Every Girls on the Run season is made possible by people who believe in the potential of girls and choose to invest their time, talents, and resources in helping them thrive. This year, three members of the Girls on the Run of Northern Virginia community received national recognition for doing just that.

• Monique Hanis was named a Remarkable Coach

• The Junior League of Northern Virginia received the Remarkable Fundraiser Award

• Marlou Svenson was recognized as a Remarkable Council Supporter

Since 2018, Girls on the Run International has presented its Remarkable Volunteer Awards to recognize exceptional volunteers and supporters nominated by local councils throughout the Girls on the Run network. The awards celebrate people whose dedication strengthens the mission in their communities and creates an impact that extends well beyond a single season.

For GOTR NOVA, having honorees represented in all three 2026 award categories is an exciting opportunity to celebrate just a few of the people helping girls across Northern Virginia recognize their limitless potential.

Monique Hanis: Remarkable Coach

After retiring from a career as a clean energy communications professional, Monique Hanis knew she wanted to find a meaningful way to give back to her community. A runner for 50 years, Monique learned about Girls on the Run through a fellow runner and decided coaching might be the perfect fit.

Nine consecutive seasons later, it's safe to say it was.

Since beginning as head coach at Nottingham Elementary School in spring 2022, Monique has helped more than 175 girls experience Girls on the Run and has supported more than 10 fellow coaches.

While running initially drew Monique to the program, the lessons and relationships have kept her coming back.

“I get inspired by the girls every practice and every 5K,” Monique shared.

One of those inspiring moments came during a practice 5K, when a participant completed the distance for the first time and excitedly announced, “I feel so empowered! I feel like I can do anything!” 

Another impressive moment was when a participant shared what she had learned about herself during the season: “I learned that I like to run with a buddy but I also like to run by myself sometimes too!”

For Monique, moments like these show the impact of creating an environment where girls feel supported as they build confidence and discover more about themselves. As one Nottingham parent shared in support of her nomination, “Her encouragement and inclusiveness within the team fosters connections and teamwork. She’s always there.”

Her influence also extends well beyond her own team. As a member of GOTR NOVA’s Coach Advisory Council, she co-chairs the fundraising subcommittee, which helped collect 507 servings of healthy snacks for teams facing food insecurity. In addition, she regularly supports new coach training and mentors volunteers beginning their coaching journeys.

For Monique, coaching is rewarding even on the days when getting out the door takes a little extra energy.

By the time she gets back in her car after practice, she says that energy has returned. Then, just when the end of a season starts to feel tiring, she watches the girls cross the 5K finish line and remembers exactly why she wants to do it again.

What Coach Monique has learned over the seasons is that things don’t always go as planned, but it’s okay, and it can actually be more fun. You never know when something may turn out even better than you planned for.

Junior League of Northern Virginia: Remarkable Fundraiser

What began as financial support has developed into a multifaceted community partnership between GOTR NOVA and the Junior League of Northern Virginia (JLNV).

JLNV's mission centers on advancing women's leadership and creating meaningful community impact through volunteerism, collaboration, and training, which creates a natural connection to Girls on the Run's work empowering the next generation.

JLNV first provided financial support to GOTR NOVA in 2021, and the partnership has continued to grow. In 2025, a JLNV grant helped GOTR NOVA purchase new curriculum books. In 2026, the organization increased its support with funding focused on professional development, including helping offset the cost of sending a GOTR NOVA staff member to the Girls on the Run Summit.

But JLNV members wanted to do more.

Since fall 2023, members have consistently volunteered at GOTR NOVA 5Ks, bringing enthusiasm and encouragement to the course. Some have since deepened their involvement by becoming coaches and Team Adelaide members. Through JLNV members who have stepped into coaching roles, 40 girls and counting have had the opportunity to become GOTR girls, while members have also participated in site visits supporting more than nine teams.

“The 5Ks are my favorite because of the energy and the crowd,” shared Alexandra Mountford, JLNV Community Council Director. “It’s great to see the kids get excited about moving and exercise.”

JLNV has also participated in GOTR NOVA's annual Trivia Night fundraiser and continues to explore new ways to support participants, including opportunities to contribute to the council's healthy snack program.

“Receiving the Remarkable Fundraiser Award was a welcome surprise and a reflection of just how much the partnership has evolved. Every year we get more integrated, and I love it,” Erynn Hook, JLNV President, shared.

Marlou Svenson: Remarkable Council Supporter

For Marlou Svenson, getting involved with Girls on the Run began with a search for something many people are looking for: connection.

Marlou wanted to become more connected to her community and once she read the Girls on the Run mission, she knew she'd found an opportunity to make that connection while positively impacting local girls.

She has been finding new ways to do so ever since.

In addition to being a GOTR NOVA SoleMate, donor, and community ambassador, Marlou has served two years on the Coach Advisory Council, one year on the Associate Board, and has coached with GOTR NOVA since 2022.

She first coached at APAH-Arlington Mill, an affordable housing community in Arlington, where she spent four seasons helping ensure more than 15 girls could participate in Girls on the Run. After stepping away from coaching for a year, Marlou returned in her new Loudoun County community and helped strengthen the Broadlands team. By spring 2026, more than 20 additional participants had experienced GOTR with Marlou as their coach.

“Every way is rewarding in its own way, but what brings me an immediate, tangible sense of joy is coaching,” Marlou shared. “You can feel the joy radiating from the girls.”

One participant Marlou coached for three seasons demonstrated just how deeply GOTR lessons can resonate. While completing the 5K, the girl would pause and explain that she was listening to what her body needed or stop to encourage teammates along the course.

For Marlou, those moments show what happens when girls are given tools they can carry with them beyond practice.

Her impact reaches beyond coaching, too. Through her work with the Coach Advisory Council, Marlou, alongside Monique, helped launch and promote a healthy snack initiative that collected 507 servings of snacks for teams facing food insecurity. She has also represented GOTR NOVA at community events and supported initiatives designed to expand the organization's reach.

Her belief in this work can be summed up simply:

“Strong girls build strong communities.”

And for someone wondering whether they should get involved? Marlou's advice is equally straightforward: “Just do it.”

A Remarkable Community

Monique, JLNV, and Marlou have each found different ways to support Girls on the Run, but together their stories demonstrate what makes the GOTR NOVA community so special.

It's a coach returning season after season. It's a community organization growing from grant funder to hands-on volunteer partner. It's a supporter saying “yes” to new roles and finding new ways to serve.

Most importantly, it's people choosing to show up for girls.

We are proud to celebrate Monique Hanis, the Junior League of Northern Virginia, and Marlou Svenson as 2026 Remarkable Volunteer Award recipients and grateful for the impact they continue to make throughout Northern Virginia.

Inspired by their stories? There are many ways to join the GOTR NOVA community and help the next generation of girls build confidence, connection and a belief in what they can achieve.