Girls With Sole ROCKS
What if I told you that you could positively change the course of a girl’s life forever? That because of you, she no longer feels lost, alone, or incapable? Because of your support, she believes in herself and her abilities for the first time?
You have this power, and that girl is waiting for you!
Girls With Sole Founder/CEO, Liz Ferro, is participating in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon on June 3, 2018 to raise awareness and funds for Girls With Sole programming.
Why Alcatraz? Because it’s known as “The Rock,” and the girls we serve everyday are truly rockstars! No matter what obstacle they need to overcome, they use the tools for resilience that Girls With Sole provides.
The Alcatraz Triathlon represents a symbolic celebration of all that the girls we serve have endured and are capable of.
At Girls With Sole, we utilize free fitness and wellness programs to empower the minds, bodies, and souls of girls aged 9 to 18 who are at-risk or have experienced abuse of any kind. Our award-winning program teaches girls healthy behaviors, positive body image and self-esteem, teamwork, and leadership skills that translate into all parts of their lives.
Girls With Sole programming has touched the lives of over 1,000 girls in the Cleveland area, but you can help us reach even more girls who are waiting to discover their inner champion. You can be their rock! How?
Please donate today to help more girls achieve their greatest potential in fitness and in life! Please be a rock for these amazing girls who inspire me every day!
With YOUR support we can lay down a new-found, solid as a ROCK foundation of strength, courage, optimism, resilience, health, pride and empowerment!
Thank you for your help…you ROCK!
Sincerely,
Liz Ferro, Founder & CEO of Girls With Sole
The Metamorphosis
I used to be afraid. I used to be afraid of what people would think, of what I would see when I looked in the mirror, of what I had to go home to and what I might find when I got there. In fact, I used to be so afraid to go home, that when I finally psyched myself up to put the key in the door, I’d turn around and run before my conscience told me to go back.
You may be thinking, “Mandi, running from your fears is cowardly and unrealistic.”
That’s what my counselor told me. She also told me that refusing to face reality is called “being delusional.”
I called it having a Superpower. I fail to see the difference. When life sucks real bad, I could just leave whenever I wanted, like a magic trick, “wanna see me disappear?” Don’t ask, I’ll do it anyways to save you the trouble. Poof! I’m gone.
So, I bet you’re wondering where I went when I ran from my fears. Well, I can tell you what places I didn’t go: the library, school, my grandmother’s, Joe’s Crabshack, the grocery store, on a pilgrimage. Long story short, I didn’t go anywhere innocent or family oriented.
My family was too high to care where I went or what I did. Then, I discovered drugs and had a new way to escape reality. I didn’t even have to leave my house! Then on one fateful evening, I was arrested. My family relinquished custody of me and I was getting released to a foster family. My life spun out of control when I got out. I had a crazy, weird new family. New school, and eventually new drugs. My addiction finally came to the light and things got bad again. My foster family decided to move to Minnesota and I was truly alone. I went to a group home and two weeks later I came to RTC. Later in the day when I got here, they told me to put on my own clothes for working out and I thought, “great, we’re gonna be doing military drills or something, I just know it!”
We went down to the gym and I was instantly greeted by Ms. Liz, my first thought was,”who is this crazy hyper pixie lady?” but it turns out that Ms. Liz isn’t just some pixie lady who shows up to work us out.
It reality, she’s my Fairy God Mother. She took my shoe size and bra size and I was instantly amazed by the amount of generosity a single woman can possess.
Over the past 6 months, Ms. Liz has done so much for me and every other girl here at RTC. She helped me shed my skin and learn to fly. Even after all of the adversity I’ve been through, she has helped me turn into a beautiful butterfly. Ms. Liz has inspired me to turn my life into something better. I’ve seen the future, but through someone else’s eyes. I’ve stepped through the looking glass and seen an alternate path. I’m so grateful and lucky to have the opportunity to meet Ms. Liz and participate in Girls With Sole. I know what I could be. I’ve seen, what others have seen, and I am no longer ashamed of what the future holds.
I AM NO LONGER AFRAID.
-Mandi, GWS Participant, Age 16
Be an #Upstander for Girls With Sole
In a sea of bystanders – please be an #Upstander by helping Girls With Sole! We need everyone to watch, like and share this video.
If enough buzz is created before October 31, Girls With Sole can hit the leaderboard and become eligible for a 25K grant from @Starbucks.
PLEASE HELP US change lives with only a minute of your time and a little space on your Facebook wall. 🙂
Thank you!
On September 21st, 2017, Girls With Sole Founder/CEO, Liz Ferro, received the Community Changemaker Award at the Third Annual Shine The Light To End Sexual Violence event, presented by The Ohio Alliance To End Sexual Violence. The event was held at the Fawcett Center at Ohio State University and celebrated many amazing people who dedicate their lives to eradicating the world of Sexual Violence.
