Putting Girls First

5 Questions with Missy Heilman, Founder & Executive Director and Macy Kramer, Director of Marketing of BIO Girls.

Missy, what was the inspiration behind launching BIO Girls?

BIO Girls began in 2013 in Fargo, North Dakota. What started as a passion project for me, has since blossomed into a program that has taken the Midwest by storm, reaching 2,700 girls, yearly. As a mother of two girls, I became sensitive to the messages my girls were receiving from every angle. Knowing how impactful the mentors were that I had in my life, and after looking for a way to give back myself, BIO Girls was created. I was in pursuit for BIO Girls to be a resource, equipping girls to successfully navigate their adolescent years. “Beautiful Inside & Out,” a feeling every girl deserves to have. As a lifelong runner, I found many lessons in running. Not lessons about being first, but instead learning to put yourself first. Lessons such as how to manage stress in a healthy way, how to stay physically active, to be accountable, to set goals: all of which transpired to BIO Girls. An opportunity to teach girls the same.