Community Interest
Jennifer West is a leader who embraces unlocking power and potential
Reach High is a series brought to you by High Foundation that introduces business and nonprofit leaders who are thoughtfully innovating with a spirit of servant leadership.
Jennifer West is a Lancaster County native, although like others, her story includes many chapters before her homecoming in 1998.
Her early career dreams took her south after college, where she worked as a broadcast journalist in Georgia before meeting her husband and joining him on four military assignments across the country and even to South Korea.
It was there Jennifer discovered that her love of communications translated well to a role as an ESL teacher, and a newfound passion for education was born.
When the Wests moved back stateside to start a family in Lancaster, Jennifer dug in deeper to this new path, first working at a childcare center before going back to school for her teaching certification.
Her story came to another crossroads in 2008, when amidst her first teaching job offer, Jennifer was also given the opportunity to join a close friend in the founding of a brand new council of Girls on the Run (GOTR)—an international character development program that combines physical activity and tailored curriculum to empower 3rd through 8th grade girls to build confidence and relationships.
“I chose Girls on the Run, and I’ve never looked back,” she said.
As Program Director, Jennifer spent 14 years collaborating with host schools, coaches, and volunteers to establish a strong foundation for the organization—which now has 600 coaches serving nearly 1,850 girls each year in Lancaster and Lebanon counties.
In 2021, after several years of exponential growth and creative pivots during the pandemic, Jennifer’s founding partner transitioned out of the organization, and Jennifer worked alongside an Interim Executive Director to refine systems and set the organization up for its next chapter.
Two years later, the Board came to Jennifer with the opportunity to step into the Executive Director role and encouraged her to embrace the capable leader she had become.
Jennifer’s courage to step into this role had a catalytic effect on her team, as many of her colleagues also took on new positions as a result of her shift—using the empowering lessons from the GOTR program as inspiration.
“We very much supported each other moving up,” she shared. “And what I’ve learned is there’s no shame in asking questions or asking for help. I think the key to being a leader is surrounding yourself with people who can help you with the answers and truly want to lift each other up.”
Although her role in the organization looks different today than in 2008, Jennifer says she is just as fulfilled by the impact GOTR makes in this community as she was that first day.
“As I near two years in the Executive Director role, our team continues to keep the girls as the guiding star through all of the learning and transition,” Jennifer shared.
To learn more about the impact of Girls on the Run and discover volunteer and donor opportunities, visit gotrlancaster.org.
Reach High is a series brought to you by High Foundation that introduces business and nonprofit leaders who are thoughtfully innovating with a spirit of servant leadership. Find out more about High Foundation’s mission to be a Bridge to Opportunity for the Lancaster community and beyond at highfoundation.org.
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