Twenty-seven Organizations in 17 States Receive 2007 GoGirlGo! Grants
By Eleis Brennan
The Women's Sports Foundation is pleased to announce its 2007 GoGirlGo! Grantees. A total of $155,000 will be distributed to organizations and schools serving more than 3,000 girls between the ages of 8 and 13. These organizations and schools have agreed to implement the GoGirlGo! curriculum and provide opportunities for girls to play sports and engage in physical activity. The Women's Sports Foundation would like to thank national sponsors Advanta Corp. and Gatorade®, Pennsylvania sponsor, The Hershey Company, and the Robin Roberts GoGirlGo! Fund for their support of the 2007 GoGirlGo! Grants.
Below are descriptions of three of the 27 deserving programs across the nation awarded a GoGirlGo! Grant.
Ashland Area Girls Softball Association
Ashland, Pa.In Ashland, Pa., an area with a rich history rich in the coal mining industry, there are no school programs or summer sports leagues. Located in northeastern Pennsylvania, Ashland's economy was based primarily on coal, up until the 1950s and 1960s when the coal mining industry started to decline. Decades later, the area faces such problems as teen pregnancy and alcoholism. For the past 17 years, the Ashland Area Girls Softball Association has encouraged young women and girls to choose a healthy, active lifestyle instead of engaging in risky behavior. The Softball Association is open to girls from the towns of Ashland, Girardville, Fountain Springs, Gordon, Lavelle, Locustdale and Artistes. Each year from March to July, 120 girls have the opportunity to play softball and build healthy relationships among their peers.
Girls First
New Orleans, La.Each June in New Orleans, 90 girls between the ages of 6 and 12 attend a weeklong sports camp at Tulane University. The girls are instructed in various team and individual sports such as swimming and they participate in outdoor activities. The girls are also instructed in nutrition and health education. This camp kicks off a year-long program that consists of monthly programs for the girls to continue engaging in fun, healthy activities with their peers. In Louisiana, where 80% of public schools do not have a physical education program, organizations such as Girls First are vital in providing a positive resource for young girls.
Southeast Texas Police Activities League
Beaumont, TexasThe Southeast Texas Police Activities League (PAL) provides the resources for up to 725 girls and young women each summer to maintain a healthy lifestyle with activities such as basketball, volleyball, cheerleading and tennis. The PAL program strives not only to keep the girls active but also to improve their academic and social skills. The recreational activities are combined with tutoring and computer training. As of 2000, 50% of the residents in Southeast Texas were living below the poverty level. The area is also plagued with high incidence of pre-teen pregnancy and drug abuse. In addition, many of the victims of Hurricane Katrina were relocated to this area in 2005. The Southeast Texas PAL program gives young girls the opportunity to participate in healthy activities instead of engaging in risky behavior.
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