Bold Voices eNews

What We're Thankful For!!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:48:13 PST

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:37:38 PST

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!

Contact Lizzy Bartelt, Volunteer Engagement Specialist, to sign up!

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:34:56 PST

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:30:56 PST

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:24:36 PST

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:19:50 PST

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 08:49:14 PST

Sign up to volunteer with Girls Inc!
Support Girls Inc. by purchasing Dove® products! Enter your UPC on Dove.com, select Girls Inc. as your charity of choice, and Dove will donate $1 to our self-esteem programs.
Check out our 2008 annual report, which is now available online!

Welcome Home, Girls Inc!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:04:36 PDT

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.

Get a sneak peek of our new home by checking out a slideshow of pre- and post-renovation photos!

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:06:07 PDT

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!

3. Check out our list of volunteer opportunities and complete a volunteer application today!

Please help us reach our goal of 40 volunteers in 40 days!

Bulldogs In Our Streets!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:43:43 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:38:24 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:08:59 PDT

Pamela Ford

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

Tell A Girl Tip

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 07:28:49 PDT

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 08:09:44 PDT

Participate in Macy's Shop For A Cause Day on October 17, 2009! Purchase a $5 shopping pass from Girls Inc, and you'll get 20% your entire purchase that day!
Sign up to volunteer with Girls Inc!
Support United Way of Central Indiana by participating in the 2009 fundraising campaign!

40 and Fabulous!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:09:25 PDT

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.

Watch the official video from the 2009 Touchstone Awards, which features messages from many of our 40th anniversary honorees!

Miss the big event? Check out photos from the celebration online and learn more about Girls Inc. of Indianapolis' annual Touchstone Awards!

Girls Inc.'s Got Game!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:08:22 PDT

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!

Wed. 9/2 @ 7pm vs. Phoenix (Group ID: girlsinc)
Sun. 9/6 @ 4pm vs. Washington (Group ID: girlsinc)

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:09:08 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:09:43 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:10:11 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:10:26 PDT

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

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:10:46 PDT

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...

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 07:07:26 PDT

Get your tickets to an Indiana Fever game! (Remember to use Group ID: girlsinc)
Sign up to volunteer with Girls Inc!
Check out photos from the 2009 Touchstone Awards and 40th Anniversary Celebration!

It's Our Party and You're Invited!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:32:37 PDT

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:12:50 PDT

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"

noreply@blogger.com (Girls Incorporated of Indianapolis) — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 10:05:13 PDT

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!