It has been a great week - very full and a lot of fun (and food!)
WEDNESDAY: Val Loring and Janet Jones, two long-time friends of Girls Inc, co-chaired a THANK YOU luncheon for former members of the Girls Inc Board and other long time friends on Wednesday. The event took place in Alden Hall - old friends reconnected with each other and Girls Inc as we talked about the needs of girls today, the life-changing role of Girls Inc for girls in our community and renewed our commitment to growth and greatness as we move toward our Centennial in 2016.
From that luncheon, Kijah Clark and I went over to Sullivan Middle School for the YouthNet Annual Meeting. Started 15 years ago, YouthNet is a very successful collaborative of youth-serving organizations dedicated to giving middle school youth access to good programs - and fun - during critical after-school and summer hours. About 50 young people and staff from across the years recognized the City of Worcester for its strong support this summer and our partnership with the Wheels 2 Water program, the Fred Harris Daniels Foundation and George F and Sybil H Fuller Foundation for their long-term support, Sullivan Prinicipal Bob Jennings for his partnership and Judi Kirk, on the YWCA staff who has been a key advocate and supporter of Youth Net since its start (on her first day when she worked at Girls Inc!!)
Kijah and I hurried back to be at Winthrop House for our Harvest Fest, and joined about 60 girls and their families for a great turkey dinner with all the trimmings. It was our way to say thanks to the families for entrusting their girls to our care!!
THURSDAY: On Thursday I attended the Female Leadership Interest Council (www.femaleleaders.org) Trailblazer Luncheon and had the delightful honor to be seated at the head table with author and our speaker, Linda Armstrong Kelly, Lance Armstrong's mom. Many do not know that she was a single mom at age 16, and worked hard and steadfastly overcame barrier after barrier to raise Lance to be the champion that he is! She is a champion and fabulous role model for our girls - and for us bigger girls too!!
In this week before Thanksgiving, I am taking this chance to pause and be grateful for the good stuff in my lives! I am so thankful for the opportunities I have had to get to know girls, Board members, former Board Presidents and supporters, parents and colleagues just a little bit better this week!
Happy Thanksgiving!
Cathi