girls inc. annual report 2006

from the chair of the board
Girls Incorporated donors and board
members bring a remarkable level of
commitment to the work of inspiring all
girls. Their investment in helping Girls Inc.
achieve our vision of empowered girls and
an equitable society makes growth and
innovation not just possible but certain.
As Girls Inc. begins implementation of
our 2007–2011 business plan [see page 4],
I want first to acknowledge those who
took part in the plan’s creation. Girls Inc.
national staff and board members, along
with executives from Girls Inc. member
organizations, prioritized goals and
strategies for reaching them. The process
was supported by a grant from the Lilly
Endowment and took advantage of the
pro-bono professional services of Deloitte
Consulting LLP and Avon Products, Inc.
Girls Inc. is grateful to the diverse stakeholders
who considered every detail of
the plan that will guide our work over the
next five years.
The result of their dedication is a
plan that focuses on growth in an area
where Girls Inc. knows it has a significant,
positive impact: providing direct services
to girls ages 6 to 18 wherever Girls Inc.
programs are offered. This report provides
insight into the business plan Girls Inc.
will follow as we increase, enhance, and
deepen the impact of Girls Inc. programs
and philosophy in girls’ daily lives.
One example of Girls Inc. expansion
efforts is the Latina Initiative [see page 6],
which addresses rising numbers of Latinos
immigrating to the United States or moving
into areas where Girls Inc. has a strong
presence. Thanks to funding from the
Goizueta Foundation and contributions
of time and expertise from the Latina
Advisory Board—made up of youth development
professionals, executive directors
of Girls Inc. member organizations, Girls
Inc. Alumnae, and other champions for
Latina rights and visibility—Girls Inc. has
completed an update of existing Spanishlanguage
materials and created new
resources for use throughout the Girls Inc.
network. Girls Inc. thanks the board for
joining us in making Latino families aware
of Girls Inc. as a welcoming place, where
girls can find support for educational,
athletic, and personal endeavors, and
where families can remain involved.
Girls Inc. has also benefited from the
financial support and participation of
women business owners and financial leaders.
By taking part in Girls Inc. Corporate
Camp SM for Entrepreneurs in partnership
with the Goldman Sachs Foundation [see
page 10], these women offer girls a rare
chance to present and refine their business
plans with the guidance and reassurance
of accomplished women in the field.
Girls Inc. also thanks those who lent
their time to shaping the “Strong Minds,
Strong Bodies” initiative [see page 8]. The
Coca-Cola Foundation provided funding to
launch this important effort and representatives
from the University of New Mexico
School of Medicine and the National Eating
Disorders Association are among those
who steered creation of a programmatic
and public education effort that takes the
best of what Girls Inc. does to promote
girls’ health and builds on it, while addressing
the options (or lack thereof) available to
girls for eating well and enjoying physical
and mental challenges.
Finally, Girls Inc. expresses its heartfelt
thanks to Warren and Susie Buffett
for their creativity and constant flow
of ideas to help Girls Inc. capture the
attention of potential donors, allies, and
advocates for girls.
Thank you, as well, for your continued
interest and investment in the Girls Inc.
mission of inspiring all girls to be strong,
smart, and bold.
Janice L. Warne
Chair, Board of Directors
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