Girls Inc
 |
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| Founded | 1864 |
|---|---|
| Type | Non-Profit Organization |
| Location | |
| Origins | Waterbury, Connecticut |
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Area served
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United States of America |
|
Key people
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Judy Vredenburgh, President & CEO |
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Revenue
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8.449 million USD |
| Slogan | Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold |
| Website | girlsinc.org |
Girls Inc. is a United States 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that encourages all girls to be "Strong, Smart, and Bold" through direct service and advocacy. The organization equips girls with the skills to navigate through economic, gender, and social barriers and to grow up as independent individuals.
The Girls Inc. (Girls Club of America) movement started in New England (Waterbury, Connecticut) after the Civil War to help young women who had migrated from rural communities in search of job opportunities. It was founded in 1864 (over 153 years ago as of 2017) to help and support girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War. In 1990 the Girls Club of america changed their name to Girls Inc.Across the decades, they adapted to meet specific environmental challenges girls and young women faced, working in partnership with schools and communities.
There were many people who helped and contributed to the start of Girls Inc, but the most recognized person is Rachel Harris Johnson. She founded the Girls Inc clubs of America in 1945 and was the president for 7 years. She was the secretary of the Worcester Girls Club, that her mother helped established and she became president and started to help plan for the national group. The Girls Clubs have activities that emphasize physical, emotional, and educational development. Johnson retired in 1952 and later died at the age of 95 in a nursing home.
The first girls club opened in 1864 and has been nationally recognized since 1945. Girls Inc. has a network of local organizations in the United States and Canada. Affiliates can be found across the United States and Canada. Girls Inc. recently expanded to Chicago, launching a Girls Inc. of Chicago local organization.
Girls Inc. is governed by a dual governance structure, which is made up of the National Council and the National Board. The president and CEO of Girls Inc. is Judy Vredenburgh. Prior to joining Girls Inc. in 2010, she served as President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and Senior Vice President of Revenue Development and Marketing at the March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation.
The National Council generally makes decisions concerning the purpose, goals, and public policies of the organization. Generally there are almost 300 voting members, but rarely do even most of them come to the meeting. They also elect the National Board, the officers of the Council and the Board Development Committee. They also vote to amend the bylaws of the organization, which requires a two-thirds majority. The council meets every two years and at least 75 delegates must be present for the meeting to be called to order 45 days before each council meeting, the agenda and items to be voted upon are sent out.
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