Every year, our national organization GOTRI selects volunteers across their 160+ councils to uplift for their fantastic work in their communities. We're beyond excited to announce that this year, TWO Memphians have received this honor! Read below to learn about Karen and Unique, two superstars putting GOTR Memphis on the map with their joy and passion for girl power.
Karen Ullman, Council Support:
When it comes to Karen Ullman, no volunteer has been as integral and held as many hats as her for Girls on the Run Memphis. Karen believed in GOTR Memphis' mission since our founding in 2018. She was one of the first parents to sign her two daughters up for the program, and she helped plan and orchestrate our first 5Ks. She was always willing to use her connections with local businesses and schools to help expand our program or make it extra special. For example, she spearheaded our local partnership with Ben & Jerry's--so now every girl gets a sweet treat in her race bag for 5K day! In 2024, Karen--who is also a teacher at St. Mary's, a local all-girls school here in Memphis--introduced us to SMS leadership and coordinated meetings that helped us revive our site there, which had stalled due to COVID. She has served as the Head Coach for St. Mary's for the last three seasons now, and her team is always full (25 girls!!!) thanks to her infectious enthusiasm. Her and her daughters, now grown up and Junior Coaches, are always still at the 5K early to help set up for our Pre-Race Fun Zone, and they are often the last volunteers there helping to strike the tables and cheer on our walkers. Karen has had every role for GOTR Memphis--5K volunteer, committee member, fundraiser, coach, site liaison, community connector--and tackled them all with grace, joy, and an unshakeable belief in girl power. We can't think of anyone more deserving of this award than her, and we're so excited to celebrate her on a national scale!
Unique Martin, Coach:
There is so much we could say about Unique. Unique has been the Head Coach at our Vision Prep site for nine seasons now, only one less season than Vision Prep has had altogether. It was during Unique's first season that the team skyrocketed, reaching 20+ girls thanks to her outreach and cheerleading. Since then, Vision Prep has always had over 20 girls, usually reaching our maximum of 25, in large part thanks to the environment of inclusivity and belonging Unique fosters.
Vision Prep started Girls on the Run to give the community members something that would build them up from the ground up. Unique took up the mantle and made our program even more empowering. She helped us connect with the local Valero refinery and encouraged a deeper partnership. Now, Valero "adopts" the VP team every season, helping Unique get her girls swag and snacks during the lessons. Unique coordinates with Valero about the Practice 5K and End-of-Season Celebration, and the company often sends folks to cheer the girls on while they're running or sponsors a pizza party. This would not be possible without Unique's consistent communication and desire to build up her GOTR girls. She wants them to know that they have people in their corner, rooting for them to explore who they are and what makes them happy. Furthermore, she connected us with Run 4our Life, a local philanthropic running organization. As a member of R4OL, Unique coordinated a sock drive for all our participants across Memphis and the Mid-South, securing a new pair of athletic socks for every girl in our programs--plus some leftovers for later seasons. Every 5K, we see volunteers in their bright pink R4OL shirts along the race course because Unique encouraged them to be there. Her coaching power goes beyond practice time and inspires those around her to take action themselves.
Unique is extremely organized and a great resource for us here at GOTR Memphis. She's always sending us pictures showing off all the girls are doing so we can shout them out on socials. Even during seasons when the coaching team may be understaffed--Vision Prep is usually far away from the majority of our volunteers and begins the latest of any of our sites--she somehow manages with grace and the kind of flexibility that only comes from experience teaching, working with children, and determining to help them grow and develop. We love her, her girls love her, and we love to see her get some of the recognition she deserves for all she does for the school, community, and organization.
