Students Run Philly Style

Students Run Philly Style (SRPS) has a mission to use running and mentorship as a vehicle to transform students' lives, forever. These students challenge themselves on a daily basis, training alongside their mentors to run as far as a half or full marathon. Through their training, youth in the program learn the benefits of hard work, determination and goal setting and develop the skillset to overcome any adversity they encounter in running and in life. Their lives are forever changed. Founded in 2004, SRPS has served thousands of Philadelphia youth. Quickly after the program started it became clear that the impact on the participating youth was much greater than the original goal of reducing childhood obesity. Program youth were not only embracing a newfound healthy lifestyle, but graduated the program with increased grades, improved likelihood to graduate, better confidence, greater connectedness to their communities, and equipped skill sets to overcome any adversity that stands in their way. In its first year, SRPS served 50 youth from community centers across the city. In an effort to expand the program, SRPS shifted to a school-based model. Since this change, the organization has grown to serve over 1,500 Philadelphia youth ages 12-18 annually.