Our History
Girls Inc. is the longest-running girls’ leadership organization.
Our Mission
To inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold.
Our Vision
Powerful girls in an equitable society.
Our Values
Recognize and support the strength in every girl. Respect the dignity of each human being and demonstrate genuine care and concern for the well-being of others. Understand and appreciate diversity, embrace inclusiveness, and advance equity. Drive for results anchored in integrity and accountability. Collaborate for impact.
Girls Inc. was founded in 1999 to serve girls and young women across the Central Coast
Across the decades, Girls Inc. adapted to meet the specific environmental challenges facing girls and young women, always working in partnership with schools and communities, and guided by our founders’ fundamental belief in the inherent potential of each girl. Woven into the fabric of those early girls’ clubs are the same core values that shape Girls Inc. today: the importance of creating a supportive space where girls can learn, grow, and build lasting connections in sisterhood. We believe that every girl can develop her strengths, build confidence, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
1999, ECHO Leadership was launched
Serving 12 girls in one high school in Salinas (Alisal High School).
2001 ECHO was brought under the stewardship of the ACTION Council
The Action Council acted as fiscal sponsor for 2001-2011 and supported the organization to develop its infrastructure and programs.
2006 The program incorporated and designated by the IRS as 501(c) (3) organization, officially becoming Girls Inc. of the Central Coast.
2011 Became independent of the ACTION Council. The first Board of Directors for Girls Inc. of the Central Coast was created.
2013 The first growth plan set a 30% growth target and a goal to become tri-county.
2017 Exceeding targets in its growth plan, GICC served 1,519 girls and employed 28 Youth Leaders in all three counties (San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey.)
2018 Second growth plan 30%, expand to more school within the tri-county. GICC served 1,744 girls and employed 33 Youth Leaders in all three counties (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz County).
By July 2020 we set a goal to serve 1,800.
2019 GICC served 1,304 girls at 32 school sites, and employed 41 Youth Leaders in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey County.
In March 2020 we began facilitating all programs via zoom.
2020 GICC served 677 girls at 31 school sites, and employed 27 Youth Leaders in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey County.
(All programs were facilitated via zoom)
2021 GICC served 1,079 girls at 31 school sites, and employed 35 Youth Leaders in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey County. (Programs began going back to in-person)
2022 GICC served 1,285 girls at 36 school sites, and employed 36 Youth Leaders in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey County.
2023 GICC served 1,400 girls at 41 school sites, and employed 24 Youth Leaders in San Benito, Santa Cruz, Monterey County.
