WEST CHESTER, PA (February 18, 2020) – Members of Chester County Fund for Women and Girls (CCFWG)’s Girls Advisory Board (GAB) program awarded $19,000 in grant funding to five local non-profit agencies serving women and girls. A nationally recognized girls’ grantmaking program, GAB provides local high school girls entering 10th or 11th grade with an opportunity to learn firsthand about the deep and varied needs in their communities and equip themselves with the skills needed to address them. Over the past 16 years, GAB has awarded over $240,000 to agencies that target the needs of women and girls through innovative services to tackle issues like poverty, illiteracy, violence, homelessness, mental illness, teen pregnancy and substance abuse.
This year’s GAB class accepted grant applications in the following priority areas:
- Substance abuse and addiction
- Mental health
- Sexual assault, domestic violence and human trafficking
First-year girls catch up with State Representative and longtime GAB supporter Carolyn Comitta (center). The group is joined by CCFWG Executive Director Michelle Legaspi Sanchez (second from right) and GAB intern Kim Cowley (far right).
Last week, all GAB members, their families, CCFWG Board and committee members, supporters, and this year’s grantees gathered at the Chester County Historical Society to hear the girls reflect on their experiences from the year at the GAB Wrap-Up Celebration.
“GAB was one of the best, eye-opening, learning experiences of my life. I got to meet amazing people and help my local community and learn about grants and then apply that knowledge in an amazing place. I learned so many clever people skills and networking through GAB and will carry this knowledge for the rest of my life,” noted one participant.
GAB Coordinator Javonna Wylie (far left) recognizes this year’s members.
GAB members also created a video reflection of their experience, which can be viewed here.
The 2019-20 GAB grant recipients are:
Alianzas de Phoenixville
$5,000 to support its Mariposas Women’s Program that provides clinical trauma counseling, a women’s support and sewing group, and an English tutoring program for immigrant women and girls living in Phoenixville
The Crime Victims’ Center of Chester County
$3,500 to provide direct services – such as effective professional and personal advocacy – to their clients, more than half of whom have experienced sexual violence
Domestic Violence Center of Chester County
$5,000 to provide safe housing and relocation for human trafficking victims, among other services, to help prevent and reduce domestic violence
Gateway Horseworks
$2,500 to support the Stable Pathways program that offers equine-assisted therapy to women in pre-release from prison
HIAS PA
$3,000 to support domestic violence legal services for low-income immigrant victims of domestic violence living in Chester County
SAVE THE DATE: Second Annual Girls in Action Summit
Inspired by the GAB program, CCFWG will host our second annual Girls in Action Summit on May 9, 2020, to unite high school girls throughout Chester County for an empowering day of action. Attendees will have a chance to connect with their peers, meet leaders of local non-profits, build teamwork and leadership skills, and hear from inspiring keynote speaker Mo’ne Davis, college athlete and former Little League Baseball pitcher. She was one of two girls who played in the 2014 Little League World Series, and was the first girl to earn a win and pitch a shutout in Little League World Series History. The Summit will take place at the Melton Center in West Chester. Stay tuned for details. For Summit sponsorship information, please contact Dana Wiley at dwiley@ccfwg.org.
For more about the GAB program, and our new GirlGov Chester County program, please visit our website at ccwomenandgirls.org/girls-programming/.