Despite all the annual fundraising events canceled due to the pandemic, Girls, Inc manages to successfully move forward, providing the deserved assistance to the 4,000 girls whose lives are positively impacted every year. Girls, Inc featured the “My Virtual Reality” luncheon for the first time. The event was host by Bella, a sixteen-year-old advocate, and ambassador along with a celebrity chef. An online auction and event took place one week before the locally inspired lunch delivered to attendees’ doorsteps. The event’s Co-Chairs were Janet and Mike Michels and Chef Jamie Gwen, who together encompass over 23 years of support for Girls Inc. and are vital components of the Girls Inc. team.
“My Virtual Reality” luncheon exceeded all expectations raising $466,000.
Gilrs, Inc offers round holistic, compensatory, and intentional programming focusing on STEM, financial literacy, sound body image, healthy relationships, college, and career readiness. The funds raised will help Girls Inc. provide online programming, virtual education, and outreach to its girls to ensure they are safe and are not experiencing any loss of learning.
Lucy Santana, CEO of Girls Inc. of Orange County. “It warms my heart that after the year we’ve had, people are still able to be so selfless and provide support to these young girls. My team has especially amazed me. In March, they began making calls to girls to see if they were getting the meals they needed and had the technology and the internet to participate in school. On top of that, and after just one week, we opened our YouTube channel and began creating and uploading videos that girls could watch from home with topics ranging from mental health and reading to creative ways to reduce stress and stay focused. From there, we implemented all of our virtual summer programmings online via Canvas that was hugely successful.”
