stronGExecutive Director Messagealumna profi le: Karen n.honors: anna a. & tahis a. Girls inc. champion: Maryan schall

sMartstaff spotlight: Jessica Wetzel

Mariachi encuentro

Volunteer spotlight: heidi bautista

2017-18 Program Partners

boldeureka! cohort two Graduates

summer camp & Young Writers camp

Women of inspiration

legacy society

WITH YOu IN HER CORNER, she Will sUcceedsprinG/sUMMer 2018 neWsletter

IN THIS ISSuE:

2 ■ Girls inc. of carpinteria

a mESSaGE froM oUreXecUtiVe director

BOaRD Of TRuSTEES

stefanie herrington, President

theresa huerta, Vice-President

diane Wondolowski, Treasurer

dr. patricia Madrigal, Secretaryterri allison • Kevin baird

John cerda • John franklinorlando hernandez • Micheline G. Miglis

sharon organista • lori pearceJacquelyn pawela-crew

Gail Persoon

5315 foothill road

carpinteria, ca 93103

(805) 684-6364

Girls inc. of carpinteria is a member of Girls incorporated®, a nonprofi t organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. With local roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value, and assert their rights. We provide programs for girls 6 to 18 years old that focus on science, math, and technology; health and sexuality; economic and fi nancial literacy; sports skills; leadership and advocacy; and media literacy. to learn more, become a volunteer or offer support, please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.

Dear Friends,As we prepare to pause for the summer holidays, I write

to thank you for your dedication to Girls Inc., girls and the families in Carpinteria.

We’ve accomplished much in 2017-2018! Our continuum of programs opens doors to new ideas, new dreams and new leadership opportunities for girls. I am pleased to share that this year we served 700+ girls through campus and community-based programs. Our second cohort from Eureka! graduated this spring; Girls will be attending UC Irvine, San Francisco State University, CSU Channel Islands and Santa Barbara City College. Our eighth cohort will walk onto the campus of UCSB this summer; the girls are ready and eager to experience all the campus and programs have to offer! Our Fresh Futures Initiative will serve girls in 4th-7th grades through new program models, providing our girls with a two-week STEM camp at SBCC this summer. During the school year, Fresh Futures Workshops will engage those who took part in the summer program and new girls through workshops in each impact area (Strong/Healthy, Smart/Educated, Bold/Independent).

Our work would not be made possible without the dedication of Girls Inc. staff! They are a part of the process each step of the way -- from the college application process, to scholarship application assistance, to making sure our girls are where they need to be (even if that means driving them to college orientation when they have no other means to get there). It’s truly amazing!

With your support, we are making an impact in the lives of hundreds of girls, well into the future.

Our own Girls Inc. alumna and Eureka! graduate Maria Zamora recently returned from an inspirational immersion trip through her university to Cali and Buga, Colombia. While in Buga, Maria visited with an organization that works with local farmers to help them compete with larger coffee companies to export their product. She was particularly inspired by her travels to a center where at-risk youth learn Taekwondo, as well as a village greatly affected by conflicts in Colombia where she had the chance to learn how the local women are selling herbs to help strengthen their community.

Maria is currently studying toward her degree in International Studies at USF. We’re so proud to see her pursuing her dreams and are excited to see what’s next for her -- and for our next cohort entering college in the fall.

I never forget, in my role as the Executive Director of Girls Inc. Carpinteria, that we are preparing the next generation of leaders who will impact the world far beyond our local community.

Victoria JuarezONWARD,Victoria Juarez

STaff

Victoria Juarez, Executive Director

Michael Williams, Chief Financial Offi cer

ericka loza-lopez, Operations Director

rachel bishop, Bookkeeper

devorah elizalde, Juvenile Justice Director

Jessica Wetzel, Programs Director

lindsey amaya, Outreach Coordinator

Kenya rodriguez, Eureka & Teen Coordinator

Gloria flores, Literacy Coordinator

Yvana Velasco, Project Coordinator

Giovanna bustamante, Facilitator

Marlen cabada, Facilitator

lili cruz, Front Desk

francesca de caro, Facilitator

brianna elizalde, Interim Program Director - Ventura County

brenda Gonzalez, Facilitator

anna Guerrero, Facilitator- Eureka

olivia lapierre, Facilitator

diane Melendez, Facilitator- Ventura County

arianna rodriguez, Facilitator

carrie thorsch, Facilitator- Ventura County

paola Vega, Facilitator

Viridiana Magana Vega, Facilitator

eureka alum Maria Zamora during her recent trip to colombia.

Girls inc. of carpinteria ■ 3

What do you love about your university?I love that USD is such a small campus because this allows me

to attend smaller class sizes (no more than 35 students), giving me the opportunity to develop relationships with my professors and peers. I also enjoy the events and workshops that USD holds for students (financial aid workshops, resume workshops, FAFSA workshops, The Freedom Writers, informational meetings and events on DACA, Farmworker’s Movement Mass, etc.).

hoW do you feel your Girls inc. experience has influenced you and Where you are noW?

Volunteering with the Girls Inc. Summer Program as a counselor in training reinforced how much I love working with children. I also was given the amazing opportunity to intern for the California Avocado Festival through the Eureka! program (my first job!). Through the work experience I gained from my internship and the experience I gained while volunteering as a CIT, I decided to take on a position at an elementary school as a tutor through the Mulvaney Center (CASA) at USD. My work and volunteer experience is a large part of what I took to USD with me from Girls Inc.

What advice do you have for younGer Girls preparinG for colleGe?

For girls applying to college, managing your time wisely is key. Write down deadlines, important dates, and spread out the amount of work you need to do. Attend college application workshops and accept all the help that you’re offered through school and out of school (like Girls Inc.) because it’s really beneficial and eases the entire process. Don’t stress yourself out, get some sleep, eat, hydrate and focus on yourself making sure that you’re feeling healthy and yourself. And it’s a great idea to apply for scholarships and file your FAFSA.

For seniors who will be attending college this fall, managing your time wisely is still key. Taking part in different activities, working, or participating in sports can really have a positive effect on your overall college experience. Go to office hours, get to know your professor if you can, and accept all the help that is offered because this will all benefit you. Finally, don’t take on more than you can handle because you also need to dedicate time and focus on yourself and your well-being.

HONORS & RECOGNITIONS

anna a. and tahis a.

It’s been a busy year filled with college and scholarship applications for our graduating seniors. Our 2018 Girls Inc. scholars, Anna A. and Tahis A., received five scholarships this year between the two of them. Tahis received the prestigious Girls Inc. National Scholar award in addition to the Strong, Smart, and Bold Senior Award. She will be using the funds to attend the University of California, Irvine this fall.

Anna received the Patty & Terry Bliss Scholarship, which was presented at our Women of Inspiration luncheon; the Camilla L. Calene Griffin Scholarship; and the Fuel Her Fire Scholarship. She plans to use her funds to attend San Francisco State University. We are so proud of their dedication to education and excited to see what’s next for our scholars!

GIRlS INC. CHampIONMarYan schall

“Girls Inc.’s programs add so much value to the lives of the participants: both life skill and educational values. The whole community prospers when its young people – its future leaders – thrive. Organizations like Girls Inc. exist to help make that happen – and Girls Inc. Carpinteria DOES make it happen!”

––Maryan SchallLearn how you can become a Champion for Girls at

girlsinc-carp.org.

mEET KaREN NuNEzGirls inc. MeMber profile

Karen graduated from our eureka! program in 2017 and went on to study at the University of san diego last fall. While she originally planned to major in science and pursue a career in medicine, Karen has been exploring other paths and is currently considering a major in psychology with minors in sociology and spanish. she says she is looking forward to potentially studying abroad. We caught up with Karen as she wrapped up her first year as a college student:

4 ■ Girls inc. of carpinteria

JESSICa WETzElstaff spotliGht

As Program Director at Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, Jessica Wetzel serves as a leader and advocate for young women and girls in the community. Over the last seven years with Girls Inc., Jessica has helped bring research-

a crowd favorite is "long island relays," in which the girls race one another while carrying their entire team's sticks.

based programming to girls in Carpinteria and Ventura designed to provide them with the tools they need to succeed and thrive. She has also played a key role in the growth of the organization and the development of our education, STEM-based, leadership and college-preparedness programs to nurture strong, smart and bold girls in the community.

• WhatinspiredyoutojointheteamatGirls Inc. Carpinteria?

I joined Girls Inc. in 2011 because I believed in the mission and wanted to apply my skills in youth development toward advancing the goals of the organization. Girls Inc.’s growth, both locally and nationwide, has always given me a sense of purpose and hope, especially in our current political and social climate.

• Whatisyourfavoritethingaboutyourjob as Program Director?

This job keeps me challenged and motivated all at the same time. Whether is it developing a new program model or facing an unexpected challenge, the position provides constant opportunities for creativity in every sense of the word.

• Whatsuperheropowerwouldyoumostlike to have?

Time travel! I would love to chat with history makers from all over the world and maybe even check out some prehistoric animals.

• What’satthetopofyourtravelbucketlist?Croatia. They have a fascinating political

history and a unique and beautiful landscape.

• What’sthemostthrillingthingyou’vedone?Floating down the Amazon River while being

screamed at by monkeys in the rainforest above.

• Whatlifelessonhaveyouadopted?My grandpa was always able to laugh at life,

even in the most trying times. He could find humor in anything and bring people to a happy place with that gift. I have tried to carry on his tradition and keep laughing, even through challenges.

•Ifyouwereacookie,whatkindwouldyoube?Oatmeal.

maRIaCHI ENCuENTROMaY 5, 2018

cinco de Mayo was the perfect timing to celebrate Girls inc. of carpinteria’s 10th annual Mariachi encuentro event, an evening filled with authentic Mexican food, music and culture. this year’s fundraiser was one for the books, as we marked ten years of bringing this unique cultural event to the community.

Guests enjoyed a delicious Mexican dinner and live entertainment, featuring the los angeles-based Mariachi Garibaldi de Jaime cuellar, a premiere mariachi ensemble; patricia Martin; and ballet folklorico de los angeles, a premiere Mexican folk dance company. Grupo bella, an all-female musical group, serenaded guests during dinner with their unique style and modern twist to mariachi Music.

thank you to our incredible co-chairs, John cerda and terry banks, who put in a great deal of time and effort to make this event a success. We are already looking forward to next year’s celebration!

Grupo bello performs at Mariachi encuentro.

VOluNTEER SpOTlIGHTheidi baUtista

Six years ago, Heidi Bautista began working closely with the Girls Inc. of Carpinteria staff to create a website that reinforced and supported our mission. Over the years, she has generously continued to volunteer her time assisting with major updates to the website, technical support and more.

“ I volunteer because Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s mission resonates with me; especially the emphasis on preparing girls for college (Eureka! program), encouraging girls to follow STEM careers, and inspiring girls to boldly follow their dreams. These are the kind of skills that have aided me throughout my career first in engineering and now as a web developer. I feel fortunate that I can use my professional skills to support the organization and I cherish my small role in helping the girls of Carpinteria succeed in life.”

––Heidi Bautista

Girls inc. of carpinteria ■ 5

EuREKa!cohort tWo preps for colleGe

thank you to the following program partners who helped us deliver ongoing programming for girls and training to staff this past year:

aGia • alarcon legal

arf • blanchard library

blueGem sunglasses

boys &Girls club

boys & Girls club of Greater conejo Valley

boys & Girls club of santa clara Valley (Santa Paula clubhouse)

calM

carpinteria arts center

carpinteria state beach

cate school lacrosse program

coastal self defense academy

county of santa barbara

california state University channel islands

dowitcher designs

early academic outreach program

easy lift transportation

eyes in the sky • first tee

freudenberg Medical • housing authority

impact hub

latino town hall of santa paula

Movies in the park • paws Up for pets

planned parenthood

procore (procore code core)

sanger, swysen & dunkle

santa barbara city college

santa barbara dance institute

santa barbara Museum of art

santa barbara rape crisis center

santa barbara scholarship foundation

santa paula rotary club

santa paula Unified school district

seascape realty

south coast Writers camp

south coast Writers project

surf happens • the food liaison

the office of congressman salud carbajal

the office of senator Kamala harris

the office of Women’s health

Ucsb aquatics

Ucsb biology department

Ucsb Marine sciences

Ucsb nano sciences department

Ucsb sWe chapter

Ventura college

Ventura college santa paula campus

Women’s lawyers Group of Ventura county

DID YOu KNOW?over the last seven years, Girls inc. of carpinteria has

grown the number of girls it serves each month by more than five tiMes. We are proud to serve 200+ girls a month with an environment, people, and programming that––together––

empower girls to succeed.

2017-2018pROGRam paRTNERS

after five years of programming, the second group of participants in Girls inc. of carpinteria’s eureka! program has graduated high school and is gearing up for college this fall.

Girls inc. of carpinteria launched the eureka program in 2012 to provide leadership and education enhancement opportunities for teen girls, beginning the summer before their eighth grade year and seeing them through the end of high school. combining college and career preparation, the multi-year program exposes girls to female role models, diverse career paths and a continual support system as they navigate the high school years, begin to establish life goals and look ahead to higher education.

the program begins with two consecutive summers spent at Ucsb, which include meetings with mentors, steM engagement, field trips, and college tours throughout the year. in the third year, the program progresses by shifting the focus to the workplace with an immersive summer externship. the fourth and fifth years of eureka are committed to seeing the girls through to high school graduation and helping them and their families to navigate the college application process, including essays, financial aid applications, and scholarship submissions.

the 2018 college-bound graduates of our second cohort include: • yovanna ahedo-perez, CSU Channel Islands • tahis alcantar, UC Irvine • anna artiaga, San Francisco State University • perla Miranda, SBCC • cindy santana, SBCC • laura valdez, SBCC • leslie varela, SBCC • alejandra alvarez, SBCC

6 ■ Girls inc. of carpinteria

SummER Camp 2018

Summer is here! Girls Inc. is proud to offer a safe and engaging environment for young girls and teens, providing opportunities for camaraderie and fun, along with a focus on educational growth. Our summer camp program gives girls the opportunity to play sports, learn life and career skills, build friendships and gain the confidence to reach their full potential. We focus on STEAM, daily reading, physical fun, arts and crafts, and building leadership skills, with a comprehensive curriculum that is catered to each girl’s individual abilities and competencies.

This year, we have also partnered with the Young Writers Camp – a nonprofit program of the South Coast Writing Project at UCSB – to bring a new program to our campus for girls and boys in grades 4-9. A typical day of Young Writers Camp includes journal writing and structured writing workshops, with time for peer mentor groups. The camp strives to provide opportunities for youth to develop a deeper understanding of the writing process and what it means to be a part of a writing community. All skill levels are welcome!

COmmuNITY paRTNERHIGHlIGHT

Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has partnered with Procore’sCoding Corps to bring an innovative coding program called TKP Labs to our girls this summer, as part of our Eureka! college-bound program. The Procore program will take 32 of our girls through an 8-10 hour coding academy, inspiring them to explore careers and majors in technology.

Thanks to a generous donation from AGIA of 11 laptops, we are able to launch the program at UCSB this summer without the high cost of renting computer labs on campus.

Thank you to ProcoreandAGIA for supporting our efforts to empower local girls in STEM!

• School-AgeSummerCamp K-5th grade girls June 18 - August 17, 9am-6pm $125 per week

• TeenSummerCamp 6th-12th grade girls June 18 - August 17, 9am-6pm $85 per week

• YoungWritersCamp 4th-9th grade girls and boys July 16 - July 27, 9am-12:30pm $325 early bird registration

Scholarships and extended care hours are available. Call 805-684-6364 or visit girlsinc-carp.org for more information and registration forms.

maKE aN ImpaCT& DONaTE TO OuRSummER Camp TODaY!

The summer camp experience is special to the more than 150 girls who join us each year. Without scholarship support, many girls could not take advantage of all the diverse experi-ences Girls Inc. offers.

SEE THE ImpaCT Of YOuR GIfT: $125 One week of summer camp for one girl $250 Art supplies for 30 girls $500 A kayak trip and day hike for 20 girls $1,000 Sponsor one girl at camp for the whole summer $2,500 A volleyball team for 25 girls $5,000 Robotics program and competition for 40 girls $10,000 Month-long campus-based college readiness program for 7 girls at UCSB

Girls inc. of carpinteria ■ 7

WOmEN Of INSpIRaTION april 16, 2018photos by Monie photography

More than 300 community members came together to celebrate inspirational women and girls at our 2018 Women of Inspiration luncheon on April 16th. Event co-chairs SusanCaine and TheresaHuerta kicked off the event and thanked our biggest group ever for attending and supporting Girls Inc.’s work.

This year’s luncheon honored the late Nancy Walker Koppelman, a global activist, local visionary and advocate for women’s rights. Nancy served as co-chair of the Women of Inspiration luncheon for several years and was a longtime Girls Inc. supporter, in addition to her involvement with many other nonprofits. Her daughter, Renee Koppelman, accepted the award and spoke on her mother’s behalf.

Girls Inc. alumna Karina Jougla, a 2011 Girls Inc. National Scholar, served as the keynote speaker and moved guests with an inspirational speech about how her time at Girls Inc. has shaped her into the strong, smart and bold woman she is today.

Karina joined Girls Inc. when she was just five years old and

remained actively involved through high school. She graduated from Columbia University in 2016 and currently holds a marketing position at Doctors Without Borders. She is a shining example of strong, smart and bold!

As done each year, Girls Inc. members ran the show: our event emcees AlitzaGonzalez and Laura Flores dazzled guests with their poise and confidence.

Thank you to all our donors for making this year’s luncheon our most successful event to date!

To learn more about Women of Inspiration and our annual fundraisers, visit girlsinc-carp.org.

“Girls inc. equipped me with a skill set that i can rely on for the rest of my life. i know

that even if i make a misstep, i’ll always have the skills that Girls inc. instilled in me as my

compass, and this community to support me.”–Karina Jougla

1. theresa huerta, Karina Jougla, asa olsson and susan caine 2. connie smith and renee Koppelman3. Janet Garufis and victoria Juarez 4. ashlyn Mccague and alana Walczak5. carrie Wanek and lori pearce6. tamara Jensen and stephanie slosser7. emcees alitza Gonzalez and laura flores8. ernesto paredes and dorothy largay9. Julie capritto and aGia team representative

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8 ■ Girls inc. of carpinteria

SummER DaY Camp at Girls inc. starts JUne 20th!

With you in her corner,she Will Win

YOuR lEGaCY: EmpOWERING GIRlS TO BuIlD STRONG, SmaRT aND BOlD fuTuRES

When we invest in our youth, we enable them to do big things – and in turn families, our community and society as a whole are stronger for it. You can help make a difference.

Your gift will help provide girls in our community with a brighter future and ensure essential programs to help them overcome barriers and achieve overall success. All contributions are tax-deductible.

Join us as we inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold!

How to GiveThere are many easy and tax-

effective ways to make a planned gift to our organization, includ-ing gifts of stocks and bonds; real estate, such as a home, vacation property, ranch or commercial property; retirement assets; or a

Other Ways to Donate or Support UsOnline: Make a contribution by credit card through our secure online server at www.girlsinc-carp.com.

Phone: Call us at (805) 684-6364.

Mail: Send us your donation by mail to Girls Inc. of Car-pinteria, 5315 Foothill Road, Carpinteria, CA 93013.

Memorial Tribute: Make a gift in honor of a special occa-sion or in remembrance.

Workplace & Matching Gifts: Gift a gift through your workplace giving campaign or matching gift.

Volunteer: Get involved by joining the Girls Inc. team and help us make a difference in the lives of our girls.

gift of your life insurance policy. To provide for the future, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has opened

an endowment fund with the Santa Barbara Foundation. This permanent fund is professionally managed as part of the founda-tion’s investment program, facilitating gifts of all types including:

CHaRITaBlE BEquEST: Designate Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as a beneficiary in your will or trust.

BENEfICIaRY DESIGNaTION GIfTS:Designate Girls Inc. of Carpinteria as a ben-eficiary of a retirement, investment, or bank account or your life insurance policy.

IRa ROllOVER: Congress recently enacted a permanent extension of the IRA Charitable Roll-over. As a result, you can make an IRA rollover gift in 2016, 2017 and beyond.

þI am interested in making a planned gift or would like to learn more.

tax id: 23-7430292

please send me information about: name: _______________________________________________

________ Making a gift in my will address: _____________________________________________

________ a life insurance gift phone: ________________email: ________________________

________ a gift of my retirement benefits Mail to: other: _________________________ Girls inc. of carpinteria 5315 foothill road, carpinteria, ca 93013