Girls Inc. receives grants to bolster programs from joint COVID-19 Response Initiative

Sarasota Herald-Tribune
·2 min read
Girls Inc. empowers girls ages 5 and up to be self-confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals by delivering research-based, age-appropriate, after-school and summer educational and sports programs.
Girls Inc. empowers girls ages 5 and up to be self-confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals by delivering research-based, age-appropriate, after-school and summer educational and sports programs.

Despite financial challenges from the pandemic, Girls Inc. of Sarasota has been able to continue providing life-changing programming thanks to support for the COVID-19 Response Initiative from the Gulf Coast Community Foundation and Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation.

While the core elements of the program, including research-based curriculum, trusted mentoring relationships, and a pro-girl environment, have remained constant, the pandemic has impacted the organization and the families it serves dramatically.

“We have seen the percentage of girls we serve on scholarship double since 2019, and we know that the majority of our families are experiencing significant hardship due to the fallout of the pandemic," Girls Inc. president and CEO Angie Stringer said. "The families we are currently serving have been some of our highest need families.”

At the start of last summer, both Gulf Coast and the Barancik Foundation provided Girls Inc. with grants to cover the increased need for summer camp scholarships.

“Many families in our region cannot afford after-school care," Gulf Coast president and CEO Mark Pritchett said. "Girls Inc. of Sarasota not only provides a safe and caring environment for girls to grow and thrive, but they also provide critical services to families in need.”

Girls Inc. fulfills its mission of empowering girls ages 5 and up to be self-confident, responsible, and well-rounded individuals by delivering research-based, age-appropriate, after-school and summer educational and sports programs. For more information, visit GirlsIncSRQ.org.

The Gulf Coast Community Foundation is the philanthropic home of over 950 families, individuals, businesses, and organizations that have established charitable funds in the areas of health and human services, civic and economic development, education, arts and culture, and the environment. Learn more at GulfCoastCF.org.

The Charles & Margery Barancik Foundation awards grants in Sarasota and beyond in the areas of education, humanitarian causes, arts and culture, the environment, and medical research. For more information, visit barancikfoundation.org.

Submitted by Ella Lewis

This article originally appeared on Sarasota Herald-Tribune: Girls Inc. gains grants to bolster joint COVID-19 Response Initiative