WEST ALLIS — The Girls on the Run team at Franklin Elementary wrapped up their fall season by organizing a pet item donation drive as their community impact project to benefit Lucky Mutts, a local rescue that saves dogs at risk of euthanasia due to overpopulation. As part of the 8-week season, each team creates and implements a Community Impact Project—a key component of the program. These projects encourage girls to identify needs in their communities and work together to create positive change. Lucky Mutts was selected after several team members expressed a strong interest in helping animals, and the girls agreed that supporting a smaller organization would allow their efforts to make a greater impact.

To launch the initiative, the team created promotional posters and wrote announcements to spread the word throughout the school community. During one of their final practices, the girls hung posters throughout the building and shared information on the school’s communication site. They also sought approval for a morning announcement and presented it to the entire school, ensuring wide visibility for the donation effort.

All collected items were donated to Lucky Mutts, which works to rescue dogs in need and place them in permanent, loving homes. Coaches said the girls were enthusiastic about the opportunity to contribute to a cause they cared about and understood how their actions could directly support the organization’s mission.

Throughout the project, team members demonstrated key Girls on the Run values, including teamwork and the belief that small actions can create meaningful change. According to the coaching staff, the girls remained highly engaged from planning through completion.

One moment in particular stood out. “The girls really enjoyed running laps through the school (due to it getting dark) to hang the posters,” the coach said, noting that the shift indoors only added to the team’s energy and excitement.

The project served as both a service effort and a learning opportunity, giving the girls a firsthand understanding of how collaboration and initiative can benefit their community.

Share Your Team’s Community Impact Project

Are your Girls on the Run participants completing a Community Impact Project you would like to see highlighted on our website? Coaches and site liaisons are invited to share brief details and photos by emailing Erin DeMont @ erin.demont@girlsontherun.org