Bringing the Girls Inc. experience to more girls

Every day, across the length and breadth of our continent, girls face barriers that impact their interests, self-image, education, and stifle their potential. Our culture is punctuated with subtle sexism that negatively conditions girls and adversely influences their development. Discrimination knows no border or state line; when there is inequality somewhere, there is inequality everywhere. An obstacle challenging one girl, challenges all girls.

It’s no longer enough to celebrate how far we’ve come; it is crucial to acknowledge the systemic issues at hand and how far we have yet to go to achieve real equality. The women and girls of today are barraged by obstacles in every stage of life. From exposure to childhood poverty, schoolyard bullying, to sexual assault and harassment, domestic violence and beyond; to the overarching national concerns like the inexplicable gender wage gap and the constant debate over healthcare and reproductive rights, women and girls are subject to routinized discrimination at the hands of society at large. 

In politics and the media, women are misrepresented, underrepresented, and consistently discriminated against. Girls Inc. is uniquely positioned to support the girls of today on their journeys to becoming the strong, smart, and bold women of tomorrow; but we recognize that true equality for girls and women is a moving target.

That’s why at Girls Inc., we are dedicated to progress and growth: we have embarked on a strategic campaign which will enable us to better meet the needs of even more girls across the country. We are thrilled to share that over the next three years, Girls Inc. will be increasing the number of girls served by 50%, meaning an additional 150,000 girls will receive the vital comprehensive programming in healthy living, academic enrichment and life skills instruction that inspires girls towards a commitment to hard work and achievement.

Since March 2017, we have disbursed investments of $3.525 million to support the growth of 17 key Girls Inc. locations; these affiliates, which are representative of the whole Girls Inc. Network, have demonstrated readiness for accelerated expansion. We are proud to highlight the following affiliates, who will lead our plans for aggressive growth from plan to action:

• Tarrant County/Fort Worth, TX
• New York City
• St. Louis, MO
• Greater Madison, WI
• Santa Fe, NM
• Shelbyville, IN
• Pacific Northwest
• Durham, Ontario
• New Hampshire
• Tennessee Valley
• Metro Denver
• Holyoke, MA
• Greater Philadelphia
• Bay County, FL
• Huntsville, AL
• Nashville, TN
• Sarasota County, FL

This is but the first of three stages of marked growth; Girls Inc. will announce additional affiliate expansions in early 2018 and again in 2019. By 2020, we will have invested an additional $14 million to directly support affiliate growth and successfully reached our goal of doubling the number of girls served.

We are excited to deepen our commitment to girls in our existing locations; and additionally, to share our impending expansion into a brand new market. Girls Inc. is proud announce the opening our first affiliate in Chicago. Beginning in the fall of 2017, Girls Inc. will be serving girls in the southside of Chicago, a community of extreme need, through dedicated space in the Martha M. Ruggles elementary school (K-8).

Your investments support a variety of positive outcomes: our critical direct services, which provides research-based, age-appropriate programming; as well as our advocacy initiatives, which drives key policies and legislation aiming provide equal opportunity for women and girls, no matter their background. We hope you take particular pride in our recent achievements; they are a credit to your generosity and would not have been possible without the encouragement and support of friends just like you.

We are honored to partner with you to continue our important work and our shared vision of real gender equality for a better, brighter future for girls everywhere.