Cottage Hospital Foundation grant will enable nonprofit to expand services focused on overall health for local girls
CARPINTERIA — Girls Inc. of Carpinteria on March 3 announced it received a $50,000 grant from Cottage Hospital Foundation to provide buffering services to local girls and support growth in the organization’s ‘STRONG’ program, which combines physical activity, nutrition, and a healthy living curriculum to engage the mind, body and soul.
The awarded funds will enable Girls Inc. of Carpinteria to focus on three critical areas to support overall health for the girls it serves, including:
- Balanced Nutrition: Funding will allow Girls Inc. to continue its efforts to ensure girls and families are receiving nutritious snacks, meals and food outside of school hours.
- Access to Nature: Through its garden spaces on campus, Girls Inc. engages girls in learning the process of growing food from seed to plant. The produce grown is then utilized in the STRONG program to expose girls to foods they might not normally have access to.
- Physical Activity: With a focus on introducing new and alternative physical activities to girls such as hiking, kayaking, rock climbing and surfing, the expansion of Girls Inc.’s STRONG program for teenage girls will allow the organization to bring these experiences to all age groups and other girls within the community.
“Our programs are designed to help girls and their families enhance their ability to handle stress, manage emotions, and tackle everyday challenges – many of which are exacerbated by the ongoing pandemic – while providing a safe and supportive environment,” said Jamie Collins, executive director of Girls Inc. Carpinteria. “This funding will enable us to expand our programming that promotes overall health awareness through physical activity, nutrition, and nature, and we are grateful to Cottage Hospital Foundation for recognizing this important need and investing in the well-being of our local girls.”
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s STRONG program was launched in 2021, through a grant from the Audacious Foundation, to provide enrichment opportunities to girls with a focus on physical education, health and wellness, through skill development, workshops and more.
For more information about Girls Inc. of Carpinteria, call (805) 684-6364 or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org
— Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is a member of Girls Incorporated®, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Our programming focuses on the development of the whole girl: we deliver life-changing programs and experiences designed to equip girls to overcome serious barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. A combination of long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment and research-based programming prepares girls to lead fulfilling and productive lives and become role models in their community. Girls Inc. of Carpinteria currently serves more than 1100 youth in the Carpinteria Valley and Ventura County, from K through 12th grade. To learn more, become a volunteer or offer support, please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org/.