History

Sister House Purchased

More than $20,000 was raised to purchase the “sister house” next door at 69 Lincoln Street. The two houses were joined to provide a combination auditorium and gymnasium and add extra classrooms. Membership: 100

Compton Park Expansion

Worcester Girls Club provided programs for girls under 12 when programming for this age group was rare. Due to demand, another facility around Crompton Park in the basement of Ward Street School was opened but moved in 1930 to the Vernon Community House. Membership: 500.

Vernon Hill branch Closed

Funds were low during the Depression and the Board made the difficult decision to close the Vernon Hill branch was closed. Mr. Clarence W. Kinney donated a parcel of land now known as our Camp Kinneywood.

National Organization Discussed

Discussions to form a national organization began and the first meeting was held at Lincoln House.

Girls Clubs of America Formed

Representatives of 19 interested organizations met in Springfield on May 18, 1945 to form the national organization, Girls Clubs of America (now Girls Inc.). Total assets of the organization were $72.64, and its headquarters was in the guestroom of founding President Rachel Harris Johnson of Worcester.

Syrian-Lebanese American Club

The Syrian-Lebanese American Club on Plantation Street offered building space for the Girls Club to hold popular “extension classes” two afternoons and one evening a week.

Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower

Mrs. Mamie Eisenhower became the first honorary chair and each First Lady has since attempted this honorary position with the organization.

National 10th Anniversary

10th Anniversary of the national organization is celebrated in Washington, DC.

Reader’s Digest National Career Key Scholarship Awards

Reader’s Digest National Career Key Scholarship Awards established. The professional association of Girls Clubs of America is created to raise professional standards and to ensure the professional growth of staff within the organization.

Donny DonDero

Donny DonDero was the National Executive Director through 1974. She was instrumental in raising needed funds, doubling the number of local affiliates and members, and tripling the amount of grants and contributions.

DeWitt Wallace Grant

The national organization celebrates its 25th anniversary with the announcement of a $1 million grant from DeWitt Wallace, founding editor of Reader’s Digest.

Edith B. Phelps

Edith B. Phelps became the National Executive Director through 1982 and she brought national awareness to girls’ issues.

Physical Education Programs Developed

Physical Education programs were developed to include gymnastics, gymnastics team, swim team, wall climbing.

Boys Added as Associate Members

Boys added as associate members one day a week for summer program.

Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Women

The “Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Women” conference in WI brought together scholars, educators and leaders to explore girls’ issues.

Girls Incorporated National Resource Center Opens

With generous grants from the Fleishman Foundation and Lilly Endowment, the Girls Incorporated National Resource Center opened in Indianapolis, IN. It is the nation’s largest research facility dedicated to girls’ issues.

Margaret Gates

Margaret Gates served as National Executive Director until 1993 with an emphasis on the development of unique, informal education programs.

Operation Smart, Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy, and Sporting Chance Developed

Work began on Operation Smart, a career-awareness and skills-development program in science, math and relevant technology; Preventing Adolescent Pregnancy, a four-part program to help girls and young women avoid early pregnancy; and Sporting Chance, a national sports program for girls.

Lincoln House Closing Considered

The Worcester community protests Board as they consider closing the Lincoln House.

Going Places

Going Places is published to articulate the philosophy and approach of Girls Incorporated programming.

Capital Campaign Record

Capital Campaign raised over $3 million - the largest amount of any Girls Club in history.

Name Changed to Girls Incorporated

Organization changes its name to Girls Incorporated. Collaboration begins with YWCA of the USA to deliver Girls Incorporated programs to girls. Renovations made to Camp Kinneywood.

Girls Incorporated Scholars Program

Girls Incorporated Scholars Program is established. New Lincoln House opened.

It’s My Party

“It’s My Party,” a two-day conference is held for practitioners and policy makers on gender issues in substance abuse prevention.

National 50th Anniversary

Girls Incorporated celebrated its 50th anniversary as a national organization. Strong, Smart, and Bold for the 21st century.

Leader in Training Begins

Licensed School Aged Child Care Begins

Archelogy Program

Work began on Girls Dig It, an Archelogy Program for girls ages 12-14.

National Girls Re-cast TV Begins

TV Public Service Announcements

Girls Inc. aired TV Public Service Announcements to increase the number of girls reached and to expand the number of locations.

First Annual Girls Celebration Luncheon held in Worcester

Central MA’s 2013 Non-Profit of the Year

Girls Inc. of Worcester was honored by GoLocal Worcester as Central MA’s 2013 Non-Profit of the year. They also received College Board New England Regional Recognition Award for outstanding commitment to students and the field of education by enabling underrepresented students with academic leadership potential to attend college.