Dear Friends:

I want to personally thank you for your continued dedication to Girls First. I have been fortunate to be a part of this unique organization for over two years and in this short time I have witnessed what a tremendous impact this organization has on the self-confidence, discipline and sportsmanship of the deserving young girls of New Orleans.

My connection to the program is unique from several other camp counselors. I was first introduced to Girls First while reviewing more than 300 grant applications for a nonprofit organization. This program jumped off the pages at me. The dedication to the success of each individual goes above and beyond any program I have ever heard of. Weeks after the selection process was completed, I was still thinking about what I had read in the application and knew admiration wouldn’t be enough; I needed to get involved.

Despite meeting everyone for the first time and being over 1,000 miles from home, I immediately felt at home and a welcomed addition to the Girls First family from day one. More importantly, I witnessed firsthand how this hospitality and care was expressed and carried on to the girls. The C.I.T’s (Counselors-in-Training) were so excited to be back for a week at camp with friends they had grown-up with. This excitement can’t be contained; it resonates not just at camp, but throughout the year to the younger girls and program leaders who anxiously count down to summer camp week.

I was, and continue to be, amazed by the amount of preparation and planning that goes into planning the Girls First weeklong summer camp. Not surprising to me, however, is the number of campers and counselors who return, travelling locally or from over thousands of miles away, to be a part of this camp. While I found myself just as tired as the campers (if not more!) by the week’s end, I didn’t think twice about arranging my schedule to come back for camp this year. Girls First takes great pride in the family it creates and this is reflected in the number of counselors, but more importantly campers, who return each year.

I sincerely thank you for your continued assistance to Girls First. Thanks to your dedication to the program, Girls First girls continue to build the self-confidence and discipline they need to stay on course for a healthy, successful lifestyle. Your assistance ensures the program continues to flourish and the Girls First family continues to grow.

Sincerely,

Cassandra Aman
Girls First Camp Counselor