Huge news for Girls, Inc. of Pinellas! Thanks to a $100,000.00 grant from Girls Inc. National, the number of girls benefiting from the organization’s educational programs will grow from 300 to 600 in the next two years.
Girls Inc. of Pinellas was established in 1961, offering after-school programming for girls 5 – 18 at their center in Pinellas Park. Their new Vision for Growth includes extending their outreach to schools and the community, providing a beacon of hope to girls living in the most densely populated, economically-disadvantaged, underserved areas in the city of St. Petersburg. By partnering with Pinellas County Schools 21st Century Learning Centers and PACE Center for Girls, the organization will have the opportunity to positively impact the life and future of hundreds of girls who face tremendous academic, social and economic challenges.
Nationally, girls who participate in Girls Inc. programming have a 96 percent attendance rate in school after one year. They have increased self-esteem and a much brighter outlook on their lives and their futures.
“To us, reaching those underserved populations is huge,” said Yvonne Ulmer, Executive Director. “We know from our research that our work changes the lives of our girls, which changes the lives of their families, which impacts whole communities.”
Girls Inc. of Pinellas will use the grant funding to hire new program facilitators that will provide programming at PACE Center for Girls and at the ten 21st Century Learning Centers. “Our biggest need is for sustainability,” said Ulmer. “We need to increase our revenues to be able to sustain our growth long after the expiration of the grant.
###
ABOUT GIRLS INCORPORATED OF PINELLAS
Girls Incorporated of Pinellas is a Florida 501(c)(3) with the mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart and bold. They achieve this through the Girls Inc. Experience which equips girls to navigate gender, economic and social barriers and grow into healthy, educated and independent adults. The curriculum includes education in STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), literacy, creative arts, healthy living and life skills.