WEST CHESTER, PA (February 16, 2021) – Members of The Fund for Women and Girls (The Fund)’s Girls Advisory Board (GAB) program awarded $19,000 in grant funding to five local nonprofit agencies serving women and girls. Through GAB, a nationally recognized girls’ grantmaking program, local high school girls entering 10th and 11th grade have an opportunity to learn firsthand about the deep and varied needs in their communities, as well as equip themselves with the tools needed to address them.

“I feel so lucky to have been a part of GAB for the last two years. Before joining the program, I never really was one to believe that there were many problems in Chester County. Through site visits and meaningful discussions, I’ve been able to discover that there is truly a need for organizations to help out women in need, and it’s amazing to see the passion that these organizations have in helping others. Learning about the grant making process and networking has also been valuable, and I couldn’t have asked for a better two years in GAB,” said a member of this year’s class and current senior at Great Valley High School.

Over the past 17 years, GAB has awarded over $240,000 to agencies that target the needs of women and girls through innovative services that tackle issues like poverty, illiteracy, violence, homelessness, mental illness, teen pregnancy, and substance abuse.

This year, the GAB class felt strongly about dedicating more resources to dismantling systemic racism, providing access to healthcare and reproductive rights for low-income women and girls, and supporting women and girls experiencing violence. Their grant funding within those chosen priority areas is as follows:

The Domestic Violence Center of Chester County
$5,000 to support the Understanding Racial Equity Training program, aiding the DVCCC’s staff to better understand how racial inequality affects their clients and provide services focused on empowerment and healing for diverse populations.

Alianzas de Phoenixville
$4,000 to support their Clinical Trauma Counseling Program, which includes mental health specialists serving immigrant women, children, and men suffering from depression and anxiety due to various traumas such as PTSD, immigration issues and discrimination.

La Comunidad Hispana
$4,000 to support the Women’s Health Services program by providing long active reversible contraceptives (LARCs) to all uninsured female patients who otherwise may not have access to them, helping to empower women to control their own reproductive choices regardless of their economic means.

The Crime Victims Center of Chester County
$3,500 to support direct services for women and girl victims of crime, including professional, personal, and effective advocacy and support to all clients who seek services, free of charge.

The Clinic
$2,500 to support access to contraception for medically underserved women by providing a number of female patients with an entire year of free contraceptives.