2025 Impact Report
15 YEARS OF POSITIVITY IN MOTION
Program Overview
Mission
Empowering Upper Valley youth through free afterschool running programs, Finding Our Stride boosts fitness, self-esteem and resilience, and connects kids to peers, mentors and community.
Program Pillars
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Fitness
We believe in the power of fitness to empower youth, regardless of their background or experience level. Our programs prioritize accessibility, inclusivity, and individual growth, providing a welcoming space for children to explore the joy of movement and develop lifelong habits of physical activity.
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Social-Emotional Learning
FOS is a microcosm of the classroom for our coaches, 80% of whom are educators. Practice time provides increased connection that builds student confidence and resilience in and out of the classroom. Our SEL curriculum is grounded in positive psychology’s research on character and relationships
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Community Engagement
Each season, teams and runners contribute meaningfully to their communities. This helps youth to foster self-esteem and resilience; build a sense of purpose and belonging; and develop a sense of agency and pride. Since 2016, FOS teams have raised more than $350,000 for Upper Valley non-profits.
Celebrating 15 Years of FOS
How It Started
First FOS Team: Indian River School, 2011
How It’s Going
CHaD Hero, 2025
2025 by the Numbers
Runners
1185
Coaches
120
School Partners
27
Communities
35
Letter From Our Executive Director
Dear Friends of Finding Our Stride,
15 years ago our founding director, Jenny Williams, saw an unmet need in our rural communities: inclusive, barrier-free programming where all youth have opportunities to thrive socially, emotionally, and physically. She partnered with Indian River School and soon Finding Our Stride was off and running.
The theory was simple: get kids outside, active, away from screens; give them a challenge; surround them with supportive peers and adults, and good things will happen. Add a purposeful dose of community engagement, and great things will happen.
As we expanded to support more schools, our coach-mentors – primarily educators in the very schools where they lead teams – joined us as true co-developers of the program. In partnership with school leaders and with the support of The Positivity Project, we integrated research-based social-emotional learning into our practice plans. Together we’ve designed a program that builds fitness, strengthens social-emotional health, and cultivates connection to community. These remain our guiding pillars.
In this report we highlight the research that informs our program design and the outcomes that reflect its impact. Finding Our Stride has grown significantly over the last 15 years. In 2025 we partnered with 27 schools, serving more than 1,100 students in grades K-8. We remain committed to inclusivity and access: the program is free to all participants, we provide healthy snacks at each practice, and our Sneaker Fund ensures runners have the footwear they need. Practices happen at school, immediately after school, eliminating transportation barriers for working families.
None of this happens without the support of individual donors, corporate sponsors, and private foundations. If you share our belief that investing in the well-being of children today strengthens our communities for decades to come, we invite you to join us. Together, we can help shape the next 15 years.
Happy running,
Greg DeFrancis
The Challenges Facing Youth Today
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Persistent Sadness
More than one third of VT and NH teens report persistent sadness or hopelessness. -
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Decline in Time Outside
In the last two decades, average childhood outdoor time has decreased by an estimated 50%. -
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Depression and Anxiety
Rural youth face higher rates of depression, anxiety, suicide and obesity compared to urban peers. -
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Lack of Physical Activity
Less than 25% of U.S. youth meet the recommended 60 minutes of daily physical activity, a "D-" grade. -
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Excessive Screen Time
The average US child spends 7.5 hours a day on screens.
What Helps Young People Thrive
The 5 C’s of Positive Youth Development are a widely accepted framework for understanding how young people grow into capable, compassionate adults.
Developed by Richard Lerner and grounded in decades of developmental science, the model shows that when youth build these five strengths, a sixth C naturally follows: Contribution.
At Finding Our Stride, we intentionally design our program to develop all six, demonstrating a holistic youth development program.
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The ability to develop skills and see measurable progress in areas that matter. Competence grows when youth challenge themselves, practice consistently, and experience improvement over time.
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A strong sense of self-worth and belief in one’s abilities. Confidence develops when young people feel supported, capable, and successful in meaningful pursuits.
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Positive bonds with peers, caring adults, and community. Connection fosters belonging and creates the relational foundation for healthy development.
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A sense of integrity, responsibility, and commitment to personal values. Character is strengthened through goal-setting, perseverance, and accountability within a team.
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Empathy and concern for others, expressed through kindness and encouragement. Caring grows when youth experience supportive relationships and learn to uplift those around them.
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Active, meaningful engagement in family, school, and community. Contribution reflects a young person’s desire to use their strengths to make a positive difference.
What Changes for Kids Because of FOS
Our evaluation paired with national data
Stronger Mental Health
97% of Finding Our Stride runners feel included and welcomed on their team.
Children reporting high levels of connectedness have nearly 50% lower rates of poor mental health
Increased Physical Activity
87% of Finding Our Stride runners continue post-season
On average, runners improve their distance by 20% each season
“Children who are more physically active tend to become healthier, more active adults with lower risks of chronic disease, better mental health, and improved cardiovascular fitness…Consistent, long-term activity habits established in childhood often track into adulthood, preventing obesity and improving overall quality of life.”
Healthier Choices
90% of parents say that participation in Finding Our Stride strengthened their child’s peer relationships.
Youth with strong peer and family connections are up to 66% less likely to engage in risky health behaviors.
Improved School Success
Finding Our Stride doubles the number of free afterschool programs in the Upper Valley, and is the only free afterschool program available to one third of of participating families.
83% of students in afterschool programs report liking school more than their peers. Social-emotional learning improves academic performance by 11 percentile points.
Increased Connection, Agency, and Altruism
80% of Finding Our Stride runners feel more excited to contribute to their community after participating. In the last 15 years, FOS runners and matching funds have contributed $350,000 to local charities!
People who engage in altruistic behavior report better mental health, more positive emotions, and greater resilience to stress.