally, for myself and in my relationships. I had no idea what I would be uncovering, as the final stretch of uncovering my true self meant digging deeper into the hard stuff of the past.
find the dance floor
This past summer, I became a coach for Girls on the Run. I was teaching my daughters to embrace their full identities, to feel confident sharing their emotions, to acknowledge their own needs and stand up for them. And yet, I wasn't doing it for myself. Despite knowing many of my most important life relationships were one-sided in emotional support, I never spoke up. I had never stood up for myself.
With Girls on the Run, I realized it was time to stand. Stand for the me of today and the me of my past. Finally, I’ve said, I’m worthy. I am worthy of having my own needs, of speaking my truth, and worthy of challenging those around me to acknowledge it. I am worthy of loving myself as I deserve to be loved.
My whole girl had taken a lifetime of hits from childhood, teenage and adult traumas. It was time to make myself whole. Little Laura, a Girl on the Run at 40.
+ OTHERS
STAND UP
FOR OURSELVES
Girls on the Run Value:
EMBRACE OUR DIFFERENCES +
FIND STRENGTH
IN OUR CONNECTEDNESS
Girls on the Run Value:
grab a partner
It was so hard to break my pattern of not asking for more connection from those around me. But by finding the courage to ask my closest relationships to share this honest space, the return has been life-changing. I am not only a new woman to myself, I am a new wife, a new mom, a new daughter and a new friend. I'm so grateful that everyone who shares the other half of that relationship has evolved with me. Our love is stronger because of this new level of understanding and honesty between us. Together, we've grown into a love I never could've imagined before.
And another beautiful surprise in daring to share my story with YOU, is that we already share it through yours. Opening myself up in this way has prompted so many others to share their story back with me.
We’ve all got an experience that warrants finding connection through struggle and triumph. And it’s clear we all can identify with the importance of being joyful, healthy and confident--the mission of Girls on the Run.
make moves together
And so for my 40th, I hope you’ll join me by dancing for your girl and girls everywhere. If it wasn't a pandemic, we'd be dancing together. Instead, our "dance" is one of understanding, celebration, and seeing the importance of empowering girls to embrace their strength and self-worth during the most critical years of character development.
My party playlist is below, along with a link to donate to the Greater Rochester Council of Girls on the Run. This critical organization serves more than 1,300 girls across Greater Rochester annually. And roughly 34% of these girls depend on scholarships for participation, from programming support to pairs of sneakers.
The research-backed curriculum that blends critical life-skills lessons with physical activity has been proven to lift the confidence, character, care, connection, and competence for 85% of participants.
You've heard of Rochester, right? What better time to ensure the longevity of this programming for our girls.
EXPRESS JOY OPTIMISM + GRATITUDE
THROUGH OUR WORDS
THOUGHTS
+ ACTIONS
Girls on the Run Value:
LEAD WITH AN OPEN HEART + ASSUME
POSITIVE
INTENT
Girls on the Run Value:
dance your heart out
No doubt, humanity is being pulled, stretched and tested in every way imaginable. Did that make me question this celebratory request? You betcha.
But if I held back for fear of offending, I'd be holding back a woman who took way too damn long to come into her fullest self.
It is with positive intent that despite the chaos of life's path and the turmoil of the world that I ask you to please donate. And dance, too!
Feel the good vibes as you take action on behalf of girls who need us.
follow the steps
"Our girls need us to be strong and resolute role models who are using our individual talents and our distinctive voices to create a better tomorrow."
- Elizabeth Kunz,
CEO Girls on the Run International
When Liz shared this sentiment, she also shared the story of "a girl who was in middle school when her role model, Eleanor Roosevelt, was appointed chairperson of the newly established United Nations Commission on Human Rights in 1946. A moment in time when the entire world was grieving and feeling shame about the immorality and and inhumanity of World War II. The creation of this commission elevated this 13-year-old girl’s morale so much that she was inspired to write an op-ed in her school newspaper about our power to create a better world." This 13-year-old wrote:
RECOGNIZE OUR POWER AND RESPONSIBILITY TO BE INTENTIONAL
IN OUR DECISION MAKING
Girls on the Run Value:
“We children of public-school age can do much to aid in the promotion of peace. We must try to train ourselves and those about us to live together with one another as good neighbors for this idea is embodied in the great new Charter of the United Nations. It is the only way to secure the world against future wars and maintain an everlasting peace.”
– Ruth Bader, Grade 8B1.
EMPOWERED GIRLS BECOME EMPOWERED WOMEN
NOW, LET'S DANCE TO YOUR GENEROSITY
PLEASE SHARE THE GOOD VIBES
Please pass the party link on to anyone who needs to get their heart pumping.