June 23, 2026
By Liz Carter, Director of Community Experience and Engagement
This spring, our Rain Makers showed up in support of our partners at Girls on the Run from coast to coast, bringing energy, encouragement, and enough sparkle to light up a stadium!
At its core, Girls on the Run is about so much more than crossing a finish line. It’s about helping girls build confidence, trust themselves, and discover that movement can be a source of strength, joy, and resilience. And the best part? Those girls grow into women who carry that confidence with them. Many even return to the program as coaches years later to inspire the next generation of girls.
This season, our teams leaned all the way in, helping support 33,000 Girls on the Run participants, volunteers, and coaches across the country, showing just how impactful it can be when encouragement sparks action.
Across cities and communities, Rain Makers passed out more than 18,000 bottles of Sparkling Ice, each one delivered with a smile, a cheer, or a perfectly timed “you’ve got this.” Turns out, hydration and encouragement make a pretty great team!
Showing Up, Together
In Chicago, Rain Makers Terry Ursem, Key Account Manager, and his daughter, Madeline Ursem, Shopper Marketing Manager, rocked the event and brought the kind of energy you can feel from a mile away!
In Minneapolis, Vice President of Sales Adam Erdman, Senior Sales Specialist Jill Ronning, and Director of Shopper Marketing Colleen Borne kept things moving at the finish line—so much so that the product was practically flying off the table. (We may need to start training for bottle hand-off relays as a competitive sport!) Their enthusiasm matched the pace of runners coming through, making sure every participant felt celebrated.
“As a first-time GOTR 5K attendee, I had only a partial idea of what I was stepping into. From effective event coordination to the energy radiated by volunteers & participants, what a vivacious atmosphere it was! Hard to properly describe the outpouring of encouragement & support that was in the air from start to finish. Truly a rewarding experience — I look forward to running back!” – Adam Erdman
On the West Coast, Director of Sales, Jennifer Clark, and our Corporate Giving Specialist, Kim Piira brought the sunshine to over 3,500 participants in Portland. Meanwhile, I joined Sr. Business Coordinator Jolanta Natalio, Sr. Brand and Employee Experience Manager, Kim Puhrmann, and her daughter, Hallie, bringing a full family of sparkle to the girls, their coaches and families. It was a reminder that volunteering doesn’t just build community externally—it strengthens it within our own families, too.
“GOTR 5K was such a fun and meaningful event to be part of. Watching so many girls celebrate their accomplishments, cheer each other on, and cross the finish line was genuinely inspiring! It made me proud and happy to work for a company that invests in its communities and supports so many different causes that make a positive impact. And honestly, any volunteer opportunity that involves Sparkling Ice, a pink tutu and singing 2000s hits is a win in my book!” – Jolanta Natalio
In New York City, our Northern New England Sales Team of George Aleman, Lianna Melzer, and Christian Kara welcomed waves of runners and families and helped create a joyful, high-energy finish-line experience! As anyone who’s volunteered at a Girls on the Run 5K knows, the table stays busy, and the smiles come fast.
“Our table ended up being stationed right at the Start/Finish line so we were the first sight as soon as the runners finished and got their medals. We had a lot of people who already knew and loved Sparkling Ice, plus many more new consumers. All the runners did an awesome job and it was a great event.” – Lianna Melzer
More Than a Finish Line
At every event, Rain Makers were there cheering, connecting, and celebrating each girl as she crossed the finish line. It’s a moment that reflects weeks of commitment, growth, perseverance, and a reminder of why our partnership with Girls on the Run matters so much.
Their programs help girls build confidence, resilience, healthy habits, and lifelong skills through movement and mentorship. And when we support that mission, we’re investing in something much bigger than one event, we’re helping girls grow into strong, capable women who know their worth, trust their voice, and keep showing up for themselves and others. There’s a reason this work resonates so deeply with our culture. As Rain Makers, we believe in wellness, creating connections, investing in our communities, and showing up in ways that go beyond the product. This is what sparking joy with every sip looks like in action, and yes, sometimes in a pink tutu.
Celebrating Women in Sport
As we share this during National Women in Sports Week, it’s a timely reminder of why access to sports and movement matters. When girls are encouraged to participate, try something new, and celebrate what their bodies can do, they build confidence that extends far beyond the field, the track, or the trail. Programs like Girls on the Run help pave that path, ensuring girls of all backgrounds can build both physical and emotional strength, and become women who carry that strength with them for life.
Making Every Mile Count
To every Rain Maker who showed up this spring, thank you! You brought the energy, the encouragement, and in some cases, elite-level bottle handoff skills. As our Chief People and Communications Officer, Veronica Blankenship, says “When we show up with intention, energy, and heart, we’re not just participating—we’re helping create something bigger.”
Together, we’re helping girls find their pace, their power, and their voice.
