Then explain to me why they charge different schools in the same district the same amount.... or why the school in a neighbor city was $20 more then us?? I understand the inner workings of the teaching/running side of the program well. But I am disgusted that the prices have gone up over $40 since the Spring 2014 season, and they charge randomly. A city 3 miles south of me, was having girls pay $46... where we were paying $150.... disgusting.
My girls/students only paid about 20 bucks each, but that's an urban, poverty-stricken school.
I don't have an answer to the question. I spent $170 for registration and I need to spend at least another $170 so I can run with her. They encourage us to run with our kids but the cost is high. The total will be $340 for 10 week program.
I am not sure who is getting this money since the coaches are volunteering.
GOTR Fan wrote:
If you haven't had the opportunity, I would urge any of you who really want to see what Girls on the Run is about, visit your local group, and volunteer at the season end 5K. I used to be a hardened, competition-only, die-hard runner. Having volunteered at the local Girls on the Run 5K at the urging of my wife, it is hard not to get emotional watching thousands of grade school kids enjoying a 5K event. I is an incredible sight to see the next generation of runners in action.
Any troll here who seriously laments 3rd through 5th grade girls learning about healthy body image, positive self esteem, and teamwork among others and decries lack of 5K "training" should be banned from coaching athletes of any age.
As a previous poster alluded to, a large percentage of participants are on scholarship, supported by donations and local fees. Supplies for the curriculum, t-shirts, medals, and race day event planning all cost money. Trust me- nobody is making serious cash off this, and many chapters are trying to stay above water.
I don't have real budget info, but just for a back of the envelope calculation for where that $150 might go:
A "good" administrative cost for a charity is under 10-15%, so lets lowball and assume $15 per person off the top for admin, infrastructure, insurance, etc.
Lets take another $35 for the end-of-season 5K- this is comparable to any large 5K entry fee with similar amenities.
This leaves $100. If 1 of every 4 participants is supported by scholarship, then 3 of 4 may be supporting that girl from their fees. 1/3 of $100 is $33, leaving $66 left.
10 weeks, 2 runs per week, makes 20 sessions total. That comes out to $3.30 per day that it costs. Much cheaper than any day care I know of. But lets keep going for those still skeptical.
Figure in $1.50 per girl for daily snacks, 75 cents per girl for supplies, this leaves an operational overflow of $1.05 per day per girl for any things I didn't leave out. Still worried that someone is making a lot of money off of this?
Do yourself and your sport a favor- find a GOTR chapter and volunteer- as a coach, at the 5K, helping prepare for the season, passing out fliers.[/b} Learn what the program and curriculum are really about. It is truly a life changing program for these girls.
No f'ing thanks. I'd rather not take the chance of being accused of something.
Men are pretty much stupid to be around these types of organizations. Let the women do it.
This is from the online signup for New Orleans area. They put a Transaction Fee of $8.06 - that rich...
I just don't see how to justify the cost of this.
Payment Summary
Description Amount
Subtotal $225.00
Transaction Fee $8.06
Payment Due Now $233.06
"I've run in a local GOTR race -- never again. It was poorly managed and the course was actually close to dangerous. I didn't see many economically disadvantaged kids, either."
What exactly do economically disadvantaged kids look like?????
The program's a misnomer as it has little if anything to do with running. If I wanted my young daughter (and more importantly, SHE, wanted) to run I'd encourage her to run in the school track or XC program or come out for a few runs with me rather than this kumbaya BS that costs $150.
I know someone whose job it is to coordinate, promote, etc. for similar group in our metro area. This is this person's job and they have to be paid. The coaches aren't the only ones who do things with the program.
Not Worth It wrote:
They do subsidize a lot of the low-income students, but I agree it is over priced. And the coaches work for free.
We stopped having the program at our school and started our own co-ed running club. We do local road races throughout the season. Club limits on the number of runners allowed and strict enrollment deadlines just made it too bureaucratic.
Someone in that program is making a lot of money!
Where I live the Girls on the Run charge $150 an hour, but the service is complete.
Lady in my neighborhood has a monopoly on the seven local chapters. She basically shuts anyone else down and pulls in over six figures from GOTR (according to my wife). My daughter ran it in 4th grade. It was a good program and concluded with the only 5K she's run to date (23:00), so pretty cool.
ontherun18 wrote:
"I've run in a local GOTR race -- never again. It was poorly managed and the course was actually close to dangerous. I didn't see many economically disadvantaged kids, either."
What exactly do economically disadvantaged kids look like?????
Danger ... danger ... danger
SJW triggered alert
Then don’t participate. There, problem solved!