August 13, 2025 • 9 mins
Candice McIntosh and Melissa Colby share their mission at Girls on the Run of the Flint Hills, bringing joy and confidence to girls in third through eighth grade across a ten-county region. The program combines physical activity with lessons on confidence, friendship, and community engagement.
• New "Hello Bold Heart" curriculum focuses on helping girls find and use their voices
• Program teaches girls to be good teammates and friends while building individual confidence
• Expanding to new counties with Clay Center joining this season
• Volunteer coaches don't need running experience—just a desire to empower girls
• Male coaches especially welcome as positive role models
• Annual fundraiser "Sneaker Soiree" becoming a luncheon on October 16th at Manhattan Country Club
• Looking for event sponsors and auction item donations
Visit gotrflinthills.org to register a girl, become a coach, or learn more about supporting the organization. Tickets for the Sneaker Soiree Luncheon go live September 1st and typically sell out quickly.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour as heardon NewsRadio KMAN, and we are
back with the GMCF CommunityHour here on NewsRadio KMAN.
We get to do this every Mondaymorning in the 10 o'clock hour
(00:20):
and we get to talk with a lot ofthe nonprofits in the community
.
The word is community.
You didn't realize.
I added an extra vowel to it,or an additional syllable.
Today we get to learn moreabout girls on the run of the
flood hills.
We got the Executive Director,candice McIntosh, returning.
Hello, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Hello, hello, hello.
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, and Melissa Colby is the program coordinator
.
Good morning.
You guys are just like the funinterview of the month.
Oh, we like that, yeah, youbring so much joy and happiness
because you've got a greatprogram that you do.
Thank, you.
Give us a 30-second elevatorspeech on girls on the run of
the Flint Hills.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, that's our motto is to bring joy,
confidence and happiness andhealth to girls across the Flint
Hills.
That's our motto is to bringjoy, confidence and happiness
and health to girls across theFlint Hills.
That's our mission and that'swhat we want to bring,
especially moving into the fallwith all the kiddos coming back,
and so that's what we'rekicking off to do.
And so our program is anafter-school program that serves
girls in third through eighthgrade.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Okay, well, you've got all kinds of new stuff.
You have a new curriculum,melissa.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
We do.
We are so excited about it.
We actually started severalseasons ago with our new suite
of curriculum, and the theme ofthis new suite is confidence,
and so each new curriculum.
There's three specificcurriculums within this suite,
and so we're very excited to use, for the first time this fall,
(01:45):
the curriculum appropriatelytitled Hello Bold Heart, and so
that one is filled with themesand activities and lessons
designed to help girls reallyrealize the power for them to
find their voice, to use theirvoice, to have the confidence to
share what's on their heartsand in their minds, and then
(02:06):
also to support their friends inspeaking up and using their
voice as well.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
So, like I said, we're very excited about that,
and when you talk about friends,you know you have a team
concept.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
That's absolutely right.
So we focus on the individualgirl, building her confidence as
well as her realizing that sheis a part of a team, building
her confidence as well as herrealizing that she is a part of
a team.
And so how to be a goodteammate, how to choose good
friends, the qualities and thecharacteristics you want to look
for in a friend, how to be agood friend, and then, even on
the bigger picture, what itmeans to be a part of your
(02:37):
community and how to give backto your community and support
your community.
So, like I said, we reallyfocus on the whole picture the
individual, the team and thecommunity component.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Can't as hell as a gal or a family get a team
started.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, absolutely so.
We have teams starting up rightnow all over the Flint Hills
area and so if someone'sinterested in starting a new
team, melissa's your gal, soshe'll get you, get you rolling.
So just reaching out to her isreally going to be the way to
get those those wheels turningand making sure that you're able
to do that.
And then also, if you're wantto get your daughter or girl
(03:17):
involved, you are able to getthat started as well through our
website and kind of seeingwhere our locations are.
We have a great little tool onthere that you're able to see
the current locations and asthey're coming in, and that's
the thing it's changing.
I feel like every single daywe're adding new sites, new
locations, as the fall istranspiring right now.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And I think a lot of people don't realize this.
You're more than just Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Absolutely.
We have a 10-county region,which that's crazy, and so it's
really exciting.
So we serve 10 counties allacross and we have new counties
starting this season.
We're adding Clay Center isjumping on board this season.
They're going to have a newteam.
That is one of our newlocations this season and so
(04:01):
we're pumped to get them rolling.
But we have girls all acrossthe Flint Hills region that we
are that are gearing up, lacingup those shoes and getting ready
to run.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Well, let's say, let's talk a little bit about
coaches.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
That's a key function , that is truly the heart of our
organization.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
If we didn't have our amazing volunteer coaches, we
absolutely could not do what wedo.
So we are actively recruitingand registering volunteer
coaches right now, and everyonealways asks well, what's it take
to be a coach?
It simply takes a desire towant to inspire a girl, to make
her feel empowered.
No, you do not have to be arunner to be a coach.
The best coaching teams aremade up from coaches um of all
(04:42):
walks of life.
So, whether you're a teacher, astaff member at a school,
whether you're a parent, a momor a dad, um somebody just in
the community, or even a collegestudent, if you simply have
that desire to want to empower,inspire a girl, like Candice
said, check out our website.
It has everything that you needto get started, to submit your
(05:03):
application to become a coach.
And again, no, you do not haveto be a runner.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
So, dave, you ready to sign up?
I don't think I'd be wellaccepted.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You absolutely would.
You have no idea the receptionthat the girls give to one our
male coaches.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Really now.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Absolutely.
A positive male role model isso important.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
It is Absolutely I will never, never suggest that
it is not but gotrflinthillsorg,by the way, is the website.
So you have had what I think isone of the most interesting
events the Sneaker Soiree.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And I'm always working, it seems like, and so
I've never been able to attend,but I've seen plenty of pictures
.
But in 20, this is 2025, right,in 2025, this Sneaker Soiree is
taking a little bit of a turn.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yes, we've had to adapt and change to the growth
of our organization and to thebusyness of staff and all the
things busyness of our community.
So spring was where wetraditionally held it and we
made a pivot and moved to fall.
Our spring is crazy busy and sowe had a little bit more time
in our schedule to move it tofall and also just has a great
(06:22):
little area to fit it into.
And we also are moving it to aluncheon and so from an evening
event to a luncheon event, whichis really exciting and, don't
worry, you still get to wearyour sneakers.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
And so that's the awesome thing.
In the past it's been kind oflike a dress up, where you wear
something like a formal gown andyou put on your your Adidas or
Nike's or Skechers or whatever,yeah and yeah, and you have
comfy shoes to party onto.
But are you still?
Is it still a dress up typething?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, you can come straight from work, right on
over and throw on your sneakersand or wear them to work.
A great excuse to.
You know, tell your boss, hey,I want to wear my sneaks to work
, so, um, but yeah, there's um,it's going to be great.
It's going to be a greatopportunity for community
collaboration, really anopportunity also to reflect on
the eight-year-old self.
(07:13):
And so what are thoseopportunities?
Who were the people thatinspired you when you were eight
years old?
Who do you want to inspire forthe eight-year-olds that are out
there right now Eight, nine,10-year-olds and so that's a
really great event that we'regoing to be able to have some
speakers at.
We'll have a silent liveauction opportunity and then
(07:36):
just really awesome opportunityfor collaboration and to, of
course, raise some money for thegirls that we have in our
community that are really neededfunds.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Tell us the details about the Sneaker Sore Luncheon.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's going to be held at the Country Club
Manhattan Country Club onOctober 16th.
It's a Thursday afternoon andso come on, our tickets go live
on September 1st and so we'llhave those all ready to go and
get your tickets, because theywill sell out.
We've been a sellout crowd forthe past three years, so make
(08:09):
sure that you jump on, get themthen.
Out crowd for the past threeyears, so make sure that you
jump on, get them then and wewill have family style dining as
far as the luncheon andeverything, some different ways
of that, and so it'll just be areally great way to connect with
our community.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
All right.
So how can people in thecommunity, businesses,
individuals, other organizationshelp you guys out?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, you can.
Right now we're looking forsponsors for that event.
We also are looking for someauction items.
So if you're like, oh, I have areally great auction item that
definitely connects with whatGirls on the Run is about, reach
out to me.
You can connect to us on ourwebsite at gotrflinthillsorg and
my email's on there as well.
So those are just some reallygreat ways right away that we
(08:52):
definitely need your help.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Well, it's always a delight to have both of you and
Melissa.
Thanks for coming in andjoining us again.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Thank you, Dave, for having me.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You guys bring joy in the studio.
I mean, I got Felix over here,you know, and he does a lot of
nice things for me, but hedoesn't bring the joy.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Well, I'm glad, nice things for me.
But he doesn't bring the joy.
Well, I'm glad this is nice andrefreshing.
Thank you, Thank you.
We hope to we have the bestjobs ever.
We say we get to spend timewith sunshine and girls.
We're sunshine and rainbows.
That's what we get to say inGirls on the Run.
How cute is that.
How cute is that AbsolutelyWell, good luck with the Sneaker
Sore Luncheon.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
October 16th.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
The website again gotrflinthillsorg Girls on the
run of the Flint Hills, candiceMcIntosh and Melissa Colby
joining us here in the GMCFCommunity Hour.
Have fun or continue to havefun, we sure will Every day.
Bird's going to be back in thestudio in just a couple moments
(09:51):
and we'll talk a little bitabout some things that are
coming up.
Philanthropy Today is brought to you by the Greater
Manhattan Community Foundation.
In this episode we feature arecently broadcast segment of
the GMCF Community Hour as heardon NewsRadio KMAN, and we are
back with the GMCF CommunityHour here on NewsRadio KMAN.
We get to do this every Mondaymorning in the 10 o'clock hour
(00:20):
and we get to talk with a lot ofthe nonprofits in the community
.
The word is community.
You didn't realize.
I added an extra vowel to it,or an additional syllable.
Today we get to learn moreabout girls on the run of the
flood hills.
We got the Executive Director,candice McIntosh, returning.
Hello, welcome back.
Speaker 2 (00:38):
Hello, hello, hello.
Thank you for having us.
Speaker 1 (00:41):
Yeah, and Melissa Colby is the program coordinator
.
Good morning.
You guys are just like the funinterview of the month.
Oh, we like that, yeah, youbring so much joy and happiness
because you've got a greatprogram that you do.
Thank, you.
Give us a 30-second elevatorspeech on girls on the run of
the Flint Hills.
Speaker 2 (00:59):
Well, that's our motto is to bring joy,
confidence and happiness andhealth to girls across the Flint
Hills.
That's our motto is to bringjoy, confidence and happiness
and health to girls across theFlint Hills.
That's our mission and that'swhat we want to bring,
especially moving into the fallwith all the kiddos coming back,
and so that's what we'rekicking off to do.
And so our program is anafter-school program that serves
girls in third through eighthgrade.
Speaker 1 (01:19):
Okay, well, you've got all kinds of new stuff.
You have a new curriculum,melissa.
Speaker 3 (01:24):
We do.
We are so excited about it.
We actually started severalseasons ago with our new suite
of curriculum, and the theme ofthis new suite is confidence,
and so each new curriculum.
There's three specificcurriculums within this suite,
and so we're very excited to use, for the first time this fall,
(01:45):
the curriculum appropriatelytitled Hello Bold Heart, and so
that one is filled with themesand activities and lessons
designed to help girls reallyrealize the power for them to
find their voice, to use theirvoice, to have the confidence to
share what's on their heartsand in their minds, and then
(02:06):
also to support their friends inspeaking up and using their
voice as well.
Speaker 1 (02:10):
So, like I said, we're very excited about that,
and when you talk about friends,you know you have a team
concept.
Speaker 3 (02:16):
That's absolutely right.
So we focus on the individualgirl, building her confidence as
well as her realizing that sheis a part of a team, building
her confidence as well as herrealizing that she is a part of
a team.
And so how to be a goodteammate, how to choose good
friends, the qualities and thecharacteristics you want to look
for in a friend, how to be agood friend, and then, even on
the bigger picture, what itmeans to be a part of your
(02:37):
community and how to give backto your community and support
your community.
So, like I said, we reallyfocus on the whole picture the
individual, the team and thecommunity component.
Speaker 1 (02:47):
Can't as hell as a gal or a family get a team
started.
Speaker 2 (02:52):
Yeah, absolutely so.
We have teams starting up rightnow all over the Flint Hills
area and so if someone'sinterested in starting a new
team, melissa's your gal, soshe'll get you, get you rolling.
So just reaching out to her isreally going to be the way to
get those those wheels turningand making sure that you're able
to do that.
And then also, if you're wantto get your daughter or girl
(03:17):
involved, you are able to getthat started as well through our
website and kind of seeingwhere our locations are.
We have a great little tool onthere that you're able to see
the current locations and asthey're coming in, and that's
the thing it's changing.
I feel like every single daywe're adding new sites, new
locations, as the fall istranspiring right now.
Speaker 1 (03:38):
And I think a lot of people don't realize this.
You're more than just Manhattan.
Speaker 2 (03:41):
Absolutely.
We have a 10-county region,which that's crazy, and so it's
really exciting.
So we serve 10 counties allacross and we have new counties
starting this season.
We're adding Clay Center isjumping on board this season.
They're going to have a newteam.
That is one of our newlocations this season and so
(04:01):
we're pumped to get them rolling.
But we have girls all acrossthe Flint Hills region that we
are that are gearing up, lacingup those shoes and getting ready
to run.
Speaker 1 (04:11):
Well, let's say, let's talk a little bit about
coaches.
Speaker 3 (04:13):
Absolutely.
Speaker 1 (04:14):
That's a key function , that is truly the heart of our
organization.
Speaker 3 (04:18):
If we didn't have our amazing volunteer coaches, we
absolutely could not do what wedo.
So we are actively recruitingand registering volunteer
coaches right now, and everyonealways asks well, what's it take
to be a coach?
It simply takes a desire towant to inspire a girl, to make
her feel empowered.
No, you do not have to be arunner to be a coach.
The best coaching teams aremade up from coaches um of all
(04:42):
walks of life.
So, whether you're a teacher, astaff member at a school,
whether you're a parent, a momor a dad, um somebody just in
the community, or even a collegestudent, if you simply have
that desire to want to empower,inspire a girl, like Candice
said, check out our website.
It has everything that you needto get started, to submit your
(05:03):
application to become a coach.
And again, no, you do not haveto be a runner.
Speaker 1 (05:09):
So, dave, you ready to sign up?
I don't think I'd be wellaccepted.
Speaker 2 (05:14):
You absolutely would.
You have no idea the receptionthat the girls give to one our
male coaches.
Speaker 1 (05:22):
Really now.
Speaker 2 (05:22):
Absolutely.
A positive male role model isso important.
Speaker 1 (05:26):
It is Absolutely I will never, never suggest that
it is not but gotrflinthillsorg,by the way, is the website.
So you have had what I think isone of the most interesting
events the Sneaker Soiree.
Speaker 2 (05:42):
Yes.
Speaker 1 (05:42):
And I'm always working, it seems like, and so
I've never been able to attend,but I've seen plenty of pictures
.
But in 20, this is 2025, right,in 2025, this Sneaker Soiree is
taking a little bit of a turn.
Speaker 2 (05:59):
Yes, we've had to adapt and change to the growth
of our organization and to thebusyness of staff and all the
things busyness of our community.
So spring was where wetraditionally held it and we
made a pivot and moved to fall.
Our spring is crazy busy and sowe had a little bit more time
in our schedule to move it tofall and also just has a great
(06:22):
little area to fit it into.
And we also are moving it to aluncheon and so from an evening
event to a luncheon event, whichis really exciting and, don't
worry, you still get to wearyour sneakers.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
And so that's the awesome thing.
In the past it's been kind oflike a dress up, where you wear
something like a formal gown andyou put on your your Adidas or
Nike's or Skechers or whatever,yeah and yeah, and you have
comfy shoes to party onto.
But are you still?
Is it still a dress up typething?
Speaker 2 (06:52):
No, you can come straight from work, right on
over and throw on your sneakersand or wear them to work.
A great excuse to.
You know, tell your boss, hey,I want to wear my sneaks to work
, so, um, but yeah, there's um,it's going to be great.
It's going to be a greatopportunity for community
collaboration, really anopportunity also to reflect on
the eight-year-old self.
(07:13):
And so what are thoseopportunities?
Who were the people thatinspired you when you were eight
years old?
Who do you want to inspire forthe eight-year-olds that are out
there right now Eight, nine,10-year-olds and so that's a
really great event that we'regoing to be able to have some
speakers at.
We'll have a silent liveauction opportunity and then
(07:36):
just really awesome opportunityfor collaboration and to, of
course, raise some money for thegirls that we have in our
community that are really neededfunds.
Speaker 1 (07:44):
Tell us the details about the Sneaker Sore Luncheon.
Speaker 2 (07:49):
So it's going to be held at the Country Club
Manhattan Country Club onOctober 16th.
It's a Thursday afternoon andso come on, our tickets go live
on September 1st and so we'llhave those all ready to go and
get your tickets, because theywill sell out.
We've been a sellout crowd forthe past three years, so make
(08:09):
sure that you jump on, get themthen.
Out crowd for the past threeyears, so make sure that you
jump on, get them then and wewill have family style dining as
far as the luncheon andeverything, some different ways
of that, and so it'll just be areally great way to connect with
our community.
Speaker 1 (08:24):
All right.
So how can people in thecommunity, businesses,
individuals, other organizationshelp you guys out?
Speaker 2 (08:30):
Yeah, you can.
Right now we're looking forsponsors for that event.
We also are looking for someauction items.
So if you're like, oh, I have areally great auction item that
definitely connects with whatGirls on the Run is about, reach
out to me.
You can connect to us on ourwebsite at gotrflinthillsorg and
my email's on there as well.
So those are just some reallygreat ways right away that we
(08:52):
definitely need your help.
Speaker 1 (08:54):
Well, it's always a delight to have both of you and
Melissa.
Thanks for coming in andjoining us again.
Speaker 3 (08:58):
Thank you, Dave, for having me.
Speaker 1 (08:59):
You guys bring joy in the studio.
I mean, I got Felix over here,you know, and he does a lot of
nice things for me, but hedoesn't bring the joy.
Speaker 2 (09:10):
Well, I'm glad, nice things for me.
But he doesn't bring the joy.
Well, I'm glad this is nice andrefreshing.
Thank you, Thank you.
We hope to we have the bestjobs ever.
We say we get to spend timewith sunshine and girls.
We're sunshine and rainbows.
That's what we get to say inGirls on the Run.
How cute is that.
How cute is that AbsolutelyWell, good luck with the Sneaker
Sore Luncheon.
Speaker 1 (09:29):
Thank you.
Speaker 2 (09:29):
October 16th.
Speaker 1 (09:30):
The website again gotrflinthillsorg Girls on the
run of the Flint Hills, candiceMcIntosh and Melissa Colby
joining us here in the GMCFCommunity Hour.
Have fun or continue to havefun, we sure will Every day.
Bird's going to be back in thestudio in just a couple moments
(09:51):
and we'll talk a little bitabout some things that are
coming up.
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