Pat Ortman, Max Lockwood, Teferi D Tata, Event Organizers (photo by Matt Andrea)
Over 100 people crammed the Georgetown Running Company's Chevy Chase store on Willard Avenue on Monday evening, November 8, 2010, hoping against hope that legendary runner Haile Gebrselassie would show up as he had been scheduled to do. Max Lockwood welcomed everyone and talked a little about the legendary runner who had unfortunately suffered a debilitating knee injury which made him unable to complete the New York Marathon the day before. Max also talked about his and the store's staff's desire to support both local Ethiopian runners and Girls Gotta Run. He then introduced Pat Ortman, Executive Director and Chair of the GGRF Board, who spoke about the founding and mission of GGRF and introduced members of the Board and Advisory Board in attendance.
Advisory Board member Kebe Tesfaye talked about the difficulties of being a girl in Ethiopia and how GGRF helps ameliorate some of them for the girls on their teams. Gaby Grebski, who has visited the teams twice, spoke about her experiences with them in Ethiopia and talked more about each of the teams. She was followed by Board member and marathoner Ashley Griffith, who spoke passionately about ways in which people could help GGRF, and Advisory Board member Dr. Charles Teller, who talked about his holiday visit and meal with the Simien Girl Runners and what he and his team learned from and about the girls on that visit. Advisory Board member Matt Andrea added a few words re-emphasizing the importance of GGRF's mission and that of other charitable organizations operating within and for Ethiopia. Audience members asked several great questions, including some about GGRF operations, such as how partners and team members are chosen and how levels of support are determined. Pat and Max then thanked everyone once again for turning out for the event.
Although Mr. Gebrselassie did not make it — and it was later learned that in fact he had returned to Ethiopia on the same day as the marathon due to his injury — the crowd, composed mainly of Washington, D.C. runners and members of the local Ethiopian community (though disappointed in that) enthusiastically assured the organizers that the event had been successful. Many declared their intent to become GGRF supporters. Thank you again from GGRF to all who attended and especially to Max Lockwood and the staff of the Chevy Chase Running Company.
Pat Ortman, Max Lockwood, Teferi D Tata, Event Organizers (photo by Matt Andrea)
Pat and Jim Scott selling tickets to the event (photo by Matt Andrea)
The GGRF Banner (photo by Jimmy Daly)
The Crowd Assembling Before the Presentation (photo by Jimmy Daly)
Pat, Kebe Tesfaye and Kebe's husband, Takele Argaw, before the event (photo by Matt Andrea)
The Front of the Crowd During the Presentation (photo by Matt Andrea)
Max Addressing the Crowd (photo by Matt Andrea)
Pat Addressing the Crowd (photo by Jimmy Daly)
Kebe Tesfaye, with her son, Addressing the Crowd (photo by Matt Andrea)
Gaby Grebski Addressing the Crowd (photo by Jimmy Daly)
Ashley Griffith Addressing the Crowd (photo by Jimmy Daly)
Charlie Teller addressing the Crowd (photo by Matt Andrea)
Gab Adamou Addressing the Crowd (photo by Matt Andrea)
Good question #1 (photo by Jimmy Daly)
Candid Shots of Guests (all photos by Matt Andrea)
To help the Girls Gotta Run Foundation support Ethiopian girl runners, you can make a donation via Paypal from the GGRF Donations page. You can also use www.goodsearch.com as your search and shopping engine, specifying Girls Gotta Run as the charity you support.
Return to Girls Gotta Run Foundation Home