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Girls Incorporated of Alameda County
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Every girl has the right to look forward to interesting work and economic independence. This belief is the cornerstone of Girls Incorporated, a national research, education and advocacy organization with activities across the U.S. Its stated mission is to "prepare girls to lead productive, self-directed and independent lives."
This same principle is the impetus behind Girl$ense, the economic literacy component of the WOW! Program for girls grades 3 through 5. Girl $ense focuses on under-served girls in the Oakland and San Leandro public schools, most of whom are Asian-, Latina- and African-Americans living in households earning less than $30,000.
A key goal of the initiative is to help girls gain self-confidence about financial and business matters. It accomplishes this by emphasizing:
- After-school programs that introduce basic financial concepts
- Training in money management skills
- Hands-on experience developing small business ventures and understanding product marketing
With the support of Merrill Lynch, 56 girls at Wilson Elementary in San Leandro and Lockwood Elementary in Oakland completed a range of challenging and exciting economic literacy initiatives in 2003. Each site created its own money, saved it in a WOW! Bank and spent it (wisely) at the WOW! Store. Girls also learned about the value of money and gained exposure to the steps involved in operating a small business through the Soul Girls Restaurant Project.
Merrill Lynch funding supports the Girl $ense and WOW! program to help girls gain self-confidence about financial and business matters.
"We are extremely excited to partner with Merrill Lynch to enhance the economic literacy, well being and future success of under-served young women in our community."
- Pat Loomes, Executive Director
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