Award-Winning Athlete Impacts Lives of Children

Ana Robbins is on the run to make a difference. As founder & CEO of Jewish Kids Groups, she is also a gritty ultra-endurance athlete who embodies exceptional mental toughness, often pushing far beyond perceived limits.

Her achievements span both the nonprofit and athletic worlds — she is the recipient of the prestigious national Rose Lubin Jewish Pride Award and has raised more than a quarter of a million dollars through her running to expand access to Jewish education.

A native Atlantan, Robbins’ roots run deep in the Jewish community she now serves in a transformative way. After completing Jewish studies and Middle Eastern studies at Emory University, she earned a master’s degree in instructional design and technology from Georgia State University. Her professional path has consistently centered on reimagining Jewish education for today’s families.

Robbins came to running later in life. In August 2020, she couldn’t run a tenth of a mile without stopping. That moment surprised her — and challenged her. She decided to see what would happen if she stayed with discomfort a little longer each day. That small experiment became much bigger.

“Over time, I discovered that endurance isn’t just physical — it’s mental,” she said. “I became fascinated with the idea that we can override the limits our brains set for us. That realization changed everything. Running became less about miles and more about identity — about becoming someone who can do hard things.”

Today, Robbins runs ultramarathons — races that span 200 to 300-plus miles. “They’re extreme, yes — but what draws me to them is the opportunity to push past perceived limits and experience the kind of clarity and connection that only comes after hours — and days — of effort,” she said.

She is currently preparing for the Cocodona 250, a 250-mile ultramarathon across Arizona featuring more than 40,000 feet of elevation gain, traversing terrain from the Sonoran Desert to Sedona’s red rocks, all within a 125-hour time limit.

“I use these races not only as personal challenges, but as platforms to raise funds for Jewish Kids Groups’ Tuition Assistance Fund,” Robbins explained. “To date, I’ve raised more than $250,000 through running. My team likes to say that once someone understands I’m willing to run 300 miles, they also understand something deeper — that I lean into hard things. That same mindset drives my work in Jewish education, where we’re tackling big challenges and working to dramatically expand access for families across the country.”

Robbins leads Jewish Kids Groups (JKG), an educational nonprofit that reimagines Jewish learning for families whose children do not attend Jewish day school. At the heart of the model is a simple but powerful idea: “We run five-day-a-week Jewish after-school programs that feel like ‘summer camp every day after school.’ Kids are picked up from their elementary schools, brought to our program, given snack and homework support, and then immersed in joyful, experiential Jewish learning. For families, it solves a real problem — high-quality after-school care. For kids, it builds identity, friendships, and a deep, positive connection to being Jewish.”

What makes the model especially powerful is its measurable impact. In JKG programs, 96 percent of families report that their children have a more positive association with being Jewish, and 97 percent say their child is motivated to connect with other Jewish children. Families consistently share that their children come home excited to talk about what they learned — and often begin initiating Jewish rituals at home on their own.

Instead of associating Judaism with obligation, children experience it as joyful, social, and relevant. For many families — especially those who might not otherwise engage in Jewish life — this becomes their primary entry point into community.

Jewish Kids Groups began with just six children in a garage. “I was seeing that traditional models like Sunday school weren’t reaching enough families or creating the kind of joyful, lasting engagement kids experience elsewhere,” Robbins said. “I kept asking: What if Jewish education felt like camp? What if it happened every day, not once a week? That question became the foundation for everything we’ve built.”

Today, in addition to operating programs in Atlanta neighborhoods including Decatur, Morningside, and Brookhaven, JKG partners with synagogues across North America through its Jewish After-School Accelerator, helping communities launch their own programs using this proven model.

“Our work is supported by a combination of tuition and philanthropic partners who believe in accessible, meaningful Jewish education,” Robbins said. “We’re building something that is both scalable and sustainable — and that has the potential to transform how Jewish children connect to their identity.”

This fall, Jewish Kids Groups will operate Jewish after-school programs in 25 markets across North America.

Robbins is blazing a trail filled with purpose — running with determination, dedication, and deep commitment to a cause that is shaping the lives of countless children and families.

For more information, please visit jewishkidsgroups.com.