Girls on the Run of Columbia appoints new Executive Director

Girls on the Run of Columbia announced Shannon Fountain as Executive Director. Girls on the Run is a physical activity-based, positive youth development program that inspires girls in 3rd through 8th grade to recognize their limitless potential and boldly pursue their dreams.

As a child that grew up in a military family, Shannon Fountain saw firsthand the power of sacrifice, serving others, and standing strong in the face of adversity. Shannon graduated from the University of South Carolina in 2007 and she eagerly entered the nonprofit world soon thereafter. Mrs. Fountain gained experience working with nonprofits in Tacoma, WA and Baltimore, MD; with one being AdoptUSKids, supporting children in foster care where she started as an Executive Administrative Assistant. Shannon was promoted twice within the organization and became the Resource Director for the National Adoption and Foster Care Information Exchange System.

Fueled by her passion for serving others, Shannon went back to school to complete a Master’s of Public Administration from the University of Baltimore in 2013. She has always focused on advocating for the well-being of children and youth. Upon relocating to South Carolina with her husband in 2014, Shannon was excited to join Girls on the Run of Columbia as the Volunteer and Event Coordinator. She was later promoted to the Community Relations and Project Manager in 2016. Shannon is now serving as the Executive Director of Girls on the Run of Columbia.

The Girls on the Run programs help girls develop key life skills including cultivating confidence, responding to oneself and others with care and creating positive connections with peers and adults. Each season culminates with a 5k event to celebrate the girls’ growth during the season.

Girls on the Run of Columbia has served the Midlands since 2004 and has impacted the lives of 9,000 girls.

With the help of the board of directors and volunteers, the program continues to grow each year and inspire more girls to be joyful, healthy and confident.

To learn more about Girls on the Run of Columbia visit www.GOTRcolumbia.org.

About Girls on the Run

Girls on the Run is a national physical activity-based positive youth development program for 3rd-8th grade girls. Participants develop and improve competence, feel confidence in who they are, develop strength of character, respond to others and oneself with care, create positive connections with peers and adults and make a meaningful contribution to community and society. Each session is led by trained volunteer coaches who guide and mentor the girls. The ten-week program concludes with all participants completing a celebratory 5k event which gives them a tangible sense of achievement as well as a framework for setting and achieving life goals. Girls on the Run has served over 1.2 million girls since its inception.