Volunteers Through the Years

At Girls Inc. of Metro Denver we engage a diverse and enthusiastic group of community members in our organization through the Volunteer Department. The richness of our programs are increased daily through the contributions of our community.

In honor of our 25th Anniversary in Denver, we are highlighting some of the amazing individuals who have volunteered at Girls Inc. since the inception of our Volunteer Program in 2002.

In their own unique ways, throughout the years each of these volunteers inspired our girls to be strong, smart, and bold!™.

Aleece Barr

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc. in 2007 for the winter session and tutored some of the girls.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I loved working with the girls and getting the opportunity to be a mentor and tutor the girls while learning about the special qualities that each girl portrays.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? I have begun my own journey in working with women by starting my own women's fitness company called "Absolutely Womanful Fitness". Working at Girls Inc, was one of the influences in my life that encouraged me to begin my own business and create the name "Womanful", which I define as a complete woman. I think the word Womanful, describes the objective of Girls Inc, which is to inspire girls to become strong, smart and bold, all in all, some of the main aspects of becoming a complete woman. So, I express all of this to say that more members of the community should become involved in Girls Inc. so they too can take part in the great experience of inspiring girls to become great women!

Jenn Callaway

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc. during the fall of 2005, from the beginning of the school year until winter break. I worked with girls after school. We had tutoring sessions, worked on homework, had snacks, played outside, made crafts, read and played games.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? My favorite memories of volunteering with Girls Inc. are always about how well the girls worked together and got along. No matter what activity we were doing, the girls seemed to always embody a sense of teamwork. The girls all come from different backgrounds, areas, and experiences, and are different ages. Girls Inc. nurtured these differences and provided a great place for everyone to learn about one another and to work together.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Working as a volunteer at Girls Inc. helped me to grow personally by allowing me to work with girls of all ages, backgrounds and abilities in a variety of situations. I think the volunteers bring their own unique personalities to the girls, and this benefits both the volunteers and the girls. The staff and volunteers at Girls Inc. are wonderful role models for the girls.

Maree Chavez

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? 2004-2005. My volunteer assignment was to meet the girls in the teen program once a week on Thursdays. As simple as it sounds, we did sometimes just hang out and spend quality time together. I am part of a women's nonprofit organization called CHICKS WITH A PURPOSE. Each CHICK would come up with a theme for the volunteer day and we would all jump in. We organized a retreat to Buena Vista where the girls challenged themselves with a ropes course. We trained for and ran a couple 5k races. We put together an event called TEEN COLORADO held at the Wellshire Inn. It was a day long conference focused on teen issues. We had several workshops including fitness tips from an ex-Olympic athlete, financial thoughts/goals, fashion careers, a professional from tomboy tools, etc.The keynote was an author and one of the creators of the movie MEAN GIRLS. That was definitely one of the highlights as I know the girls walked away having been inspired on so many levels. They also helped put the whole event together so they were learning during the whole planning process as well!!

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I would often get a little overwhelmed with balancing my life with the time commitment one makes to volunteer. I would sometimes ask myself if it was really worth it and if it could really make a difference---it never failed...when I would be kind of in that frame of mind, inevitably I would receive an act of kindness or a spark of growth in one of the girls that would not only fill my heart with sunshine, but would also give me the energy to keep coming to Girls Inc. every Thursday KNOWING, YES we do make a difference in these young girl's lives.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? It's the law of circulation in giving back to our community. The gifts we receive in return are priceless, and the reciprocated joy flows onto and into more and more.

Reseena Cowan

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered for Girls, Inc. in 2005 for about a year Fall/Spring semesters. At that time no one was teaching money management to your girls. I called and asked to volunteer to teach a money management program I designed. I wanted to try it out. I had contacted a few organizations regarding teaching my program and Girls, Inc. was the first to respond. I was grateful because you took a chance on me! And then I ended up volunteer of the year!

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I learned you have to be persistent and patient. You're not going to reach everyone, but live for the few you do.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Specialized schools that are able to specifically target groups of girls based on needs instead of overviews on many subjects for all girls. For example, 16 & 17 year olds have different needs from 13, 14, & 15 year olds. I know they are all teens, but in my experience each group is at a different point in their lives and they have specific issues that need to be addressed in all aspects of their lives. African American girls have different needs and cultures than Latina or Native American girls. I would love to see Girls Inc. expand to the point where it encompassed the needs of ALL girls in ALL areas of their lives.

Laura Cunningham

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered during the summer of 2006 from June to August and what I did was helped the art teacher in her class. I would help set up the room and would get to draw all sorts of cool things with the girls. I also was a free-time facilitator, I would come while the girls were having lunch and would stay until it was time for the girls to be picked up.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I don't think I've ever been called Miss Laura before and it was strange being sixteen and having a title in front of my name. I thought "Geez! I'm not much older than these girls they don't want to listen to me!" It really wasn't like that at all! The girls are so easily accepting of everyone and they love to make new friends. They were very nice to me and would want me to sit by them during movies or when we went on field trips. Even though I was older than them and wasn't their teacher they still cared about me. I really felt like even while I was helping the teacher, I got to be a Girls Inc. girl!

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? More members of the community should become involved with Girls Inc. because the opportunity to help others makes us better people. The girls at Girls Inc. love and care about others. They have formed stronger relationships with each other and their teachers because they have an environment where they are taught to respect and take care of each other. I really feel that by being involved in Girls Inc. I care more about people around and about how my actions affect them. I am a better young woman because I helped the girls and I think more people need to volunteer so that they can grow and become better too.

Deiadra Dissen Swartz

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at GIMD for 15 months, from March 2006 thru May 2007. Mostly I helped out with the after-school program, tutoring, fieldtrips, and sometimes I served as volunteer panel speaker. In addition, I worked on special projects when needed (i.e. filing, organizing, taking inventory, etc.) and I completed a curriculum development project for Discovery Health. I love GIMD so much that I recruited a family friend to volunteer, and even enrolled my daughter in Girls Inc. summer programs. We just love GIMD and my daughter is living proof that it does encourage girls to be strong, smart & bold!

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? The girls are amazing! I was so inspired by the members at the Youth Center and I had the privilege of interacting with them on a weekly basis. I was also deeply moved by the members at the Teen Center my favorite memory is the scholarship luncheon when the girls shared their experiences and talked about their hopes for the future. The education and opportunities that Girls Inc. provide are valuable, but the encouragement Girls Inc. fosters in our girls is priceless!!

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? In just 25 years, Girls Inc. has touched so many lives and opened the world of possibilities for so many girls. We can only hope that in the next 25 years, Girls Inc. will continue to thrive and will continue to encourage our girls. I wholeheartedly support GIMD and its mission because I truly believe you are making the world a better place. Don't forget to invite me to your 50th Anniversary party!

Jodi Eaton

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered a couple of years ago and I was there about a year (2005-2006). I helped with the after-school tutoring program and hanging with the girls after school.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I really enjoyed my time at Girls Inc. I learned that patience is where it is at and that you cannot take anything personally. I loved watching the girls play and hang and learn and be excited about what they were learning and coming back week after week ready to learn some more and of course that wasn't every girl but the others added great color in their own ways.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? It is a great opportunity to learn from these girls and to give to them love and acceptance and receive that back too. It also feels good to give of yourself.

Christina Fischer

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered from November 06 to April 07. I was assigned to both the youth and teen centers and helped the girls with homework.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? The biggest thing that I learned is how important it is for girls to have strong role models in their lives. My fondest memory would be the general silliness of the girls particularly during game time.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? More members of the community should become involved with Girls Inc, because it is a fantastic organization that aims to provide girls with the tools necessary to be successful individuals.

Lauren Gorence

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I started volunteering for Girls Inc. in spring of 2007, for about a year. I volunteered primarily at the Teen Center as a program assistant as well as a tutor. I helped coordinate and facilitate various classes such as sports, sexual health education, and the arts. I also helped chaparone field trips like to the Denver Art Museum.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? One of my favorite memories was at this year's fundraising event at downtown Denver, [Girls and Guys Night Out.] Sitting there and witnessing the commitment and support from the local community for Girls Inc. was amazing and to be part of that was truly an honor.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? First, I believe that more members of the community should become involved with Girls Inc. because it is not only personally fulfilling, but also touches the lives of so many young girls in a way that is unexplainable with words. For me, being part of Girls Inc. allowed me to feel like I was bettering my community and even the smallest of time that I was committing to made a large impact.

Zac Hildebrandt

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered from 11/06-05/07 (6 months). I worked in the finance/operations department as an accounting assistant.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I learned never to take 18 credit hours in school while working as an intern. I also learned that chocolate can fix almost every problem.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Because those who do not contribute to making things better within their community have no right to complain about how bad things are getting. Unfortunately those who are not part of the solution are part of the problem.

Robin Hoffman

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? April through September 2003. I taught an arts and crafts activity called Heart, Paper, Scissors to the girls.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I learned that when you give girls a space where they feel safety and acceptance and they get an opportunity to express themselves in a positive way, they will take it and run with it. One day at Girls Inc., I taught a group of girls, and one of them was really shut down. She sat at the end of the table with her rain parka pulled all the way over her head. I was going around the room, asking the girls "What is an issue you are concerned about, and name one thing you would do to change it." The girl held up a piece of paper where she had written, "I don't know." I acknowledged her response and moved on to the next girl. As we got into the art activity, however, the parka came off and the girl fully participated in the rest of the session.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Girls Inc does more than keep kids occupied after school so they don't get in trouble. Girls Inc teaches them life skills, how to take care of themselves, how to stand up for themselves. They learn tolerance and understanding others. They gain self-esteem and self-confidence. Building strong girls means building strong communities. By getting involved with Girls Inc, you are helping to prepare future co-workers, future moms… future leaders. How do you want those people to be?

Emily Hungerford

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc. of Metro Denver from June 2006-April 2007 (approximately). I worked with at the Youth Center with the girls during the summer programs and after school programs.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? My favorite memory from Girls Inc was the summer I spent volunteering during the summer program. I met some of the most amazing girls who were growing and living the motto: strong, smart, bold. It was amazing to see the girls grow in the two months they were in the program, and see those who came to the program during the school year continue to blossom into intelligent young girls.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? It is one of the most rewarding and inspiring volunteer jobs out there. You teach the girls, the girls teach you—I'm still not sure who wins more. I like to think it is an equal partnership. I personally worked with the Youth Center, the younger girls, and I can't think of anything else that would brighten my day than walking into the center and seeing their happy faces. It is wonderful to see the world through their eyes as they learn to be strong, smart, and bold.

Vanessa Laskowski

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? What was your volunteer assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc. from September 2006 to February of 2008. I was assigned to tutor the girls in 1st grade with their various homework assignments. I am now in graduate school and once I am finished, I would like to go back again.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I met a young girl who was Mexican and her family, because some of them were not legal, had to leave and go back to Mexico. She came from a very large family and was the only one left here in the United States. She was staying with an extended family member and was lonely. Soon, she too left and I am sure she went back to Mexico as well. This happened on more than one occasion and the reason it stands out to me is because people form opinions about different issues from the news and experience it from afar. For me, this was so personal because I saw the results of families splitting up and how difficult it was for these young girls to try and live without their families. It was a great lesson not to judge without knowing and feeling how it is really affecting people.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Creating a safe place for girls to be not only physically but emotionally is crucial in their self development. Being a part of this and assisting them in creating positive self esteem is very rewarding. Helping a young girl learn how to read or teaching them good lessons on how to solve a dispute is so important and I love being a part of that journey. There is a need and Girls Inc is filling this need. Not only are you getting the opportunity to help girls grow, but you are walking away feeling better about yourself as well (and receiving a lot of hugs!)

Betsy Lyons

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc from fall 2004 to fall 2005. I taught a gymnastics class, and also filled in wherever help was needed doing things such as helping with snacks, taking the girls outside, and helping with homework.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I remember watching the girls interact with other staff members and seeing in their faces how much it meant to have older girls paying attention to them. It made me realize how just a little of your time can have lasting effects on another life.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? More members of the community should become involved in Girls Inc. because it has such a huge positive effect on the community. Girls Inc. is giving Denver future leaders, giving children in Denver a safe place to gain confidence that they might not otherwise feel. By helping girls believe in their own abilities and worth, Girls Inc.is giving them a better chance at life.

Kelly McMillan

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc the winter of 2006 thru the summer of 2006 [in the Youth Center.]

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? The memory I have is going hiking in Boulder [with the girls.] It was a very fun day.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Women have come a long way thanks to the feminist movement, however we are still not treated fairly in many (some people would say all) situations. Girls Inc. encourages girls to learn all they can and be strong, smart, and bold so that women have a chance of being successful and independent people. Anyone that wants to make the future better for women, needs to get involved with Girls Inc.

Tracy Nash

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered from September of 2006 until March of 2008. I assisted with Tutoring/Homework Help on Tuesdays and Thursdays.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? My best memories are from the field trips when you got to spend time with the girls doing fun things! It was usually difficult to get them excited about homework, but they always loved the field trips which made it really fun for me. The best rewards of all were the hugs!

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? I honestly believe that one of the most effective ways to have an effect on the future is through the time and energy we spend with the kids of today. There are so many kids that benefit from programs like Girls Inc. and it is absolutely vital that people with a little bit of extra time on their hands volunteer to enable youth programs like Girls Inc. to continue to flourish. Encouraging young girls to be strong, smart, and bold is not only rewarding for me, it can really make a difference in their lives!

Nelia Pena

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc during the summer of 2006. I volunteered in the science and technology class for 3rd through 6th graders. We did a lot of really interesting things including going on field trips to parks, the Botanical Gardens, and the pool. We also invited guest speakers and did lots of hands-on educational activities.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? Even though I was the one supposed to be doing the teaching, I think I did more learning than the girls did. They taught me a lot about not being shy to ask questions and about having an open desire to learn. My favorite part of Girls Inc. was the girls themselves because of this. I found that Girls Inc. really gives girls a place to be themselves, a place to be inquisitive and curious.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? I think that more members of the community should be involved with Girls Inc. because there is something incredibly unique about the atmosphere it creates. By being exclusively female, I think it gives girls a safe place to learn and have fun while they also start discovering themselves.

Jacy Rock

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered during the 2006 school year. I led a class called "Street Law." Every few weeks, I met with an outstanding group of young women to talk about different things related to the law and the Constitution- the First Amendment, Equal Protection, and other concepts. We dealt with these abstract ideas on a down-to-earth level- i.e., what does the First Amendment mean to me on a daily basis?

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? How smart the young women at Girls Inc. are! We talked about really tough concepts, and they had many insightful thoughts and comments. It was a lot of fun, and gave me so much hope for the future of our State!

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Girls Inc. serves a very important purpose: supporting our girls and helping them become confident, grounded women. No matter what these young women end up doing in life- whether they are teachers, doctors, mothers, salespeople, lawyers, assistants, mechanics, musicians, anything- they are better off because of Girls Inc. And so are their communities!

Angie Varela

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc two years ago for four or five months. I was assigned to the middle school girls and at first helped them with various projects in the photography lab, then I helped them to produce 'girlzine'.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? I learned that girls at this age are vibrant and a little tricky because they are exploring their potential as young women and learning about where they fit into their world.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? Our youth are our legacy and the more they realize and achieve their potential, the more they will be able to make a positive contribution to their community as adults.

Joaquin Villalobos

When Did You Volunteer At Girls Inc. And For How Long? What Was Your Volunteer Assignment? I volunteered at Girls Inc. for three weeks in July of 2007. My volunteer assignment was to assist the Teen Center in producing a short documentary about the Delores Project and the homeless women they help get back on their feet. I taught the girls how to use a camera, boom mic and Final Cut Pro to edit the film.

What Is A Memory Or Lesson You Learned While You Volunteered At Girls Inc.? My fondest memory of volunteering at Girls Inc. was editing the final product. It's my favorite stage in production, but more importantly it was very insightful to hear all the girls' ideas of what makes a movie flow and what keeps it interesting.

Why Should More Members Of The Community Become Involved In Girls Inc.? My visions for Girls Inc. 25 years from now includes one of their alumni as our President of the United States, who will have the Girls Inc. Bill of Rights sworn into our constitution. And swift prosecution for those who ever dare to make any young girl feel fat or ugly!

For each of these amazing people, there are more than 100 other community members who have contributed to Girls Inc. over our 25 years. We want to thank each and every one of you for increasing our ability to provide quality programs for girls in Denver!