Meet our October Girl Hero, Ivy Karlinsky! Ivy has been a part of the Girls on the Run Puget Sound community for over 15 years, and her impact has been felt across our organization. Ivy first heard about GOTR from a friend who saw a flyer at REI, and the rest is history! As a lifelong runner, Ivy had been looking for ways to volunteer in the community, and Girls on the Run seemed like the perfect fit. Ivy first began volunteering as a coach, and then, after several years, joined the Young Professional Board in 2019 to help spread awareness of Girls on the Run to her network. Now, Ivy has been a part of the Sneaker Soiree Committee for over five years and is a vital part of the team. She would describe GOTR as being empowering, uplifting, and inspiring, and we could say the same about Ivy! 

One of Ivy's favorite memories from coaching is her first 5K with Girls on the Run. She shared, "I remember seeing the first girls cross the finish line; they weren't even the girls I coached, but the joy and accomplishment on their faces was overwhelming and made me tear up." Another special moment from coaching was when Ivy was leading a lesson about self-worth and asked her participants, "What would you say if someone says something negative to or about you?" The response she got was, "Well, I would just tell them that that's their problem." Ivy shared that the way the GOTR girl answered with so much confidence and snazziness made her so happy, and that it always stuck with her. 

Thank you, Ivy!