Girls Inc – Hutton Parker Foundation Grant Insert

GIRLS INC. GIRLS’ BILL OF RIGHTS

GIRLS HAVE THE RIGHT TO: 1

Be themselves and resist gender stereotypes.

2

Express themselves with originality and enthusiasm.

3

Take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in success.

4

Accept and appreciate their bodies.

5

Have confidence in themselves and be safe in the world.

6

Prepare for interesting work and economic independence.

1800s thru 1940s

Girls Inc. is committed to advancing the rights and opportunities of girls and young women, to reducing and eliminating the barriers girls face, and to reforming systems that impede their success.

Girls Inc., a national organization, was founded as “Girls Club” to serve girls and young women in the aftermath of the Civil War. The clubs were founded upon the fundamental belief in the inherent potential of each girl and established the core value of creating a safe gathering place for girls.

1950s

To fully realize her potential, every girl deserves a physically and emotionally safe environment in which she is taken seriously for who she is, what she does, and how she thinks and feels.

Girls Inc. empowers girls and elevates their rights and opportunities through direct service and through advocacy. A research-based, age-specific, and interactive curriculum equips girls to find their voices, take risks, build self-esteem, and practice the skills they learn to master physical, intellectual, and emotional challenges at their own pace.

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GIRLS INC. SERVICES After-school Program CAMP IGNITE Summer Program

Su Ex stai po ne su d re

Gymnastics

1960s

Recreational to Competitive Levels

In 1964, $225,000 was raised to purchase land and build the first Girls Club facility in Santa Barbara at 531 E. Ortega Street.

Teen Center

For Girls in Grades 7+

I Pr nte og nti ra on m al m in g

Res e a r c h-B Curric ased ula

On March 17, 1958, the Girls Club of Santa Barbara was incorporated as a non-profit organization. The mission: To help girls become good wives, mothers, homemakers, and citizens. The Girls Club served 280 girls a year ages 6-16, and the annual membership fee was $1 per girl.

Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara believes that every girl has the power to change the world.

Girls-Only Enviroment

In 1955, the Junior Women’s Club of Santa Barbara responded to a teenager’s plea on a local radio program.

The young woman asked, “Why can’t we have a Girls Club in Santa Barbara?”

Mrs. Ada McReynolds Wise, a retired dress designer and member of the Women’s Club, responded.

e tiv rac ties e t In tivi Ac

The Girls Inc. Experience consists of an environment, people, and programming that together empower girls to succeed. The six essential elements, grounded in the belief in girls’ rights and abilities, work together to provide a holistic approach to develop the whole girl.

GIRLS INC. GIRLS ARE EMPOWERED TO GROW UP:

In 1966, the Girls Club of Goleta was founded and began offering services to girls in Goleta.

1970s The focus of the Girls Clubs of Santa Barbara and Goleta began to change, to help girls grow up to become wellrounded, independent young women.

Programs were expanded to include leadership, sports, health education, and cultural and career programs.

STRONG

SMART

BOLD

Embracing physical activity, a positive body image, and healthy nutrition, while decreasing or delaying substance use and risky sexual activity.

Increasing their love of learning, improving academic performance, and aspiring and planning for education and career paths beyond high school.

Building life skills to set and achieve goals, and increasing resilience and perseverance to lead productive and fulfilling lives.

TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS GIRLS PARTICIPATED IN GIRLS INC. PROGRAMS IN 2017

240,455

1980s

ETHNICITY Gymn

White - 44%

ic s

Hispanic/Latina - 36%

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Multiracial - 8%

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Asian American - 4% African American - 1%

Santa Barba ra nter Ce

Gole t

aV al

y le

nte Ce

All Programs

ast

The One Hundred Committee was founded in 1985, establishing an annual philanthropic event.

Native American - 1% Other - 6% In 1989 the Girls Club of Santa Barbara and the Girls Club of Goleta merged to become the Girls Club of Greater Santa Barbara.

38

AGES

Tee n

250

All Programs

372

5 to 8

688

5 to 8 – 69% 9 to 11 – 26% 12 to 14 – 4%

1,348

15 to 18

Total number of girls served in 2017

AMOUNT OF FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE GIRLS INC. AWARDED IN 2017

In 1989, the Williams C. Hall Gymnasium was built at the Ortega Street complex and Girls Club began to offer a robust gymnastics program that today includes recreational and competitive team levels of training.

1990s

9 to 11

15 to 18 – 1%

The Girls Clubs continued to grow in popularity and service, expanding through the Parks and Recreation Department, and the Santa Barbara School District. The Girls Club published “Choices” and “Challenges,” teenlife planning journals, and formed Advocacy Press, a non-profit publishing company.

12 to 14

$534,818

“…because growing up is serious business.” The new decade brought significant changes, including a name change for the organization to Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara. This new name and affiliation with the national Girls Inc. organization reflected a more comprehensive approach to impacting the lives of girls.

During this time, Girls Inc. also established itself as a vigorous advocate for girls.

2000s

ADVOCACY Girls Inc. follows a girl-centered advocacy approach that lifts up girls’ voices and empowers them to be change agents in their community and beyond. We approach advocacy work with an equity lens, focusing in particular on the needs of girls who face multiple, intersectional challenges. We join Girls Inc. affiliates across the country in supporting local, state, and federal policies and advocacy priorities that:

• Combat Bullying, Sexual Harassment, and Sexual Violence

• Promote Access to Education and Economic Independence

• Support Girls’ Mental Health

• Advance Reproductive Health

On November 8, 2004, the community joined Girls Inc. to break ground on the Goleta Valley Center on Hollister Avenue.

Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.

The mission of Girls Inc. was revised to reflect the modern opportunities and challenges facing girls.

Research-based national programs offered included Operation SMART, Media Literacy, Economic Literacy, Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy, Sporting Chance, Friendly PEERsuasion, and Project Bold.

TODAY The Goleta Valley Teen Center opened in 2015 for afterschool programming for girls in grades 7-12, and in 2017 offered its first summer camp.

In 2018 Girls Inc. celebrates its 60th Anniversary in Santa Barbara, Imagining the Future for Girls.

In 2017, the Girls Inc. national organization and its affiliates unanimously adopted a new advocacy platform to address the challenges girls face today.

TOGETHER WE CAN ENSURE THAT MANY MORE GIRLS GROW UP HEALTHY, EDUCATED, AND INDEPENDENT!

2018 CALENDAR GET INVOLVED JUNE 18

AUGUST 20 SEPTEMBER 27

OCTOBER 11

CAMP IGNITE Begins

After-school Begins 17th Annual Celebration Luncheon International Day of the Girl

If empowering girls to fulfill their highest potential motivates you, check out the full list of volunteer opportunities on our website or contact info@girlsincsb.org.

LEND YOUR SUPPORT When you make a gift to Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, you directly impact the overall health and quality of our community by supporting the work we do to tackle the multiple barriers girls face to growing up healthy, educated, and economically independent. The need to advocate for and support girls is real and present. Gifts of all types and amounts are needed and appreciated. There are many ways to give: • Donate through our website, or on our Facebook page • Transfer funds from your individual retirement account (“IRA”) • Purchase items from our Amazon wish list and sign up for Amazon Smile

• Join the Champions for Girls giving society • Become a corporate sponsor • Make a matching gift • Provide in-kind support • Create a Facebook fundraiser

LEAVE A LEGACY FOR GIRLS The Legacy Society celebrates those who have made a provision in their estate plans to support Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara through a bequest or other form of planned gift.

For information on including Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara in your estate plan or making a tax-wise planned gift, please contact us at 805.963.4757 or visit girlsincsb.org.

ADVOCATE We are committed to changing the attitudes and policies that affect girls’ lives and limit their potential, and we need your help to move this work forward. Join us in lifting up the voices of girls, whose futures depend on policy and cultural changes that are long overdue. Stay in touch and take action with us!

CALL TO SCHEDULE A TOUR OF OUR CENTERS Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara PO Box 236 | Santa Barbara, 93102 | 805.963.4757 | info@girlsincsb.org

Santa Barbara Center & Girls Inc. Gymnastics 531 E. Ortega Street | 805.963.4017 – Center | 805.963.4492 – Gymnastics

Goleta Valley & Teen Center 4973 Hollister Avenue | Santa Barbara | 805.967.0319

LEARN MORE AT GIRLSINCSB.ORG

CONNECT WITH US @girlsincsb

This publication was generously made possible by the Hutton Parker Foundation Media Grant, with support from the Santa Barbara Independent.

Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold