At Girls on the Run of Greater Knoxville, our volunteers are the heartbeat of everything we do.

From coaches who bring our evidence-based curriculum to life, to event volunteers who make event days magical, to board members who guide our vision - our work simply wouldn’t be possible without them. This series celebrates the people who make it all happen and offers a closer look at the many ways volunteers power our mission.

Meet our Board Member, Sarah!

The Basics

Your Name: Sarah Springer

What is your current job title and company? Environmental Services Manager - RSI (I'm originally a geologist but these days I manage an environmental remediation team.)

Your GOTR Journey

How did you first get involved with Girls on the Run? What inspired you to join the board? My daughter participated in Girls on the Run when we lived in Eastern Washington, it was one of her all-time favorite things and today at 12-years-old she is an enthusiastic cross-country runner. So when we moved to Eastern Tennessee, I knew I wanted to jump in and help support this wonderful organization.

What part of the Girls on the Run mission resonates with you the most and why? I love the way the GOTR program bolsters our girls’ confidence, enabling them to set goals and achieve them. That is so powerful.

What is one of your favorite GOTR moments or memories? My favorite time of the year is volunteering as a course cheerleader at our 5K runs. I love standing there cheering at the top of my lungs, encouraging our girls and their friends and family to harness their star power and make it to the finish line. They have the best attitudes out there on the course, it’s fun to see.

A Little More About You

When you're not working or volunteering, what's a favorite hobby or way you like to spend your time? I love reading, hiking, camping and mountain biking. Recently my daughter, who learned to love running in GOTR, has been dragging me along on runs and I’ve been pleasantly surprised by how much I like it.

A book, podcast, or song you're loving right now? I love, love, love the podcast Good Hang with Amy Poehler. What a wonderful, hilarious and uplifting exploration of female friendship. I highly recommend it.

Photo Time!