Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Meet the 2010 Touchstone Awards Chair!

Former honoree Carolene Mays to chair July 28 luncheon
By Ashley Craig, AmeriCorps VISTA Events Specialist

Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis is pleased to announce that Carolene Mays will chair the 2010 Touchstone Awards luncheon! As a former Touchstone honoree herself, Mays represents the strong, smart, and bold qualities celebrated at the Touchstone Awards, and her involvement will ensure the event is memorable.

Mays is the publisher and president of the Indianapolis Recorder, the nation’s fourth-oldest African American newspaper, and the Indiana Minority Business Magazine. Since taking over the Recorder in 1998, Mays has been a catalyst for change, redesign, and growth of the newspaper, increasing its readership dramatically by over 50% to nearly 100,000. Mays also served three terms as Indiana state representative of District 94, retiring in November 2008.

Please save the date for the 2010 Touchstone Awards to be held Wednesday, July 28 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the Indianapolis Marriott Downtown. Add the 2010 Touchstone Awards to your calendar! (iCal, 2 KB)

Girls Inc. Pilots Parent Workshop!

Partnership with PTA council allows parents to continue Girls Inc. conversations
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Though Girls Inc.’s mission is to “inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM,” some parents were part of the action this winter.

Through a pilot-partnership with Marion County Council of PTAs (Parent Teacher Association), Girls Inc. facilitated its first parent workshop at Brookview Elementary School in January. Teachers, parents, and administrators at the workshop engaged in activities that exposed the differences in real images of models vs. their airbrushed image counterparts.

The Dove Evolution video provides a compelling visual of how drastic these changes can be to retouched images (see image at right). The workshop initiated thought-provoking dialogue and outlined real life scenarios about the media today’s girls are consuming. One father was flabbergasted as he viewed an airbrushed picture of a model. “Who knew?” he asked repeatedly.

This workshop encouraged parents to get involved and taught them ways to continue positive conversations with their girls outside of the Girls Inc. program. Learn more about our bold programs or program partners at our website.

Volunteers Spread the Word!

Girls Inc. encourages volunteers to share experiences via blogs, social media
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

Abigail Coleman is a proud Girls Inc. volunteer – she’s got the blog post to prove it!

Through her involvement with the Women's Fund of Central Indiana and the Junior League of Indianapolis, Coleman was familiar with Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis and had the opportunity last fall to volunteer as a program facilitator. She led a Work It Out program for 6-8 year old girls in a Pike Township elementary school. The volunteer experience was so rewarding for Coleman that she decided to share her experience – via the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana blog.

Here’s some of what she had to say: “A program like this is needed for girls of any age, especially with examples of unhealthy relationships so prevalent in the media. In six weeks we covered a lot of ground…I was impressed at the thoughtful conversations, positive feedback, and progress we seemed to make with many girls. At the end of the program, the girls were eager for it to continue and to share their favorite moments. Many shared one of my favorite lessons, the ‘Put-Up Party,’ when they wrote and shared positive statements about each girl in the room.”

Through their service, Girls Inc. volunteers make a huge difference for greater Indianapolis girls, and we encourage our volunteers to spread the word about Girls Inc. and share their great experiences with the world. Follow Abigail’s example and write a blog post. Update your facebook page or comment on ours. Tweet. Email your friends and/or colleagues. However you choose to share your experience, please don’t forget to tell us about it!

Program Spotlight -- Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP)

Program empowers participants to seek out healthy relationships
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development and Public Relations

Last month, we kicked off a series of stories detailing specific Girls Inc. programs. This month, we’ll highlight our Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy (PAP) program.

PAP provides girls with skills to navigate social pressures regarding sexuality, seek out healthy relationships, and avoid unwanted pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases. Following more than a decade-long decline in teen pregnancy in the U.S., the Guttmacher Institute, whose goal is to advance sexual and reproductive health worldwide, released a report indicating that teen pregnancy rose 3% in 2006. This startling data underscores the need for our PAP programs, which use age-appropriate activities to deliver important information to girls.
  • 6-8 year old girls participate in Body Basics which was developed in response to the recent phenomenon of early puberty, occurring for some girls as young as age seven. This program’s goal is to assure each girl that whenever her body starts to develop is the right time for her.
  • 9-11 year old girls participate in Growing TogetherSM which is a joint program for girls and a caring adult in their lives. The program facilitates positive communication between girls and adults about information and values related to sexuality and relationships.
  • 12-14 year old girls participate in Will Power, Won’t PowerSM which helps girls understand the differences between types of relationships, define the meaning of abstinence, learn female anatomy and physiology, dispel myths about sexuality, explore medically factual information, and set goals for their futures.
Our programs are delivered by highly trained facilitators using Girls Inc. curriculum at our program partners’ facilities, and are offered on a rotating calendar during fall, winter, spring, and summer program cycles. They range from 4-6 sessions and are each in a one hour format. Visit our website to learn more about volunteering or other programs.

Featured Supporter -- USA Funds

USA Funds support educates Lunch Bunch participants to diverse career options
By Kristen Bax, AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

In Girls Inc.'s Lunch Bunch program, girls have the opportunity to sit down for a one-hour lunch with female community leaders who serve as career mentors. Through activities and discussion, these career mentors introduce girls to a variety of career fields, such as banking and engineering, in addition to encouraging girls to start making preparations now in order to achieve professional success. In the thank-you letters to her career mentor, Makayla, age 10, wrote “Thank you for helping me understand what I need to do to become a doctor. I had no idea you had to be good in math and science. Luckily, I’m good in math!”

Girls Inc. provides Lunch Bunch programs to greater Indianapolis girls thanks to the generosity of funders such as USA Funds. USA Funds is a nonprofit corporation that works to enhance postsecondary preparedness, access, and success by providing and supporting financial and other valued services. Girls Inc. received a $30,000 grant from USA Funds in support of our Smart College and Career Planning programming. This generous gift will allow us to continue providing our creative programs, including Lunch Bunch, to greater Indianapolis girls.

Thank you to USA Funds for its continued support of Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis’ programs and girls!

Volunteer Profile


Sarah Holsapple (Cornell)

"It's most important for the girls that they were outside their comfort zone.”

Read more...

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl trusted adults are there to help her.


If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...

Tuesday, January 5, 2010

Making History in Hendricks County!

Girls Inc. delivers first-ever program to Hendricks County girls
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

Girls Inc. has crossed the line – the county line, that is. This fall, we delivered our first program in Hendricks County, marking a goal for expansion we set for ourselves two years ago.

At Brownsburg West Middle School, a class of 12-14 year olds participated in a Work It Out program, which empowers girls to negotiate the conflict in their lives. Activities during the six-session program help girls build empathy towards others while challenging them to understand the consequences of hurtful behavior. Program specialist Myranda Warden commented, “Our biggest success was that this was a combination of girls who wouldn’t normally interact, yet they connected on a personal level.” Read more about this milestone.

Watch Christy Barlow, director of programs, describe how an organization becomes a Girls Inc. program partner.



Girls Inc. welcomes Brownsburg West Middle School as a partner and looks forward to delivering additional programs there during our 2010 winter and spring cycles!

Fall, By The Numbers!

Girls Inc. celebrates record-breaking fall cycle of programming
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Fall 2009 was a season of new records for Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis. Our outreach model experienced immense growth as we utilized a record number of volunteers to deliver an increased number of programs to more girls than in any previous program cycle. This growth also contributed to our biggest accomplishment yet – serving over 2,500 girls with Girls Inc. programs in 2009!

Take a look at Girls Inc.'s fall programming, by the numbers!
  • 56 – the total number of Girls Inc. programs delivered this fall.
  • 32 – the total number of partners who offered Girls Inc programs this fall.
  • 9 – the number of new community partners who offered Girls Inc. programs. We were pleased to welcome IPS 58, Imagine Indiana Life Sciences Academy West, IPS 61, Starfish Initiative, Key Learning North Campus, Kaleidoscope, Concord Neighborhood Center, Brownsburg West Middle, and Heather Hills Elementary to our list of valued partners!
  • 2 – the number of new hubs that were established. Warren Township and Hendricks County are now offering Girls Inc programs!
  • 58 – the total number of volunteers who facilitated programs. In addition to individual volunteers, we were also fortunate to have both the Junior League of Indianapolis and the IU School of Nursing supply us with amazing women to deliver our programs.
  • 876 – the record number of girls who participated in Girls Inc. programs in fall!

Welcome to Girls Inc.'s VISTAs!

New VISTA members will enhance Girls Inc's public relations, special events
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Public Relations Coordinator

On Nov. 23, Girls Inc. welcomed two AmeriCorps VISTA members, Ashley Craig and Abri Hochstetler, to our team. Click on their names to learn more about their backgrounds and upcoming projects!


Program Spotlight -- Work It Out

Program empowers participants to negotiate conflict and be allies to each other
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development and Public Relations

Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis delivers empowering programs to girls age 6-18 in the Indianapolis area. But what exactly are those programs? Beginning this month, we’re kicking off a series of stories detailing specific Girls Inc. programs. This month, we’ll focus on Work It Out, highlighted in our story about our new Hendricks County partnership (above).

Work It Out empowers girls to negotiate the conflict in their lives. Activities help girls build empathy towards others while challenging them to understand the consequences of hurtful behavior. All of our programs are age-appropriate, so while the overall messages fit under the same theme, the specific activities vary for each age group.
  • 6-8 year old girls learn positive aspects of friendship, how to react in a bullying situation, constructive communication and effective conflict solving.
  • 9-11 year old girls learn about sisterhood, building trust and respect, distinguishing between being mad and being mean, and being an ally to other girls who are being hurt.
  • 12-14 year old girls create a vision for positive interaction with other females, reflect on experiences through conflict scenarios, analyze the messages they receive about relationships, and learn to de-escalate anger or frustration.
Work It Out was one of the most popular programs chosen by our partners in 2009. Our programs are delivered by highly trained facilitators using Girls Inc. curriculum at our program partners’ facilities, and are offered on a rotating calendar during fall, winter, spring, and summer program cycles. They range from 4-6 sessions and are each in a one hour format. Visit our website to learn more about volunteering or other programs.

Featured Supporter -- Efroymson Family Fund

Support from Efroymson Family Fund empowers girls to "work it out"
By Kristen Bax, AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

In Girls Inc.’s Work it Out program, girls define the attributes that make a good friend. Through an interactive activity, they create a “good friendship application” to list the qualities a good friend should possess. Some qualities include being kind, funny, and honest. Elle, age 10, said the program taught her “how to treat others fairly and how to have fun in a respectful way.”


The generous support of funders like the Efroymson Family Fund, a donor-advised fund of Central Indiana Community Foundation, allows Girls Inc. to provide empowering programs like Work it Out to greater Indianapolis girls. The Efroymson Fund awarded a grant to Girls Inc. in support of our outreach expansion efforts. This gift will help Girls Inc. reach more girls throughout the greater Indianapolis area with our creative, educational programming.

Many thanks to the Efroymson Family Fund for its continued support of Girls Incorporated of Greater Indianapolis!

Volunteer Profiles


"Girls Inc. gives them a safe environment to share feelings.”

Read more...



Katie Shaw
"I wanted them to know now what I wish I would have known then.”

Read more...

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl she can be a great friend to her peers.


If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...



Wednesday, December 2, 2009

This Is What 40 Looks Like!

Girls Inc. girls benefit from a 40th anniversary year filled with milestones
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

What does 40 look like? Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis has asked ourselves this very question for the past 12 months, and we've discovered that 40 has many "faces" for local girls. Here are some examples of what we've seen during this milestone year:
  • 40 Girls Inc. young alumnae boldly speaking out about their lives and futures;

  • 40 Touchstone honorees inspiring women of all ages to be strong, smart, and boldSM;

  • 42 women answering the call to serve local girls by applying to volunteer during our recent "40 Volunteers in 40 Days" campaign; and

  • 47 program partners seeing positive changes in their girls who complete Girls Inc.'s educational, empowering programs.

See for yourself what 40 looks like by checking out a slideshow of photos from throughout Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary year!

The Power of Partnerships!

Girls Inc.'s volunteer group partnerships are a key resource for local girls
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

Last month, we highlighted the schools and community centers whose partnerships with Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis allow us to reach girls in all areas of our community.

This month, we're highlighting the volunteer groups whose partnerships have helped us deliver Girls Inc. programs to hundreds of girls throughout the city. Volunteer partner groups often bring multiple employees or members to Girls Inc., and together they complete projects ranging from a grounds clean-up to a multi-week program for girls.

A few great examples of 2009 volunteer groups are:
  • Eli Lilly & Company Women in Lilly Discovery
  • Hirons & Company
  • Indiana University School of Nursing
  • Junior League of Indianapolis
  • Kroger
  • Rolls-Royce
  • State Farm Insurance

View the complete list of our new volunteer partnerships!

If your organization is interested in becoming a new partner of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis in 2010, please contact LaTasha Hudson at lhudson@girlsincindy.org or 317.522.2610.


Featured Supporter -- The Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation, Inc.

Grant from the Pacers Foundation, Inc. will support bold, empowered girls
By Kristen Bax, AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

“Just do it!” “I’m lovin’ it!” “Have it your way!” Can you identify the brand names for these popular slogans? Girls Inc. participants can!

Girls Inc.’s Media Literacy program introduces girls to the idea that we are surrounded by brand names. In one interactive activity, girls listened to slogans and identified the corresponding brands. “Just do it!” prompted the girls to yell, “Nike!” Upon hearing “I’m lovin’ it,” the girls named McDonalds as the brand. “Have it your way” was identified as Burger King’s slogan. Girls were surprised at how many slogans and brands they recognized.

Through further discussion, girls discovered the many brand names and slogans they had on their clothing or accessories. Many of them were wearing advertisements for a brand name, celebrity, or TV show! Girls realized that they can choose what they want to wear and do not have to buy something because the media positions it as “cool.”

Support from generous funders like the Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation, Inc. helps Girls Inc. empower greater Indianapolis girls with our bold programs. The Pacers Foundation’s “Be YOUnique” Fund, which encourages the development of life skills among young Indiana women, has awarded us a grant in support of our Bold, Empowered Girls programs. After her daughter participated in several Girls Inc. programs, one parent raved, “[Girls Inc. programs] allowed my daughter to practice developing and maintaining healthy, positive relationships. She is more likely to show that girls or women can do anything boys or men can by being strong, smart, and bold!”

Thank you to the Fever Fund of the Pacers Foundation, Inc. for your support of Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis!

Welcome to Indianapolis, Public Allies!

New service opportunity brings Girls Inc. more resources to serve girls
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Public Allies, a national movement grounded in the idea that everyone leads, is now in Indianapolis. This ten month program combines full-time direct service apprenticeships in nonprofit organizations with intensive weekly skill training and leadership development seminars. Girls Inc. of Greater Indianapolis is proud to host one of the 21 members of Indianapolis' first class of Public Allies.

Sarah Hughes, a 2008 graduate of DePauw University, joined Public Allies in October, and she will serve at Girls Inc. through July 2010. Sarah will work with many girls by facilitating Girls Inc. programs in schools and community centers throughout greater Indianapolis.

Read more about Sarah's decision to join Girls Inc. as a Public Ally!

Volunteer Profile

Jennifer Dickey

"[The girls] wrote that I was kind, cared about them, and kept them safe. It was really inspiring."

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl her strength is inspiring to you.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

What We're Thankful For!!

Girls Inc. can only operate successfully with the support of many people
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

We rely on the support of many people to accomplish our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM. In this edition of our enewsletter, we wanted to highlight and thank the many groups that make our work with girls possible.
  • Volunteers deliver Girls Inc. programs throughout our community. Our dedicated volunteers are committed to making a difference for girls and help us reach hundreds of girls with Girls Inc. programming each quarter. Our "40 Volunteers in 40 Days" campaign celebration is one example of our efforts to thank our invaluable volunteers.

    Of course, there is another super group of devoted volunteers whose countless hours of service have made Girls Inc. of Indianapolis the organization that it is today. We are especially thankful for the help and guidance of our     board of directors!

  • We rely on strong partnerships with schools and community organizations to deliver our programs. While Girls Inc. provides quality girl-specific curriculum and the trained personnel to deliver it, we must have strong partners to recruit girls and provide a place to deliver these programs. Clinton Young Elementary and Legore Boys and Girls Club are two examples of outstanding program partners who work with us to impact local girls.

  • Of course, none of this work is possible without the financial support of so many organizations and individuals. The Junior League of Indianapolis is one example of a group that invests precious resources into Girls Inc. of Indianapolis so we may accomplish our mission!

We are also grateful for those who support Girls Inc. in unconventional ways, from hosting fundraisers for us to teaching our girls something new. The Naptown Roller Girls are one great example of a group who has done both. In addition to raising money for Girls Inc. at their May 30 bout, the Naptown Roller Girls invited our summer campers to skate with them and learn about the roller derby. Watch a brief video of Girls Inc.'s skate with the Naptown Roller Girls!

Thank you to the many people who are involved in inspiring all Central Indiana girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM!

Calling All Volunteers!

Join us to celebrate the end of the "40 Volunteers In 40 Days" campaign!
By Lizzy Bartelt, Volunteer Engagement Specialist

Volunteers are invited to a celebration marking the end of our "40 Volunteers in 40 Days" campaign on Thursday, November 5 from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Girls Inc. door prizes will be given away!


The "40 Volunteers in 40 Days" campaign was designed to attract new volunteers eager to expand our reach to girls in the community. The goal is simple -- get 40 new volunteers signed up to lead programs by November 6. We've asked the experts -- our current volunteers -- to help achieve this goal by referring their strongest, smartest, and boldest friends to us as volunteers.

We're halfway to our goal, and there's still time to get involved. Check out our volunteer opportunities online!

The Power of Partnerships!

Girls Inc.'s program partnerships are a key link to girls
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Forty-seven. This is the number of active program partners Girls Inc. is proud to be serving within Central Indiana.

Each school, church, or community organization is as unique as the buildings in which they are housed, but all are equally vital to the success of Girls Inc. outreach. One commonality joins our organizations together: the desire to empower girls.

Clinton Young Elementary, a partner within our Southeast Hub, is in its second year of providing Girls Inc. programs to its female students ages 6-14. During a recent conversation with Shirley Alexander, parent liaison, she relayed her satisfaction with Girls Inc. “Our girls are excited about the programs!” Girls participating in Girls Inc. programs are “sharing information learned with their peers, as well as teachers.”

Across town from Clinton Young is the Legore Boys and Girls Club, a partner within the West Downtown Hub. Unit Director Juan Ongay was in search of a program for his pre-teen girls. “With all of the pressures facing the girls in our community, it was critical to find programming to address their needs and provide them with information that will encourage them to make healthy and informed choices." It was this reason Juan invited Girls Inc. to deliver Growing Together, a program that starts and guides essential conversations about growing up.

While these are just two of our many successes, it is these types of intentional collaborations that allow Girls Inc. outreach to grow within Central Indiana. We are always eager to cultivate new partnerships. If you are interested in partnering with Girls Inc., please contact Christy at cbarlow@girlsincindy.org or 317.522.2605.

Featured Supporter -- Junior League of Indianapolis

JLI partnership provides volunteers to lead girl programming
By Kristen Bax, AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

With our fall 2009 program cycle well under way, we are excited to partner with the Junior League of Indianapolis (JLI)!

Composed entirely of women, the Junior League of Indianapolis is committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. The women in the JLI focus their support on health and education of children and their families.

Each year, the Junior League of Indianapolis provides funding and volunteers to community organizations. Girls Inc. is one of the lucky organizations to receive this amazing support from the JLI in 2009-10! Twenty-one women from the JLI have participated in our volunteer training program, with 20 currently facilitating our interactive, girl-specific programming during our current program cycle. They are delivering programs such as Work It Out, Redefining Beauty, and Media Smarts to Central Indiana girls, equipping them with the necessary skills and resources to succeed academically, personally, and professionally! JLI volunteers will continue to deliver Girls Inc. programs during our winter and spring cycles in 2010.

In addition, the Junior League of Indianapolis has awarded Girls Inc. of Indianapolis a $20,000 grant in support of our programs. Deb Gorin, president of the JLI, commented, “Developing the potential of women is key in our mission, which combined with our focus, makes this a great fit since these girls are tomorrow's women." The generous volunteer and financial support from the Junior League of Indianapolis allows Girls Inc. to empower more girls with our unique programming.

Thank you to the amazing women of Junior League of Indianapolis for helping us inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM!

Volunteer Profiles

Tonya Bush & Michelle Johnson
Tonya: "Some comments were inspiring and surprising, and others were almost tragic."
Michelle: "Girls Inc. is beneficial to the girls because the activities empower them to see more to life than what is in front of them."

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl you're thankful for her.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Welcome Home, Girls Inc!

Join us at an open house and explore our new office!
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

Girls Inc. of Indianapolis has a new home at 3935 N. Meridian Street!

Thanks to the generous donations of products and services by the professionals listed below, Girls Inc. of Indianapolis has a functional new building, much better equipped for coordinating activities to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold throughout a four-county service region (Marion, Boone, Hamilton, and Hendricks).

Join us at an open house to explore our new home and to thank our generous donors for making such a headquarters possible! Open houses will be held from 4-6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22 and Tuesday, Oct. 27. Click here for details and to RSVP.



Thank you to our generous building donors and sponsors! Jack & Nancy Spohn • BAF Corporation • LEVEL Interior Architecture + Design • Solstice Architecture Inc. • Design & Build Electrical • Jurgen & Associates • Blakley's Flooring • Premium Supply • Bill Lawrence Co. • Koehring & Sons • Brother's Concrete • C&C Plumbing • Northside Glass • Division IX • John T. Watson

Please update your records with our new contact information:
Girls Inc. of Indianapolis
3935 N. Meridian St.
Indianapolis, IN 46208
p: 317.283.0086 (or 317.522.2600)
f: 317.921.4179

40 Volunteers In 40 Days

Help Girls Inc. by volunteering or referring a friend to lead programs for girls
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator
Girls Inc. of Indianapolis is celebrating our 40th anniversary with a "40 Volunteers In 40 Days" campaign through November 6!

Through this campaign, we are asking all of our friends to help us recruit 40 new volunteers in the next 40 days. This will allow us to expand our outreach model to more partners within the Indianapolis community.
Here's how you can help:
1. Support us with your time and talents by
leading girl-focused programs in schools, community centers and churches. In 40 hours, you can impact girls for 40 years!
2. Spread the word about Girls Inc. to your friends, family and co-workers. Encourage them to get involved today!
Please help us reach our goal of 40 volunteers in 40 days!

Bulldogs In Our Streets!

Butler University students spruce up Girls Inc.'s grounds during day of service
By Lizzy Bartelt, Volunteer Engagement Specialist

On August 25, ten Butler University students volunteered their afternoon to Girls Inc. through the "Bulldogs In The Streets" program.

Student volunteers completed a variety of projects at the 3935 N. Meridian Street building to help Girls Inc. prepare for the move. Projects included:

  • picking up trash along the perimeter of the grounds
  • weeding our flower pots
  • trimming overgrown trees and shrubs
  • moving loads of furniture

The Bulldogs' work saved Girls Inc. several hundred dollars in maintenance costs. Thank you to the Butler University Volunteer Center and the students who gave their time to Girls Inc!

Featured Supporter -- United Way of Central Indiana

United Way of Central Indiana supports human services through annual campaign
By Kristen Bax, AmerCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

In Girls Inc.'s Redefining Beauty program, girls explore their personal strengths and inner beauty. Through interactive activities and discussions, girls challenge conventional standards of beauty and identify positive female role models.

After discussing fairy tales and deciding whether Disney princesses are good role models, girls come up with their own “Real Tale” about a time in their lives when they overcame an obstacle or accomplished something amazing.
  • Bridget, age 6, told a “Real Tale” of practicing really hard for a swimming race and winning!
  • Tammy, age 8, told her story of participating in a ballet recital that served as a fundraiser to benefit patients at St. Vincent’s Hospital.

Each "Real Tale" helped the girls determine their own strengths and better understand the role hard work plays in achieving goals.

Girls Inc. would not be able to empower girls with programs such as Redefining Beauty without the generous support of United Way of Central Indiana. United Way of Central Indiana is committed to improving lives and building stronger communities by supporting human service programs and partners. United Way of Central Indiana is currently in the midst of their annual campaign. Contributing to this generous organization provides support for more than 100 human service organizations throughout Central Indiana. Thank you to United Way of Central Indiana for its continued support of Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis!

Volunteer Profile

Pamela Ford
"Girls Inc. is so important because it allows girls to find their voice..."

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl to embrace whatever she is.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

40 and Fabulous!

500 guests wish Girls Inc. a "Happy Birthday" at 2009 Touchstone Awards
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

At the 2009 Touchstone Awards & 40th Anniversary Celebration on Aug. 6, Girls Inc. quite literally blew out the candles on our first 40 years by honoring 40 women!

To kick off the party, our summer campers hosted the popular exhibit reception and taught guests about Girls Inc. programs ranging from karate to economic literacy. Following the reception, guests joined us for lunch and an awards ceremony honoring Ellen Annala and Alpha Blackburn (pictured above) along with the rest of our 40 strong, smart, and bold Touchstone Awards honorees. Girls Inc. national president and CEO Joyce Roché even joined us for the party!

Special thanks to Marianne Glick, Ted Englehart, and Dorothy Schulz Englehart who donated five works of art to the Touchstone Awards. These five pieces of art were raffled off to a few lucky winners at the luncheon!

Thank you to our generous leading sponsors who made the event possible: Lilly Endowment, Inc., Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, Citizens Energy Group, Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation, Kroger, Lumina Foundation for Education, State Farm, and The National Bank of Indianapolis.

Girls Inc.'s Got Game!

Attend an Indiana Fever game, and Girls Inc. will get a portion of the proceeds!
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

Order tickets to one of the Indiana Fever's final two regular season games, and the Fever will donate a portion of your ticket purchase back to Girls Inc!

At the game, you can also check out Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary banner exhibit, which is on display at Conseco Fieldhouse through September 6!

Join us for one of these two home games!

To order tickets online, click on the links above or visit Indiana Fever Tickets. Click on "Girls Inc. Night with the Indiana Fever" under your preferred date, and enter "girlsinc" when prompted for the Group ID.

Summer, By The Numbers!

Girls Inc. wraps up an action-packed summer!
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Summer is typically viewed as a break from busy schedules and a time for relaxing. At Girls Inc. it was quite the opposite. The months of June, July, and August were focused on continuing to inspire girls in Indianapolis to be strong, smart and boldSM.

Take a look at Girls Inc.'s summer programming by the numbers.
  • 5 – the number of two-week sessions of Girls Inc. summer camp. We delivered 4 two-week sessions of our traditional Girls Inc. camp, and one 2-week session of GEMS, a.k.a. Girls Energized by Math and Science, our math and science camp delivered in collaboration with Marian University.
  • 7 – the number of non-camp outreach programs we delivered. This includes three Lunch Bunch programs.
  • 280 – the number of girls who participated in summer programs.
  • 5 – the number of new community partners. We added Antioch Baptist Church, College Avenue Library, Girl Scout Troop #1597, LeGore Boys and Girls Club, and St. Joan of Arc to our growing list of program partners.
  • 26 – the number of volunteers who lent a hand with girls over the summer.
  • 2 – the number of service projects our girls completed. Camp GEMS participants constructed 21 flower boxes and donated them to local nonprofits. Girls at our Inspired session of camp built and painted three picnic tables, then donated them to the Julian Center.

Girls Inc. will kick off our fall cycle of programming on October 5!

Volunteers Go Back to School

Girls Inc. is now accepting applicants to lead programs in the fall
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

It’s back to school time and in just a few short weeks, we will launch our girl-focused programs for the fall cycle! We're now recruiting volunteers who want to go "back to school" and lead programs for girls! Apply today!

Current volunteers may now easily and conveniently sign up for our volunteer opportunities via our volunteer portal. The portal is an online volunteer community and your 24/7 link to Girls Inc. of Indianapolis. Portal features include:
  • Scheduled programs calendar (for requesting volunteer opportunities)
  • Volunteer contact list
  • News and announcements
  • Invitations to volunteer appreciation events
  • “How To” videos

For more information on becoming a Girls Inc. volunteer, please contact Lizzy Bartelt, volunteer engagement specialist, at ebartelt@girlsincindy.org or at 283-0086, ext. 1023.

Featured Supporter -- Summer Youth Program Fund

Summer camp funders help girls learn the tools for money management
By Kristen Bax, AmeriCorps VISTA Grant Writing Specialist

Starting your own business is hard work, but Girls Inc. campers were up for the challenge this summer!

Summer campers participated in our annual Economic Literacy Carnival, an event that concludes our Economic Literacy curriculum and teaches girls the challenges of running their own business and the importance of managing their money.

Prior to the carnival, the 12-14-year-old girls planned their own businesses. They wrote business proposals, interviewed each other to hire workers, and created advertisement campaigns. Some of the creative business ideas were a snow cone shop, a fast food restaurant with nachos and pizza rolls, and even a nail salon! Girls saved “girl bucks” they earned during camp, invested their money to earn interest, and spent the rest on goodies and treats!

The Economic Literacy Carnival – and the rest of our exciting summer camp activities – would not have been possible without the support of the Summer Youth Program Fund (SYPF). The SYPF is a collaboration of several local funders who provide funding for summer programs for Marion County youth. Many thanks to our generous SYPF funders, Lilly Endowment and the Indianapolis Foundation, for their support of Girls Inc.’s summer camp programs!

Volunteer Profile

Tameka Easter
"When you take girls out of that mixed environment, you help them find their voice and use it. You help them keep it."

Read more..

Tell A Girl Tip

Tell a girl she could one day be a Girls Inc. Touchstone Awards honoree.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just A Reminder...

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

It's Our Party and You're Invited!

Join us for our 40th anniversary party at the 2009 Touchstone Awards
By Molly Beeson, AmeriCorps Summer VISTA Event Specialist

The 2009 Touchstone Awards and 40th Anniversary Celebration is almost here!
Join us this Thursday, August 6 from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Westin Indianapolis to help us blow out the candles on our first 40 years in Central Indiana!

To learn more about the event, click here or select one of the buttons below.





Thank you to our leading event sponsors!

"40 and Festive" Sponsor

Lilly Endowment, Inc.

"40 and Fast-Paced" Sponsors

Christel DeHaan Family Foundation

Citizens Energy Group

Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation

KrogerLumina Foundation for Education

State Farm

The National Bank of Indianapolis


Tickets at the luncheon are still available! Contact Ashley Crockett-Lohr at 283-0086 ext. 1022 for more information. We hope to see you there!

Fostering Future Marketers and Scientists!

Female scientists, marketers help campers explore potential careers
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

Summer camp is a great opportunity for volunteer groups to make an impact with Girls Inc. participants. Hirons & Company and Women in Lilly Discovery are two examples of groups who worked with our summer camp to teach girls about interesting careers.


Hirons & Company

On July 7, volunteers from Hirons & Company, an advertising and public relations agency, hosted a Lunch Bunch program for our eight-week campers. Volunteers shared their experiences in advertising and public relations and helped the girls develop their own marketing plans and advertisements -- for cookies! The aspiring marketers:
  • identified a target audience;
  • developed a logo and tagline;
  • pitched their mock advertisement;
  • ate the cookies!


Women in Lilly Discovery (WILD)

Volunteers from Women in Lilly Discovery (WILD), an organization for female scientists at Eli Lilly & Company, partnered with the two-week Camp GEMS to mentor girls in construction. Camp GEMS is dedicated to immersing girls to math and science and is delivered in collaboration with the Life Science Education Center at Marian University. WILD volunteers engaged GEMS campers in a number of ways, including:
  • serving as project mentors and helping with the flower box construction;
  • leading Lunch Bunch programs which exposed girls to science and math careers;
  • beginning discussions on healthy living and botany topics.

Thank you to our volunteers from Hirons & Company and Women in Lilly Discovery for their help with our summer camps!


For more information on how your company or organization could partner with Girls Inc., please contact LaTasha Hudson, volunteer partnership coordinator, at (317) 224-5648.

Former Board Member Honored for "Heart to Serve"

Sheri Watts wins award at United Way Diversity Volunteer Recognition Breakfast
By Pat Wachtel, President & CEO

On July 18, United Way of Central Indiana honored Girls Inc. of Indianapolis board member Sheri Watts for her "Heart to Serve" at their annual Diversity Volunteer Recognition Breakfast.

Watts won the Lis Daily Outstanding Board Service Award, which is awarded to minority board members whose service has demonstrated their leadership experience, fundraising capacity, collaboration skills, and strategic vision. For more than 30 years, Sheri Watts has engaged with Girls Inc. of Indianapolis in a number of ways, including volunteer, donor, and board member.

Watts' time with Girls Inc. is marked by many significant accomplishments, including:
  • navigating Girls Inc. of Indianapolis' strategic shift to an outreach model.
  • advocating for local girls in the community through Girls Inc.'s speakers' bureau.
  • leading the restructuring of Girls Inc.'s annual Girls' Bill of Rights Day in 2009.


Thank you to Sheri Watts for her years of dedicated service to Girls Inc. of Indianapolis!

Summer Camp Rewind 2009!

See what our girls have been up to this summer at camp!
By Jessica Rhodes, AmeriCorps Summer VISTA Video Specialist

Eight weeks of summer camp have flown by, and it's been action-packed for our campers! From creating their own businesses and holding an Economic Literacy carnival to learning about women's history and holding a march about girls' rights, our campers have enjoyed a mixture of creative and fun activities.

Check out this video to see what's happened during these past seven weeks of camp!


Featured Supporter -- Women's Fund OPTIONS 8 Class

Campers get lesson in professional behaviors at Morris-Butler House tea
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development


Do.. or is it Taboo?

One of the unique events our summer campers participated in, Do’s and Taboos, came courtesy of the OPTIONS 8 class of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana and a member of our board, Peter Lacy. The OPTIONS 8 class funded a special day of activities for our campers, brainstormed by Peter Lacy, to help them understand – and be comfortable using – professional behaviors during interactions such as business meals and networking events.

While half of the group rotated through activities at Girls Inc. demonstrating the importance of being on time, determining appropriate clothing to wear to an interview, and practicing polite communication, the other half visited the Morris-Butler House for a special professional “etiquette tea” where they practiced these skills.

Several of the members of the OPTIONS 8 class were able to attend and participated in the tea alongside the girls; Tonia Lotz shared, “As a 38-year old, I learned more than I expected to from the etiquette lesson. I wish my 8 year old daughter could have participated. This is one more thing that every girl – and every person – needs to know. Social situations can be so awkward!” Shelley Raper agreed, saying, “I’m blown away by Girls Inc. programs. They provide such strong, powerful messages that girls won’t get anywhere else.”

Thank you to the O8 class of the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana and to Peter Lacy for making this day possible for Girls Inc. participants!

Volunteer Profile

Karen Hill


"At the end of the program several girls said they would never forget us and wanted to see if we could come back and volunteer!"
Read more...

Tell a Girl Tip

Tell a girl she's great at science and math.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just a Reminder...

Tuesday, July 7, 2009

Girls Inc.'s Vision Celebrated

NUVO honors Girls Inc.'s innovation with Cultural Vision Award
By Pat Wachtel, President and CEO


During the 11th annual Cultural Vision Awards, NUVO recognized ten organizations, individuals, and events, including Girls Inc!

NUVO’s unique award recognizes innovative work and celebrates commitment to our community. We are delighted to share the honor this year with some of our friends and supporters, including fellow award recipients Naptown Roller Girls and Lifetime Achievement Award winner Joyce Sommers, one of our 40 Touchstone Award honorees.

We were elated to work with Joy Dumandan of WISH-TV, who has also agreed to emcee the 2009 Touchstone Awards, to create a brief video highlighting some of our work and a key partnership with Charles A. Tindley Accelerated School. We are honored to be recognized by NUVO for our work with our partners in Central Indiana!

Do You Have Your Tickets?

2009 Touchstone Awards & 40th Anniversary Celebration Tickets Available Online
By Molly Beeson, AmeriCorps Summer VISTA Event Specialist


Whether you’ve known Girls Inc. 40 years or 40 minutes, we want you to join us and celebrate our 40th anniversary! The 2009 Touchstone Awards and 40th Anniversary Celebration will take place Thursday, August 6 at The Westin Indianapolis from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Lunch -- and birthday cake -- will be served!


Buy your tickets online today and join the celebration of the remarkable strong, smart and bold girls and women of Central Indiana!

Get Your Girl Energized By Math and Science!

Camp GEMS inspires girls' enjoyment in math and science fields
By Lizzy Bartelt, Camp GEMS Coordinator

Do you know an 11-14 year old girl? Give her the wonderful opportunity to be a part of Camp GEMS, from July 13-24!

Camp GEMS (Girls Energized by Math and Science) is a second annual collaborative camp between Girls Inc. of Indianapolis and Marian University's Life Science and Education Center.

This year, girls will experience math and science through flower box design and construction. Building these flower boxes will not only utilize the girls' math and science skills, but also will challenge them to be creative as they design each box for an area nonprofit.

Camp GEMS participants will attend five field trips, receive a free t-shirt, and enjoy provided breakfast, lunch, and afternoon snacks. In addition to all of this, girls will meet professional women who are leaders in construction, engineering, pharmaceuticals, and enjoy two celebration parties to wrap up camp -- one at which they'll present their flower boxes to the nonprofits they selected.

Spots are still available; register here! Contact Lizzy Bartelt at (317) 224-5513 with further questions.

Meet Our 2009-10 Class of AmeriCorps VISTAs!

Girls Inc. welcomes five new full-year VISTA volunteers
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

One June 22, 2009, Girls Inc. welcomed five full-year AmeriCorps VISTAs! Click on their names to learn more about their backgrounds and their upcoming projects!


Kristen Bax, Grant Writing Specialist

Kati Clem, E-Communications Specialist

Jordan Haire, Internship and Service Learning Specialist

Caitlin Haney, Volunteer Capacity Specialist

Amanda Prater, Evaluation Specialist

Featured Supporters -- Summer Camp Funders

Summer campers celebrate decades, scholarship donors
By Megan Siehl, Manager of Development Operations


Did you know smiley faces, flower power, and Pop-Tarts all got their start in the '60s? Our summer campers do!

In addition to their strong, smart, and bold programs, Girls Inc.'s participants are taking time this summer to celebrate each decade during which Girls Inc. of Indianapolis has served girls. In honor of Girls Inc.'s 40th birthday this year, girls will party in the styles of the '60s, '70s, '80s, '90s, and 2000s.

Many campers are only able to enjoy these celebrations thanks to the generous support of Girls Inc.'s scholarship donors. This year, Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis received more requests for summer camp scholarships than ever before. With the help of generous donors, we have awarded aid to more than 60 girls whose families would not otherwise be able to send them to summer camp; this is more than double the scholarship awards that were allocated in 2008!


We would like to thank the following organizations for their support of summer camp scholarships:

  • Gannett Foundation ($20,000 grant doubled our original request for summer camp funding and allowed more girls to receive scholarships)

  • Otto Legacy Fund, an outreach fund of Meridian Street United Methodist Church ($5,000 grant)

  • Pottery by You (owned by Girls Inc. alumna Katie Laux, who donated 50% of one day's proceeds)

  • Northside Partners for Youth ($500 grant)

  • Women's Fund of Central Indiana ($5,000 -- also supported summer camp operations)


Many thanks to individual donors who also contributed to our scholarship fund!

Haven't had your chance to send a girl to summer camp? There are still 4 ½ weeks of camp left - donate to our scholarship fund now!

Tell a Girl Tip

Tell a girl she's smart to question what she doesn't understand.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just a Reminder...

Thursday, June 11, 2009

Meet Our 2009 Touchstone Awards Honorees!

Ellen K. Annala, Alpha C. Blackburn selected as 2009 Honorees
By Pat Wachtel, President and CEO

Girls Inc. is thrilled to announce that Ellen Annala and Alpha Blackburn will be honored at the 2009 Touchstone Awards!

Ellen Annala is the president and CEO of United Way of Central Indiana, and Alpha Blackburn is the president and CEO of Blackburn Architects. Though they have different areas of expertise, both women are accomplished in their respective fields and extremely dedicated to their shared Indianapolis community.

Annala and Blackburn will join the ranks of the 38 inspring women who are former Touchstone Award winners, and the two will round out our list to 40 honorees. In celebration of Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary in Indianapolis, each of the 40 honorees, past and present, will be highlighted at the event!


Save the date for the 2009 Touchstone Awards on August 6, 2009! Tickets will be available online in mid-June. We hope to see you there!

Spring, By The Numbers!

Girls Inc. wraps up spring programs with record-setting numbers
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

Indianapolis is always in full throttle each spring. Girls Inc's spring program cycle (which runs from March through May) seemed to follow the same speed!

Hundreds of girls were engaged in our programs throughout Central Indiana this season. Here is a quick look into our spring, by the numbers.

37 - the number of programs Girls Inc. delivered this spring.
In addition to these, we also hosted three one-time Lunch Bunch programs.

24 - the number of community partners we worked with this spring.
Partners consisted of schools, community centers, and sororities -- and many partners asked us to deliver multiple programs.

5 - the number of new community partners we worked with this spring.
We welcomed Zeta Phi Beta, Challenge Foundation Academy, Clinton Young Elementary, Brookside Elementary, and Decatur Intermediate Learning Center to our list of fantastic partners.

43- the number of volunteers who facilitated programs this spring.

15- the average number of girls in each spring program.

We are well on our way to engaging 1,600 girls in our programs this year!

Dear World -- It's Me, A Girl!

National education campaign shares girls' voices
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development

Girls Incorporated® asked girls: "If you could send a message to the whole world about what it's like growing up as a girl today, what would you say?"

Their answers form the national "Dear World" public education campaign.

Girls Inc. believes that all girls are inherently strong, smart, and bold. Showing them that their voices are trusted, respected, and above all, heard is a critical part of helping them stay strong, smart, and bold in the face of gender stereotypes and pressure to conform.

Join Girls Inc. in honoring girls’ voices—help us ask the whole world to sit up, pay attention, and celebrate along with us.


Featured Supporter -- Eli Lilly & Company

Girls Inc. benefits from Lilly’s Global Day of Service
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

On May 20, eighteen Eli Lilly & Company employees participated in Lilly’s Global Day of Service by partnering with Girls Inc. of Indianapolis! Some of the projects they completed are:


  • moving and setting up furniture for our summer camp,

  • repairing lattice on our outdoor patio to provide girls a shaded place to eat,

  • spreading 45 cubic yards of mulch on our outdoor playground to give the girls a safe place to play.


Girls Inc. saved money on the projects our Lilly volunteers completed, and those funds can now be directed to offsetting camp fees for many families this summer.


We are truly thankful for the time, energy, and hard work of our Lilly volunteers: John Chlapik, Mark Copeland, Jim Cross, Jeff Fox, Bret Haisley, Carl Hartmann, Jeremy Hemiup, Darren Holland, Mike Koenig, Karl Kovach, Ian Leavesley, Ron Ruff, Cindi Scott, Sandy Seward, Yvonne Stephens, Jeffrey Tan, Kathy Whiteside, Billie Woodard. Thank you for volunteering for Girls Inc.!

Volunteer Profile


Rhaya Shilts"When I first decided to volunteer for Girls Inc., it was because I wanted to donate my time to an organization that encouraged girls to be confident of their aspirations despite obstacles they may see in their way."Read more...

Tell a Girl Tip

Tell a girl that a skinned knee is an athlete's badge of courage.

If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Just a Reminder...

Tuesday, May 5, 2009

Send a Girl to Summer Camp!

Recession economy increases demand for summer camp scholarships
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

What was your favorite summer activity when you were 10 years old? To the 120 girls who will attend one of our camps this summer, their favorite summer activity is Girls Inc., of course! Our summer camps are full of fun, friends, field trips, and phenomenal programming. At $200 per two-week session, it's also affordable for many families!

This year, however, 73 percent of our camp registrants have applied for scholarship assistance. We've already given away nearly $8,000 in scholarships, and more girls request help each week.
Send a girl to camp by making a donation towards a summer camp scholarships today! Listen to Courtney as she explains why camp has meant so much to her by watching this video:

Remember Your First Summer Job?

Girls Inc. is now hiring two junior counselors for our summer camp
By Ami Kane, Coordinator of Program and Curriculum Development

Girls Inc. is currently seeking two energetic, responsible teen girls to serve as part-time junior counselors for our summer camp. Applicants will gain experience must be entering their sophomore, junior, or senior year in high school and have prior experience with Girls Inc.

Simone Smith, a junior counselor for last year's summer camp, valued the opportunity to work with young girls. She said, "Being a junior counselor was a very fun experience, and I enjoyed it a lot! It was something that really touched me, to look at these young girls and to know that they were like me when I was their age."

Check out our website to see the full junior counselor job description and apply!

It's A-Bout Time!

Naptown Roller Girls partner with Girls Inc. at May 30 Cyclone Wars
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development


Join the Naptown Roller Girls and Girls Inc. on Saturday, May 30 at Cyclone Wars, a double-header featuring Indy's own Warning Belles and Tornado Sirens. Sales of a special coloring book, featuring local artists’ interpretations of “strong, smart, and bold designs, and shirts designed by Artur Silva, will benefit Girls Inc!

Nikki Sutton (or "Smackie Onassis," as she's known in the roller derby world), is an alumna of Girls Inc. who dreamed up this fundraiser. All proceeds from the afterparty at Birdy's will also be donated to Girls Inc.

The coloring books and shirts will be sold at the May 30 bout only. All of the Naptown Roller Girls' bouts have sold out this year, so purchase your tickets early!

Honor Your Strong, Smart, and Bold Mother!

Order Mother's Day flowers from McNamara Florist and 5% will go to Girls Inc.
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

Girls Inc. has partnered with McNamara Florist to offer a special promotion for Mother's Day flowers! Celebrate your strong, smart, and bold mother by ordering her flowers from McNamara Florist! Mention offer code GINC9 when you check out, and they'll donate 5% of your order to Girls Inc. of Indianapolis!

Volunteers Get Physical at Free Pilates Session

Volunteers enjoy free pilates class offered by Perfect Pilates Studio
By Dana Bushouse, Coordinator of Volunteer and Intern Recruitment


Girls Inc. volunteers put their strength to the test on April 8th at a free pilates class offered by Perfect Pilates Studio in Westfield!


Thank you to studio owner Lindsey Fella-Berry for offering this unique opportunity to our volunteers! Fella-Berry led volunteers through challenging pilates exercises, testing their strength with machines like the "universal reformer."


Girls Inc. offers quarterly volunteer appreciation events for volunteers to thank them for their hard work facilitating programs for local girls. Past events have been networking events, cooking demonstrations, and spa nights. Learn more about volunteering with Girls Inc. and apply to volunteer online!

Featured Partner - Corporation for National & Community Service

Americorps VISTA members have made significant contributions to Girls Inc.
By Megan Siehl, Manager of Development Operations

Over the past year, Girls Inc. has hosted four AmeriCorps VISTA (Volunteers in Service to America) members who have made significant contributions to our organization. AmeriCorps VISTA members commit to a year of full-time service, during which they combat poverty by building the capacity of nonprofit organizations.


Our VISTA members have played important role in our recent growth and expansion, helping us to build our capacity and to inspire more Central Indiana girls to be strong, smart, and bold.


We are excited to welcome five new full-year VISTA members in June, in addition to five Summer Associate VISTA members, who will complete 10-week terms this summer. Thank you to the Corporation of National & Community Service, and Indiana State Director Louis Lopez in particular, for their continued support to Girls Inc. of Indianapolis through the AmeriCorps VISTA program!

Just a Reminder...

Check out photos from Saturday's Girls' Bill of Rights Celebration!


Tell a Girl Tip

Tell a girl she can do great things. If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

The Best 40 Hours You'll Ever Spend!

Girls Inc. volunteers impact girls' futures with small time commitment
By Dana Bushouse, Coordinator of Volunteer & Intern Recruitment

Where else can 40 hours of your time have 40 years of impact? Volunteers who commit the equivalent of one work week to lead a Girls Inc. program permanently impact the girls they teach for the better.

Jamesha, age 12, and Dionne, age 10, recently completed a "Work It Out" program led by volunteers. Jamesha said, "Thank you for coming and helping us. I had a great time with Ms. Jessica and Mrs. Donna; I know what they taught us will work!” Dionne said, "I think this program will help people who are getting bullied and will help friends that are fighting with each other!"

Girls Inc. has made it even easier to become a volunteer! Check out our new online volunteer application and get started making a difference for girls!

In celebration of April's National Volunteer Month, we've asked experienced volunteer Maryvonne Kerzabi to tell us what she's gained from working with girls. Hear what she has to say in her video interview!

Join Us and Celebrate Girls' Rights!

Day-long celebration will star Indiana Fever player Tamika Catchings
By Christy Barlow, Director of Programs

On Saturday, May 2, girls ages 9-14 will join Indiana Fever star Tamika Catchings at Jameson Camp to celebrate their own bill of rights! In honor of Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary, we're amping up the annual Girls' Bill of Rights day to include a full-day of exciting, empowering activities for girls. This year, girls will:


  • hone fitness skills alongside Tamika Catchings.

  • build confidence and teamwork skills through Jameson Camp's ropes course.

  • form friendships with girls throughout Central Indiana.

  • and much more!

Registration for this celebration is just $10 per girl. Everyone who attends will enjoy transportation to and from Jameson Camp, provided meals, and a goodie bag full of valuable personal and academic resources! Register a girl online by April 29th for the 2009 Girls' Bill of Rights Celebration!

Grab Your Paintbrush and Give Back!

Girls Inc. alumna hosts pottery night to fund summer camp scholarships
By Kristen Bax, Development Intern

On Saturday, April 18, stop by Pottery By You, a paint-your-own ceramics studio, and help send a girl to summer camp! The studio will donate 50 percent of the day's proceeds to summer camp scholarships, so each piece you paint from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. will benefit a Central Indiana girl. The need for scholarships is high -- over 75 percent of our campers have applied for aid this year!
Katie Laux, the studio's owner, is a Girls Inc. alumna and wants to inspire this generation of girls to be strong, smart, and bold -- like she is!
Pottery By You is located at 2278 W. 86th Street across from St. Vincent Hospital. Check out their website for more information.

Girls Inc. Staff on the Rise!

Three key staff members promoted to new positions at Girls Inc.
By Pat Wachtel, CEO

I'm pleased to announce three staff promotions:


Alison Schumacher (right) has been promoted from director of development to vice president of development;
Megan Siehl (center), our former grants coordinator, is now our manager of development operations;
Kristi Dobson (left), previously my executive assistant, is our new office manager.
For a complete list of our staff, please visit the online staff directory.

Featured Funders - Old National Bank Foundation & USA Funds

Smart College and Career Planning programs prepare girls for bright futures
By Megan Siehl, Manager of Development Operations

Girls Inc.'s interactive Smart College and Career Planning programs are helping girls prepare for academic achievement, while also helping them plan for their desired education and career goals. So when Caitlin, age 13, told us, "I want to be attorney general of the United States of America and a football player," she knew exactly how much schooling and work experience will be required to achieve her goal!

Many thanks to Old National Bank Foundation and USA Funds for their continued support of girls like Caitlin through our Smart College and Career Planning programs!

Just a reminder...

Tuesday, March 3, 2009

"Girls Inc. made my daughters more bold!"

Mom pleased with girls' development after summer camp
By Alison Schumacher, Vice President of Development

LaTonya's twelve year old daughters attended Camp GEMS, the two-week math and science camp held by Girls Inc. and the Life Science Education Center at Marian College last year. With respect to Girls Inc.'s mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold, LaTonya felt that her twins had the strong and the smart, but not the bold. For instance, one of her daughters ran for student council a year ago, but wasn't successful in her bid. She swore she would not run again.

However, after her daughters attended Camp GEMS and participated in Girls Inc.'s personal empowerment and self-confidence programs, LaTonya noticed they had developed the "bold." In fact, when school started this fall, her daughter decided to run again for student council - and she won! Both she and her daughters are looking forward to Camp GEMS in 2009!



Celebrating Girls Inc.'s "Torchbearer"

CEO Pat Wachtel to be honored at tonight's Torchbearer Awards

It is my pleasure to announce that our CEO, Pat Wachtel, will be honored tonight with a Torchbearer Award from the Indiana Commission for Women.


This award honors women who have eliminated gender barriers while making Indiana a better place to live, work and raise a family. I am elated that Pat is receiving recognition of her strong, smart, and bold leadership and lifetime of breaking barriers, from careers in banking, community development, corporate and community relations, and now nonprofit executive.
I invite you to view excerpts of Pat's nomination letter. Please join me in congratulating Pat for this well-deserved honor!

Meet Our Technology Guru

Jennifer Baltz welcomed as coordinator of strategic technology
By Pat Wachtel, CEO

You may remember meeting Jennifer Baltz a year ago when we introduced her as our AmeriCorps VISTA focusing on e-communications.
In her newest role, Jennifer will use her skills in graphic design and information technology to oversee all of our communications and technology.
Read more about Jennifer's new role!

A Breakfast 40 Years in the Making

Come to a free 40th anniversary breakfast and hear our plans for the future
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

This year, we celebrate Girls Inc.'s 40th year serving girls in Central Indiana. But the Girls Inc. that opened in 1969 is drastically different than the organization we are today. Join us for a free 40th anniversary breakfast to learn how Girls Inc. is inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold now -- and over the next 40 years!

All breakfast events are held from 8-9 a.m. at Girls Inc's office (3959 N. Central Avenue, Indianapolis, 46205). Visit our website to RSVP for the following dates: March 5, April 2, May 7.

Volunteers Get the Spa Treatment

Volunteers recharge with night of pampering by Aveda Fredric's Institute
By LaTasha Hudson, Volunteer Partnership Coordinator

What’s a better time to relax and be pampered than during the cold winter? On Feb. 5, Aveda Fredric’s Institute hosted an evening of manicures and massages to help us thank our hardworking volunteers.
We were inspired to hold a spa event by our summer campers, who operated a spa business during their Economic Literacy Carnival last July. But unlike our campers who charged "girl bucks" for service, Aveda’s students provided their services to Girls Inc. volunteers for free.
Stir Crazy also chipped in and offered our volunteers free appetizers or desserts! Thanks to Aveda Fredric’s and to Stir Crazy for making this evening possible! Interested in coming to future volunteer events?

Featured Supporter -- Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation

Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation funding economic literacy programs for girls
By Megan Siehl, Manager of Development Operations

Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis received a $15,000 grant from the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation to support our Economic Literacy programs. These programs build self-reliance by giving girls the message that they are in control of their financial future through exploring a wide range of financial issues, such as budgeting, saving, and investing, as well as the relationship between education and income!

Thanks to the the support of the Richard M. Fairbanks Foundation, we are helping Central Indiana girls prepare to be economically self-sufficient!

Just a reminder...

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

You're Invited to Girls Inc.'s 40th Birthday Party!

Lorene Burkhart to chair Touchstone Awards & 40th Anniversary Celebration
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator


Girls Inc. is proud to announce that philanthropist and entrepreneur Lorene Burkhart has agreed to chair our 2009 Touchstone Awards and 40th Anniversary Celebration. As a former Touchstone honoree herself, Lorene has big plans to ensure that this year's Touchstone Awards is a truly special one for all involved!

Please save the date for the 2009 Touchstone Awards and 40th Anniversary Celebration! The luncheon will be held August 6, 2009 from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM at The Westin Indianapolis.

Add the Touchstone Awards to your calendar! (iCalendar file, 2KB) Simply open the file and save it to your calendar or download the file and import it into your calendar.

View a special message from Touchstone Awards Chair Lorene Burkhart!




Volunteer Transforms Girls Inc. Service into Employment

LaTasha Hudson hired as volunteer partnership coordinator
By Pat Wachtel, CEO

LaTasha_PhotoLaTasha Hudson may be a new staff member, but she’s no stranger to Girls Inc!

LaTasha began volunteering for Girls Inc. in summer 2007 when she coordinated three lunchtime programs with volunteers from United Way of Central Indiana’s Emerging Leaders. She quickly fell in love with delivering Girls Inc. programs and was part of our first-ever team of volunteers trained as Girls Inc. facilitators. Discover how LaTasha's volunteer experience will translate to her job at Girls Inc!



Featured Supporter -- Fox 59/CW4 Community Fund

$10,000 grant will support Girls Inc.'s programs from January to March
By Megan Siehl, Grants Coordinator

Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis received a $10,000 grant from the Fox 59/CW4 Community Fund, a fund of the McCormick Foundation. This funding will support our winter cycle of programming, which is currently in progress.

With the support of the Fox 59/CW4 Community Fund, we are serving Central Indiana girls with programs like Work It Out, which helps girls negotiate conflict, and She's on the Money, an economic literacy program for six to eight year old girls, through collaborations with school and community partners. Thanks to Shonda Russell and Fox 59 for this generous support of our winter cycle programs!

Welcome to Our New Class of Leaders

Six members elected to join Girls Inc.'s board of directors
By Pat Wachtel, CEO

Welcome to the six new members and two youth members who joined our board of directors last month. Click on their names to read what they think about Girls Inc!

2009 New Board Members
Jennifer Banner, Sigma Micro LLC
Christine Bizzell, Learning for Life
Leslie Fuqua, Youth Member
Colleen Leahy, Youth Member
Molly Martin, Lumina Foundation for Education
Linh Preston, The Center on Philanthropy at IU
Matt Tader, Community Volunteer
Carol Trexler, Community Health Network



What's On Your Mind?

Share your thoughts on our "By The Women, For The Girls" campaign
By Annie Farrell, Americorps VISTA Fund Development Specialist

In December, we asked you be a "part of the puzzle" for girls' futures by participating in the "By The Women, For The Girls" e-campaign. Hundreds of you contributed a piece of the puzzle by making a donation, designing a puzzle piece, or watching the videos. Now we'd like your feedback on the "By The Women, For The Girls" campaign!

Please visit our online survey and tell us what you think! If you participated, what inspired you to do so? If you chose not to participate, tell us why. Your comments will help us learn how to best connect with you.

"Tell A Girl" Tip of the Month

Tell a girl "The Glass Ceiling" is the name of a fairy tale.
If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Tuesday, January 6, 2009

My New Year's Resolution with Girls Inc.

Volunteer resolves to impact local girls in 2009
By Carlotta Ford, Girls Inc. Volunteer


"Each one teach one" has always been a motto that I try to apply to my everyday life. Being a volunteer with Girls Inc. has been both rewarding and fulfilling for me. Not only am I able to teach young girls important principles for everyday life, I also have the opportunity to meet so many new people, both young and old.


I resolve this New Year to give an encouraging word to any young girl I may come in contact with, whether at the grocery store or in a program I facilitate. Some of these young ladies are buried in so much negativity on a daily basis that one positive compliment may bring at least an ounce of worth to their day. Read more about Carlotta's resolution to volunteer with Girls Inc. in 2009.

Looking to Spice Up Mundane Meetings?

Invite a Girls Inc. speaker to attend your group's next meeting
By Annie Farrell, Americorps VISTA Fund Development Specialist

Would you like to learn more about Girls Inc. at a time and place of your choosing? Now is your chance!

This fall, Girls Inc. launched a Speakers Bureau comprised of select Girls Inc. participants, alumnae, and board members. Our speakers are eager to share their Girls Inc. story with your group. As you're scheduling meetings for 2009, please consider adding Girls Inc. to the agenda.

Discover more information about the speakers bureau and request a speaker for your upcoming meeting.

Welcome Back, Christy Barlow!

Former club manager hired as director of programs
By Pat Wachtel, CEO

I am excited to introduce you to our new program director, Christy Barlow! Christy returns to Girls Inc. after a three-year hiatus. In her previous career at Girls Inc, Christy managed our Fountain Square center and delivered outreach programs. Her commitment to girl issues and experience with the Girls Inc. curriculum is a real asset as we have transitioned to an exclusively-outreach model of service.

Read more about Christy and join me in welcoming her to the Girls Inc. team!

Featured Supporter -- Lilly Endowment Inc.

Lilly Endowment awards $300,000 for outreach expansion
By Megan Siehl, Grants Coordinator

Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis has received a $300,000 grant from Lilly Endowment Inc! Over the next two years, this funding will be used to continue expanding our outreach services to girls throughout Central Indiana. Lilly Endowment's generous gift will support activities including the development and maintenance of technology tools that support our programming and volunteer recruitment throughout our entire service area; delivery of programs in Marion County schools and community centers; and evaluation of our service model. Together, these efforts will allow us to build out 12 neighborhood hubs in Marion County during the next two years.

Many thanks to Lilly Endowment for its generous grant and continued support of Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis!

Happy Anniversary to Us!

This year marks Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary in Central Indiana
By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

In 2009, Girls Inc. is celebrating our 40th anniversary serving girls in Central Indiana. Please stay tuned to future e-newsletters for announcements about exciting anniversary events!

Tuesday, December 2, 2008

Girls Inc.'s Sustainability Recognized with Statewide Award

By Megan Siehl, Grants Coordinator

On Nov. 18, Girls Inc. was recognized with an Indiana Achievement Award! This prestigious award - given to only six organizations in the state - recognizes nonprofit organizations for effective business practices and excellence in innovation, impact, and sustainability. Girls Inc. was honored for the implementation of our hub model and its capacity to expand our services to girls while exhibiting efficient, effective, and sustainable strategies.

At the awards luncheon in Indianapolis, Brian Payne, president of The Indianapolis Foundation, presented us with a $10,000 cash prize. We also received a commendation for our achievements from Governor Mitch Daniels.

This award also included the creation of a short video documentary about Girls Inc., which was professionally produced by WFYI and was debuted at the luncheon.

Watch the short video documentary about Girls Inc. online now!

Two Key Funders Celebrate 10th Anniversaries

By Pat Wachtel, CEO

As we're preparing to celebrate Girls Inc.'s 40th anniversary in 2009, we have celebrations on our mind. Two of our key supporters are celebrating ten year milestones in 2008. They are unique and wonderful organizations, but we believe that they share some common characteristics that truly deserve celebration:

  • A deep understanding of this community and its needs
  • A strategic approach to philanthropy that addresses those community needs
  • A willingness to be creative and bold in their grant making
  • A real heart for the well being of the Indianapolis community
  • A willingness to share advice and wisdom in addition to financial gifts
  • An understanding of the importance of validating creative non-profit initiatives
Read more to discover which key funders are celebrating anniversaries this year!

Girls Inc. Welcomes Joi Smith as Vice President & COO

By Pat Wachtel, CEO

JoiSmithI am elated to introduce you to Joi B. Smith, our new vice president & chief operating officer! She comes to us from Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, where she has held various positions with their national or local organization for the past 19 years.

Read Joi's full profile and discover the experience and expertise she'll bring to Girls Inc.

Show Off Your Support of Girls Inc!

By Jennifer Baltz, Americorps VISTA E-Communications Specialist

Show your support for Girls Inc. with this dynamic badge and desktop wallpaper!

Add this widget to your blog, webpage, Facebook or MySpace profile, or anywhere you can add the Flash or JavaScript code! It's easy! You can also download the "Proud Supporter" desktop wallpaper. Just find the right resolution for your computer screen, download the image file, and set it as your desktop wallpaper!

Girls Inc.'s News You Can Use

Calling New Volunteers!
Busy, busy, busy! Aren't we all so busy? We all get overwhelmed around the holidays and always make those resolutions to do more for others after the first of the year. We have lots of volunteer opportunities beginning in January and have conveniently scheduled our next training for Dec. 13. If you are looking to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold in the New Year, apply today and sign up for training before the holiday madness takes over! Learn more about program facilitator opportunities.

Help Girls "Work It Out!"
Have you ever seen the movie "Mean Girls?" Did you find yourself analyzing the relationships and wondering why some girls were just so mean? Girls Inc. has asked those same questions and is proud to offer a program called "Work It Out" to empower girls to acknowledge girl on girl violence as hurtful, analyze the contexts that shape these behaviors, and learn skills for navigating conflict. Discover more about "Work It Out" and other upcoming programs for girls.

"Tell A Girl" Tip of the Month

Tell a girl to walk right up to fear and show it who's the stronger of the two.
If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Friday, November 7, 2008

Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis Says Farewell to Two Key Staff

By Pat Wachtel, CEO

Director of Programs Carmen Rodriguez will spend her last day at Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis on Thursday, Nov. 13 as she makes plans to join her husband Alex in Florida. Although the date is not yet certain, Bevin Prater, vice president and chief operating officer, will also be leaving before year end as she and her husband make plans to relocate to Texas. Because they are so strong, smart, and bold, no one could seriously label Bevin or Carmen a "trailing spouse." However, that is reasonable shorthand for the major life transitions that they will begin very soon.



Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis is grateful to Bevin and Carmen for their amazing contributions of time and talent to this organization. Words cannot truly express how much we will miss them! Read more about their future plans and lasting legacies. Look for information about Girls Inc.'s new leadership staff, including our new vice president and chief operating officer, in next month's enewsletter!

What Does "Beauty" Mean to You?

By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

Girls Inc.'s participants have some nontraditional ideas about beauty. When we asked girls attending our recent summer camp what the word "beauty" means to them, they were full of ideas! Here is a sampling of their thoughts:
Alana (age 14) said, "My definition of beauty is to express myself through the things I love doing."
Chandler (age 9) said "Beauty to me is not how you look. It is about learning to thank your body and be healthy."
Autumn (age 13) said, "Beauty to me is loving yourself, taking care of yourself, and knowing you're cute without being airbrushed. It's feeling strong when sad and hard times come."
Watch other Girls Inc. participants redefine beauty in this short video!

Girls Connect with Rolls-Royce Engineers at Lunch Bunch

By Dana Bushouse, Coordinator of Volunteer and Intern Recruitment

On Oct. 20, Girls Inc. teamed up with Rolls-Royce and the Society of Women Engineers for a Lunch Bunch program teaching girls about careers in engineering. Volunteer mentors shared their careers and taught girls how to work as a team to build model helicopters comprised of candy and toothpicks!
Discover opportunities for your company to partner with Girls Inc. and teach girls about your exciting and nontraditional careers!

Are You Friends with Brianna Bold?


By Jennifer Baltz, Americorps VISTA E-Communications Specialist


Our strong, smart, and bold girls are now on Facebook! Show your support for Girls Inc. and stay involved by becoming a Facebook friend with Brianna Bold, one of our strong, smart, and bold girls. After logging in or signing up as a member, you can read Brianna's profile and leave comments or questions on her wall. Brianna also has lots of photos, videos, and Girls Inc. news for you to explore. Brianna shares on her profile that she enjoys self-defense classes, spreading media literacy, inspiring others to appreciate and accept their bodies. One of her favorite quotes is from Louisa May Alcott: "I'm not afraid of storms, for I'm learning to sail my ship." You can also keep up to date with us on Facebook by visiting our Fan Page.
If you missed our past two enewsletters, you can catch up with Sierra Strong and Serena Smart today!

Girls Inc.'s News You Can Use

Launch Party for Girls Inc.'s New Portal Technology
On Nov. 11, Girls Inc. will premiere the state-of-the-art extranet sites that are designed to facilitate communication between our organization and valued volunteers and community partners. Join us downtown at the Girls Inc. National Resource Center from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. to be among the first to test out this technology!

"By The Women, For The Girls" Campaign Kickoff
For girls today, growing up is like putting together a puzzle, and not every girl has all of the pieces she needs. Girls Inc. provides essential pieces to help each girl complete her puzzle, such as a puzzle piece of personal empowerment, another puzzle piece for a strong sense of self. What piece of the puzzle do you have to contribute to today's girls? What piece did you wish someone had provided for you when you were growing up? This month, Girls Inc. will launch an e-campaign to bring together a network of women virtually, in support of local girls. To participate in the campaign kickoff, contact Ashley Crockett-Lohr.

"Tell A Girl" Tip of the Month

Tell a girl her most attractive feature is her self-confidence.
If you take a moment to tell a girl all the remarkable things you see in her, not only will she believe you, she'll also start to believe in herself.

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Girls Express Bold Voices in Special Election!

By Annie Farrell, Americorps VISTA Fund Development Specialist

This summer, girls at Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis's summer camp discussed policies and issues that matter to them while learning about and engaging in the political process. Following these debates, girls registered and voted on the topics that they discussed. Hot topics that girls debated were:


  • Should the minimum age to obtain a driver's license be lowered to 9 years old?

  • Should elementary schools require 150 minutes of physical education per week?

  • Should school lunch menus only offer healthy options?

  • Should all students be required to wear school uniforms?

  • Should Indiana require that school notices be written in Spanish and English?

  • Should Indiana establish an Equal Pay Day to protect the right of women to receive equal pay for equal work?


Watch girls discuss the political process and cast their votes in our new YouTube video!



Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis encourages everyone to express their own bold voices and cast a vote - for whichever candidate they choose - in the November 4 election!

Volunteers Enjoy Strong, Smart, and Bold Dishes!

By Annie Farrell, Americorps VISTA Fund Development Specialist

In September, Girls Inc. volunteers and guests tasted strong, smart, and boldSM dishes at our Whole Flavors volunteer appreciation event! The event was hosted by the Carmel Whole Foods Market, and registered dietitian Annessa Chumbley of Flourish! demonstrated how to "bring out the strong, smart and boldSM" in everyday cooking by preparing three dishes based on Girls Inc's mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM! Check out her recipes for the featured dishes:

STRONG Cozy Curried Pumpkin Stew
SMART Squishy Chocolate Cake
BOLD Black Bean and Corn Quinoa

The Whole Foods event was the second in our ongoing series of appreciation events where Girls Inc. celebrates the volunteers who are key to the implementation of our mission. At these events, volunteers have the opportunity to interact with each other and share their experiences while enjoying fun activities. Get involved in upcoming volunteer opportunities! Watch for news of the next volunteer appreciation event in January 2009!





Are You Friends with Serena Smart?


By Jennifer Baltz, Americorps VISTA E-Communications Specialist

Our strong, smart, and boldSM girls are now on Facebook! Show your support for Girls Inc. and stay involved by becoming a Facebook friend with Serena Smart, one of our strong, smart, and bold girls. After logging in or signing up as a member, you can read Serena's profile and leave comments or questions on her wall. Serena also has lots of photos, videos, and Girls Inc. news for you to explore. Serena shares on her profile that she enjoys being herself, focusing on science, math, and technology, economic literacy, and safe babysitting. One of her favorite quotes is from Mary Catherine Bateson: "We are not what we know but what we are willing to learn." You can also keep up to date with us on Facebook by visiting our Fan Page. Last month, we featured Sierra Strong in our enewsletter. Look for Brianna Bold's profile in next month's edition!

Featured Supporter - The Indianapolis Foundation

By Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator

The Indianapolis Foundation recently awarded Girls Inc. a $75,000 grant for our innovative "hub" model of program delivery. In 2007, this model increased the number of girls served with our direct programs from a few hundred to 1,100!
Since 1916, The Indianapolis Foundation, a CICF affiliate, has ensured the quality of life in Marion County, Indiana continuously improves, and through their generosity to Girls Inc., more girls in more neighborhoods will benefit from our programming than ever before! Thank you to The Indianapolis Foundation for their support of our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and boldSM!

Girls Inc's "Go Green" October Tip


Always turn off your computer monitor when you leave your desk. Even screen savers consume energy. Turn off your monitor to conserve power. Better yet, shut down your computer and turn it off at the power strip.
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Tuesday, September 23, 2008

Greater Impact for Girls...

by Maddy Boesen, Americorps VISTA Evaluation Specialist

This fall, Girls Inc. is excited to work together with two partner schools to pilot “cohort” programming, in an attempt to enhance girls’ experience in an outreach setting. A typical cohort will be a group of 15-20 girls, who over the course of the school year will participate together in three or more Girls Incorporated programs. This model will allow girls to build positive friendships, be empowered as a group to support each other, and receive a more in-depth Girls Inc. experience.
This bold new programming system requires an innovative way of measuring our impact. To gauge our impact, we will be interviewing the people who know the girls best; parents and educators, about how the girls’ knowledge, skills and behavior change over the course of the school year. Stay tuned for updates on our journey into this exciting new territory!
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Volunteers - Get Ready, Set, Go!

by Dana Bushouse, Volunteer Coordinator

If you are ready to start inspiring Indianapolis girls to be strong, smart, and bold, here is your chance! We will be holding our next hands-on and interactive program facilitators training on Saturday, October 11th from 9am until 4pm. Please contact Dana with questions or to see how you can join Girls Inc. as a volunteer, sharing your skills and experience with the next generation!
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WFYI - Speaking of Women's Health


by Ashley Crockett-Lohr, Special Events Coordinator


WFYI and Speaking of Women’s Health presented Girls Incorporated® of Indianapolis with a generous $5,000 grant at their September 12th Speaking of Women’s Health Conference. Since 1998, WFYI has awarded Community Investment Grants to local organizations with a focus on enhancing the health of Central Indiana women and their families. This gift was given in support of our Bold, Empowered Girls programs, which teach girls how to keep themselves safe, while empowering them to resist gender stereotypes and negative messages they encounter in the media. Thank you to WFYI and Speaking of Women’s Health for their support of our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold!
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Are you Friends with Sierra Strong?


by Jennifer Baltz, Americorps VISTA E-Communications Specialist


Our strong, smart, and bold girls are now on Facebook! Show your support for Girls Inc. and stay involved by becoming a Facebook friend with Sierra Strong, one of our strong, smart, and bold girls. After logging in or signing up as a member, you can read Sierra’s profile and leave comments or questions on her wall. Sierra also has lots of photos, videos, and Girls Inc. news for you to explore. Sierra shares on her profile that she enjoys being herself, focusing on health and wellness, sisterhood, and communication. One of her favorite quotes from Eleanor Roosevelt is "Remember no one can make you feel inferior without your consent." You can also keep up to date with us on Facebook by visiting our Fan Page. Look for more information about our other two strong, smart, and bold girl profiles in upcoming enewsletters!
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2007 Annual Report


Our 2007 annual report is now available online! We want to take this opportunity to thank the many individuals and groups who invested their time, talent, and treasure to support essential programs for girls. If you notice any errors or omissions in the report, please contact Ashley Crockett-Lohr at 283-0086 ext. 1022.
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Friday, August 29, 2008

Touchstone Highlights

The Votes Are In – “We Vote: 88 in ’08” Touchstone Awards a Success!


Special Election


On August 6th, over 400 friends of Girls Inc. gathered at The Westin Indianapolis to celebrate the 2008 Touchstone Awards. Upon arriving at The Westin, guests were immersed in a special election hosted by Girls Inc.’s summer camp participants during their exhibit showcase. Guests were asked to exercise their right to vote by choosing their favorite exhibit.

Exhibits were themed around Girls Inc.’s “Girls’ Bill of Rights” which include such statements as girls have the right to be themselves and resist gender stereotypes, girls have the right to accept and appreciate their bodies, and girls have the right to have confidence in themselves and be safe in the world.



Thanks to our guests, over 1,130 votes were cast. After tabulating the votes, girls have the right to prepare for interesting work and economic independence was declared the winner!







Luncheon and Awards Ceremony


Co-chairs Christel DeHaan and Marni McKinney distributed Touchstone Awards to honorees Susan Brooks, Martha Lamkin, Judy O’Bannon, and Yvonne Perkins. Emcee Angela Ganote introduced each honoree with an anecdote about their political experience, and the four honorees delivered remarks to the guests and girls in attendance about political involvement, career successes, and striving to be strong, smart, and bold. Thanks to everyone who attended the 2008 Touchstone Awards and who cast their vote in our special election! View a slideshow of photos from the luncheon or to read more about the event.

2009 Save The Date

Please save the date for the 2009 Touchstone Awards luncheon and 40th Anniversary Celebration on August 6, 2009. We hope to see you there!

Girl Spotlight

Thirty girls spent two weeks constructing and decorating two soap box derby cars at Camp GEMS, a math and science specialty camp. On July 18th, the girls took their newly built cars for a race! Both teams faced off on a hot and thrilling day at Wilbur Shaw Derby Hill, the longest track in the country (1000 feet).

A supportive crowd of parents, siblings, donors, sponsors, and Girls Inc staff came to support the girls and watch an exciting event. Also in the crowd cheering the girls on was Sarah Mack, the national Soap Box Derby champion! As the sun got hotter, the heats got closer. Everyone wondered which team would win. Team 2 eventually won and the individual girl with the fastest time was Brita with an astonishing finish of 31 seconds! Congratulations to Brita, as well as all the girls who participated in Camp GEMS!

AmeriCorps*VISTA Highlight

Lizzy Bartlet began her year of service with Girls Inc. as an Americorps VISTA expansion specialist in June 2008. She is a 2008 graduate of DePauw University in Greencastle, IN where she earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology. A true lady, Lizzy enjoys watching classic movies such as Casablanca, Gone With the Wind, and An Affair to Remember. Lizzy’s year of service will consist of researching and helping to develop a plan for offering girl programs across Hendricks, Boone and Hamilton counties.

Are you connected to a school principal, executive director for a youth organization, head librarian, youth sports coach or similar person in Hendricks, Boone or Hamilton counties? Lizzy would love to chat more about who you know and what you know about youth in those counties, contact her at ebartelt@girslincindy.org.

Support Girls Inc. by Shopping!

Macy’s Shop for a Cause

On Saturday, September 20, Macy’s will hold its annual Shop for a Cause day. Support Girls Inc. of Indianapolis by purchasing a $5 Macy’s shopping pass – we keep 100% of the proceeds! Shoppers purchase $5 vouchers from Girls Inc; Girls Inc. keeps all proceeds, and shoppers with the voucher save 10-20% on most items and have the chance to win a $500 Macy’s shopping spree!
To purchase a Macy’s voucher, visit our website or contact us at 283-0086, ext. 1022 or acrockettlohr@girlsincindy.org. To benefit Girls Inc., you must purchase the voucher ahead of time.



JCPenney's Day of Giving Back

On Sunday, September 28, JCPenney is holding a Day of Giving Back fundraiser and sale. All stores will sell a $5 coupon for the two weeks leading up to their special sale, and all money from coupons sold at the JCPenney at 86th and Michigan Rd. will go to Girls Inc. of Indianapolis! Visit JCPenney next month for great sales and to support a strong, smart, and bold cause!

Tuesday, July 15, 2008

Join Us at the 2008 Touchstone Awards


Please join us on Wednesday, August 6 from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at The Westin Indianapolis for the 2008 Touchstone Awards!

"We Vote: 88 in '08!"
As 2008 is the 88th year since the nineteenth amendment was ratified – and is also a major election year – Girls Inc. will celebrate women’s right to vote at the Touchstone Awards with our “We Vote: 88 in ’08!” theme. At the luncheon, we will commemorate trailblazing suffragists like Susan B. Anthony and Alice Paul whose battle earned this right for all women and we will honor four Indianapolis women – Susan Brooks, Martha Lamkin, Judy O’Bannon, and Yvonne Perkins -- who are trailblazers themselves.

We Voted -- Now It's Your Turn!
Earlier this summer, Girls Inc. hosted a mock election where girls cast ballots for/against a youth-related issue. These first-time voters checked in with voter registration, marked their vote in a private booth, and submitted their ballot for tabulation. Now it’s your turn! Guests at the Touchstone Awards will have the opportunity to support our summer camp participants by casting votes for their favorite exhibit during the girl exhibit showcase. The exhibit showcase kicks off at 11:00 a.m. and will close promptly at 11:45 for lunch. Don’t miss what many say is their favorite part of the Touchstone Awards – the chance to interact with our strong, smart, and boldSM girls!



Thank you to the leading sponsors of the 2008 Touchstone Awards!



Running Mate Sponsors




  • Christel DeHaan Family Foundation, in honor of the children and families of Christel House International


  • Citizens Gas & Coke Utility


  • Ivy Tech Community College of Indiana


  • Lilly Endowment, Inc.


  • Lumina Foundation for Education


  • Roche


Party Chair Sponsors





  • Baker & Daniels LLP


  • Eugene & Marilyn Glick Family Foundation


  • The Kroger Company


  • The National Bank of Indianapolis


  • State Farm

Want to attend?
Tickets and sponsorship opportunities are still available!
Purchase tickets here, or contact Ashley Crockett-Lohr at (317) 283-0086 ext. 1022 or at acrockettlohr@girlsincindy.org for more information.

Girl Spotlight


Simone Smith – Junior Counselor

Simone joined Girls Inc. in June 2008 as a junior counselor for the eight-week summer camp. She is a rising senior at Broad Ripple High School, and she is involved in orchestra, dance team, volleyball, and musical theatre in school. Simone attended Girls Inc.’s summer camp from 2000-2004. Her favorite colors of pink and green are also the colors of the Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, which she hopes to pledge while in college.






Deborah Randall – Junior Counselor


Deborah joined Girls Inc. in June 2008 as a junior counselor for the eight-week summer camp. She is a rising sophomore at Warren Central High School, and she hopes to one day get her Ph.D. in psychology. Deborah attended summer camp at Girls Inc. in 2006 and 2007. A true political junkie, Deborah is fascinated by the government and this year’s presidential election.

Girls Helping Girls


Girls Inc. members Takeisha Carey, Deborah Randall, and Courtney Clark developed a plan to help other girls within their community. Together they applied for, and received, a Youth As Resources Grant to enhance the facilities at the Garrard House. The Garrard House is a group home for girls 14- 21 years of age on the near east side of Indianapolis.
After touring the Garrard House, the Girls Inc. ladies realized that new linens were needed for the bedrooms and also noted that the House did not have a functional recreation room. “As a girl, your bedroom is your personal place to express yourself and your emotions…. having an area to converse with other people is equally important,” the girls explained.
Therefore, with the monies that they received from the grant, the girls purchased new linens, pillows, comforters, alarm clocks, trashcans, and desk lamps for the bedrooms. The girls also took on the task of revamping the basement into a recreational room complete with bookshelves, games, bean bags, new furniture covers, a vanity area, and a group designed mural.
On behalf of the girls at Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis, we would like to publicly thank Annie Smith and the Youth As Resources team for the youth grant. As one of the many organizations chosen during the 41st cycle, we consider it a privilege and an honor.

Americorps VISTA Spotlight

The Americorps VISTA project will develop operational systems for Girls Inc. that will support the sustainability and efficiency of our new outreach model of service delivery, which is based on the development of neighborhood hubs. Over a three-year period, this project will engage volunteers to expand our educational programming to Central Indiana girls in four counties, preparing them to achieve financial self-sufficiency and escape poverty.


Maddy Boesen – Evaluation Specialist VISTA Maddy began her year of service with Girls Inc. as the evaluation specialist VISTA in June 2008. She is a 2008 graduate of Ball State University where she earned a bachelor’s degree in anthropology. Maddy is admittedly quite the whiz with a spool of yarn — she enjoys both knitting and crocheting in her spare time.

While working with Girls Inc., Maddy will focus on two main initiatives:
Develop qualitative/quantitative measurements to assess the effectiveness of the agency’s program model
Develop qualitative/quantitative measurements to assess the effectiveness of the agency’s volunteer instructor model

Girls Inc. Transparency Taskforce

In February, Girls Incorporated vice chairwoman Nancy McMillan led a task force to look at our public accountability and transparency. Board members Lisa McKinney- Goldner, Caroline Altman-Smith, and Harolyn Watts assisted in the review. The conclusion of this group was that we needed one page on our website where someone could find financial information, program outcomes, and our new Statement of Ethics approved by the board in June. Please click here to see more of their work!

JCPenney Afterschool Round-Up

When you shop at JCPenney between August 6 and 17 and round your purchase up to the next whole dollar, the JCPenney Afterschool Fund will donate the difference to Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis to provide children in this community with access to life-enriching afterschool programs.So, from August 6 through August 17, remember to Round-Up for kids at JCPenney!
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