News from Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County

We have just received a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator!!!! Extracting language from the letter I received yesterday from the CEO of the rating company, Ken Berger states, "Based on the most recent financial information available, we have calculated a new rating for your organization. We are proud to announce Girls Inc. of Sarasota County has earned our 4-star rating for its ability to efficiently manage and grow its finances. Approximately a quarter of the charities we evaluate have received our highest rating, indicating that Girls Inc. of Sarasota County executes its mission in a fiscally responsible way, and outperforms most other charities in America. This "exceptional" designation from Charity Navigator differentiates Girls Inc. of Sarasota County from its peers and demonstrates to the public it is worthy of their trust. Forbes, Business Week, and Kiplinger's Financial Magazine, among others, have profiled and celebrated our unique method of applying data-driven analysis to the charitable sector."

We are very proud of this designation and have worked diligently to achieve this level of excellence. Thank you Sarasota for helping us achieve this award.

Stephania Feltz

Executive Director

Barefoot Beach Ball

Kick your shoes off and join us for an evening of casual fun. Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County is bringing back a classic...the Barefoot Beachball Bash. It's been ten years since the last time we celebrated on the beach with this fun early evening event and this year promises to be just what we all need...some rest and relaxation at the beach. Join us on November 7, 2009 from 5-8pm at the Longboat Key Club and Resort.

Watch the sunset as you enjoy cocktails and beach bites. Dance to the sound of steel drums and beach music as we take you back to the days when the sun never set. When Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello ruled the beach playing beach ball bingo. Proceeds from the evening benefit Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County. Tickets are $75 or $125 for VIP. Call Patti Eisemann at 366-6646 x 211.

Growing Great Girls

On Friday, Sept 11, twelve middle school girls from Girls Incorporated of Sarasota County participated in a Day of Service that focused on creating change in the community and encouraging girls to recognize the value of volunteerism. Girls ages 11-14 selected the beach clean up project in order to serve their local community.

Girls Inc. of Sarasota County is one of forty Girls Inc. organizations across the United States that held a youth-led United We Serve Day of Service in 2009. Girls Inc. organizations worked with the girls they serve to choose and put into action projects to address the needs of their own communities, including city, beach, and park beautification efforts, a nonviolence communication campaign, urban farming, and local environmental awareness.

"We are so proud of our girls for enthusiastically answering the call for a Day of Service," said Joyce Roch�, national Girls Inc. President and CEO. "They have demonstrated true leadership and dedication in selecting and implementing projects that benefit their families, communities, and country."

This summer, girls at Girls Inc of Sarasota learned about United We Serve Day and brainstormed areas of need in the community. They noticed that the summer months brought extra traffic through local beach and with that more litter. The Beach Clean up was a natural fit for the girls. "Our girls recognized that our local beaches are treasured and need to be cared for by all. Their ability to recognize the importance of keeping our beaches clean shows how connected they are to the needs of our community," said Stephania Feltz, executive director of Girls Inc. of Sarasota County.

September 11, 2009 marked the first milestone in the United We Serve initiative, President Obama's nationwide initiative to create a sustained, collaborative, and focused effort to meet community needs. The day was an opportunity for all Americans to recommit to volunteering throughout the year.

United We Serve is President Obama's national call to service challenging all Americans to engage in sustained, collaborative, and focused service in their communities. United We Serve is being led by the Corporation for National and Community Service, a federal agency that improves lives and strengthens communities though volunteering and service. For more information, visit www.Serve.gov.

Girls On the Move

Girls Inc. outreach had a busy summer. In addition to our own summer programs, outreach staff traveled to summer camps and programs throughout Sarasota County implementing Operation SMART, Media Literacy and Girls Circle, serving over 200 girls in July and August. A special thanks for support provided by The Community Foundation of Sarasota County Kathleen K. Catlin Fund, Gulf Coast Community Foundation of Venice, The Plantation Foundation of Venice, Florida and Sarasota County Government.

She's On the Money!
money talks

This afterschool program kicked off with the National Girls Inc curriculum, Economic Literacy. This program teaches money management, investment, and an introduction to economics. Girls ages 5- 14 are receiving the tools to be economically independent. Like all Girls Inc curriculum, Economic Literacy includes age-appropriate components: She's on the Money's for Kindergarten- 3rd grades; Dollars, Sense and MeSM for 4th and5th graders; Equal Earners, Savvy Spenders' for middle school grades.
Girls ofall ages have several opportunities identify the difference between wants and needs and explore how their personal life careers goals will help them achieve economic independence.

Girls Inc. Grants -September Grants

$950 Sarasota County Medical Society Alliance Foundation for science supplies

$15,000 Rays Baseball Foundation - sports program

Thank you Girls Inc. Supporters

Donors Sept. 1 - 29, 2009
Lisa Cafarelli
Kim Caverly
Kimblie Cook
CS&L CPA
Cherie DiNoia
Charles Duff
everything but the girl
Colleen Ferguson
Christine & Thomas Foor
Grace Carlson Studios
Debra Hardin
Lisa Kennedy
Livingston, Patterson, Strickland & Siegel, P.A.
Pam & Les McCurdy
PamelaMulvaney
Helene & C. William Myers
Emily & Julian Parry
Sheila & Roger Pies
SandraRhodus
Jessica Richardson
Lynne Roberts
Sarasota County Medical Society Alliance Foundation Inc.
Cindi Smith
Blayne Thompson
United Way of Sarasota County, Inc.
Sherry & Dan Watts
Kristine & Steve White

Want to Get Involved in Girls Inc.?

We have volunteer opportunities including homework help, mentoring and classroom assistance. Contact Kay Mathers at 366-6646 x207 for more information.