Escondido, Calif. – May 19, 2020 – Girls Inc. of San Diego County (GISD) announced it has received a 3-year $400,000 grant from Girls Inc. national, funding the appointment of nonprofit leader Sandra Ainslie as the full-time CEO of the San Diego Girls Inc. affiliate. The grant will fund the expansion of the organization’s program and staff team while enabling 450 more underserved girls in San Diego County to participate in life-changing programs at no cost to them or their families.
A strong advocate for youth for more than 20 years, Sandra has a track record of building and leading innovative youth organizations and programs. In her new role, Sandra will help GISD increase its impact in the region and will work to further develop the chapter’s organizational strategy and financial growth.
“Girls Inc. has been serving girls in San Diego County for more than 50 years,” said Sandra Ainslie, CEO of Girls Inc. of San Diego County. “It’s incredible that now hundreds of more girls across the county will have the opportunity to experience Girls Inc. programs as we grow the organization’s presence across the county. We have a vision for a future where girls in San Diego have the support, the resources, the skills and the confidence they need to be smart, strong and bold.”
In its mission to support the safety and well-being of girls, the organization is hosting weekly, research-based program classes focused on STEM, mental and physical wellness, college and job readiness. Girls also have access to homework and one-on-one support via phone, text, email and web-based conferences.
“With the support of Girls Inc. programming, girls gain important skills, confidence to succeed, have the support they need to safely process their feelings and fears, as well as develop a vision for their success at school and in life,” said Sandra.
In collaboration with the school site, nonprofits and other community partners, Girls Inc. of San Diego County provides no-cost programming to girls ages 8 to 18 from underserved communities. The comprehensive Girls Inc. approach to developing the whole girl equips girls to navigate gender, economic and social barriers and grow up healthy, educated and independent.
Girls Inc.’s research-based programs inspire girls to consider professional avenues, pursue college or vocational training, so they can break the chain of poverty. Programs are delivered in a pro-girl environment and concentrate on economic literacy, physical and mental wellness, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), media literacy, leadership, community action and resisting peer pressure.
“San Diego can do so much for the girls in this community. Ultimately we want San Diego to be a community that is open to and receives women, and women of color, in leadership positions,” Sandra said.
About Girls Inc. of San Diego County
Girls Inc. of San Diego County inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold by providing hundreds of girls each year with life-changing support and real solutions to the unique issues girls face. By providing no-cost, research-based programming the organization helps girls in the county overcome gender, economic, and social barriers so they may see college as attainable, resist peer pressure and explore professional fields in STEM. (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) that have to-date been nontraditional for women.
For more than 50 years, the nonprofit organization has supported high-need girls with no-cost programming to help them succeed in life. To support Girls Inc. of San Diego County, visit www.girlsincsd.org.
Media Contact:
Carla Vallone, Marketing Chair
Girls Inc. of San Diego County
Direct: 858-922-5608