HOLYOKE — Girls Inc. of the Valley is returning once again with its annual Spirit of Girls event on Friday, April 28, to showcase the nonprofit and the work they provide to girls in the area.

Girls Inc. of the Valley’s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold by providing them the opportunity to develop and achieve their full potential. The nonprofit empowers, educates and guides girls forward, helping them navigate the challenges in their lives through intentional and effective programming both in and after school.

Spirit of Girls has been Girls Inc. of the Valley’s signature fundraising event for more than a decade. Traditionally the fundraiser takes place in an event space where the work done by the nonprofit is highlighted for the audience to share and inspire those unfamiliar with the work they do. This year’s event will take place at the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame in Springfield from 5 to 7 p.m. and it is an invite only event, not open to the public.

Money raised at the event will go toward continued support of summer programming and other programming for the nonprofit. Girls Inc. is committed to reaching more youth throughout the valley with a target of 1,000 youth as they near opening their new headquarters in Holyoke.

“It’s great to celebrate in Springfield, where our footprint has steadily increased,” said Executive Director Suzanne Parker in a Girls Inc. March newsletter.

Director of Development and Communications Jess Colson spoke with Reminder Publishing and said there was much excitement for this year’s Spirit of Girls fundraiser as it is the first time it will be run in its true form since the coronavirus pandemic.

Colson added this year’s event would be in the afternoon as well to avoid any girls in the program having to miss out due to school hours.

“It’s always a one-hour program we stick to because we know people’s time is really valuable. We’re inviting people in for kind of a cocktail half hour before we go into the full program,” Colson said. “At the event people can expect to hear from students in our programs, from alumni who’ve gone through the programs who are out in the workforce or in college communities now, as well as some of our volunteer leaders who uplift all the work that we’re doing and disseminate it to the communities.”

Girls Inc. of the Valley is looking forward to the upcoming year of programming as well, thanks to a new headquarters building for the organization that will be at 40 Hampden St. in Holyoke. While the renovations are ongoing, Colson said the funds raised at Spirit of Girls 2023 will support bringing more students to the building this summer for programming.

“We’re going to be opening it for the first time for use [this summer], the first floor will be finished so we want to fill that building with as many kids as possible to be able to take advantage of the awesome summer programs we’ll have,” Colson said. “All funds raised will go toward free summer programs for youth in the valley.”

One program within Girls Inc. of the Valley made possible through their fundraising efforts is the “Eureka!” program. Eureka is Girls Inc. of the Valley’s intensive, five-year STEM-based program for rising eighth graders all the way to their senior year in high school. The Eureka “scholars,” as they’re called, study with professors on campus at University of Massachusetts Amherst in their classrooms and labs, out in the field and beyond.

The program also builds skills and confidence by incorporating physical fitness, personal development and college and career readiness. It is considered a “whole student” approach and the program’s impact accumulates each year.

Through the program, young girls can explore STEM opportunities at UMass, plan for academic future, earn money through internships, learn about career paths, meet new friends and gain confidence as they grow up.

Reminder Publishing spoke with student and Girls Inc. member Laura Decker, a senior in high school who has gone through the bulk of the Eureka program. She said it changed her for the better as a growing teen.

Decker said she first found out about the program in middle school and said it has been a “crazy” ride ever since.

“My first year at UMass was the most amazing thing I’ve done to date,” Decker said. “It was just like a mix of work and fun and a new experience that I just never interacted with before. It opened me up because I was really, really uncertain about the whole five-year commitment thing but it’s not as bad as I thought it was going to be. Most of the opportunities are absolutely amazing.”

Decker said her time in the program has also benefited her greatly in figuring out her future plans after high school, adding “I was uncertain for this, but it helped me figure it out.”

One opportunity that sticks out for Decker was a summer internship she was able to do at the Springfield Science Museum, a position that she loved so much she has since still volunteered there consistently.

“I love it, it committed me to social work because I’d never worked with kids before and that kind of public speaking role – it was an excellent opportunity,” Decker said. “I’m not afraid of so many things because of it, because I’ve had that one experience with something that worked out really well.”
Decker said she feels like her story is a great example for what could be for many young girls in the area. She added being in the teen advocacy program as well has helped her become a “actual natural part of my community, which I never was before.”

“I know in the very beginning it took a lot of weeding out to figure out the people who would actually stay and stick with the program, but I think anyone who made it to year five, I think they could testify roughly the same thing,” Decker said.

Decker and other girls in different Girls Inc. programming will be at the Spirit of Girls fundraiser to share more about their stories and experiences with the nonprofit that has led to their development as growing teens and how the organization helped prepare them for life after high school.

For Colson, working with young girls in the valley has been rewarding and her and the team at Girls Inc. are happy to be a successful part of bridging the youth with resources to help them be prepared for life after school. She hopes this year’s Spirit of Girls provides more great examples of success stories from the girls directly impacted from the program and shows once again the value Girls Inc. brings in the valley.

“We know that the students are born with everything they need to be successful. We see ourselves as a bridge to the resources so for people to come into the space who may not know Girls Inc. yet but are looking to get more familiar, we’re hoping they’re going to feel so inspired to sign up to be a part of this larger Girls Inc. family, so that we can bring even more to the table for the students who are literally so amazing,” Colson said. “I’m so excited for people to hear their stories.”

Interested sponsors for the event are welcomed to fill out a Spirit of Girls Sponsorship Form at girlsincvalley.org. Those who will not be at the event but are still interested in donating to Girls Inc. of the Valley as a whole can also do so on their website.