Welcome to Girls Run The World Aurora & Yorkville
Serving The Fox Valley Area
Our 2nd Annual Leadership & Scholarship Reception
Thank You!
On May 15th, 2023 we celebrated the accomplishments our of program participants and our eight graduating seniors. Thanks to your support and attendance, we raised several thousand dollars towards college scholarships for our graduates and program expansion. Our program will resume in the Fall of 2023. We will be accepting new program participants at that time.
Our guest speaker, Victoria Lawrence, shared her testimony of discovering neurological issues that hinder academic accomplishments in her adolescent years and overcoming challenges that come along with being mislabeled. Victoria is a student, mother, wife, and science enthusiast. She attends Waubonsee Community College where she is pursuing a neuroscience degree program. Her message is one of resilience and fortitude.
We were graced with a musical performance from West Aurora High School Wind Symphony musical ensemble.
Returning GRTW Alumni connected with the current members and shared their career endeavors. We'd like to highlight Madison Sampson, of the Metea Valley Be Your Own You Chapter. Madison is now a Labor and Delivery Nurse at a local hospital.
We would like to thank our sponsors, both financial and in-kind:
CONTRIBUTING SPONSOR $500+
CamMi Photobooth
Danielle Dixon State Farm Insurance
Taqueria Aurora
Theta Epsilon Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Waubonsee Community College
MEETING SPONSOR $250+
Alderman Emmanuel Llamas
Alderwoman Patty Smith
Cynthia Latimer
Ed and Tracy Gonzalez (Isagenix)
Friends of Officer Calice-McDowell
Jillian Turner of GeGe Beans Sweets & Treats
PMB Events & More: Party Marty Balloons
Discovery A Better You, LLC
Trisha Knaub
Tracy Frieders
DJ Reggie ChoppinDown Chandler Entertainment
MENTORSHIP SPONSOR $125+
Bonnie Conner of Elite & Composed Event Rentals
Latonia Porte
Vannesia Darby of Moxie Nashville
SNACK SPONSOR $75+
Julie Gartung
London Brown
Marlene Anderson
Michele Clark
Michelle Silva
Officer Karl Germany
Officer Meredith Mielke
Officer Tania Mosley
Officer Jenny Rizo
Sgt. Lorena Hernandez
ADDITIONAL SPONSORS
Angie Bingham
Carla Williams
Colleen Walczak
Deena LeVie
Donna Cullar
Hakeemah Shamsuddin
Jodi Atchison
John Cardoza
Katrina Cole
Kristie Hubbard
Lakenya Hunt
Marta Nealy
Officer Vinny Nardone
Officer Danny Baker
Officer Gerardo Chaidez
Officer Andreana Armitage
Robin Jackson
Tammy Vinson
Learn More
To see more photo and videos from this event, check out our Facebook Page. We are currently accepting program sponsors and partners. Visit our donate tab for more information.
Meet The 2023 SPONSORS
Meet The 2023 Girls & Graduates
About Us
Our purpose
Girls Run the World is a girls empowerment program run by police officers and community leaders.
We currently serve three high schools in Aurora,IL: Metea Valley High, East Aurora High, and West Aurora High.
We also serve one high school in Yorkville, IL: Yorkville High School.
~Leadership. Conflict Resolution. Sisterhood. Voluntarism~
The women of Girls Run The World developed an infrastructure to support, encourage, and uplift the young ladies in their personal and professional endeavors. Through partnerships within law enforcement, the educational system, and community investors; group leaders created inroads for the students, exposing them to a variety of community resources, unique experiences, philanthropic efforts, mentorship, friendship, coping skills, conflict resolution skills, and leadership development.
GRTW has partnered with The Paramount Theater, APD Defensive Tactics Team, Mutual Ground, The Vistas Assisted Living Facility, and Aurora 88s Roller Derby to host local events geared toward youth development in Aurora.