Eleven years ago, we started Girls First with a dream—to help underserved girls of New Orleans grow to become healthier, happier women. Through organized group sports and movement activities they would learn how to overcome obstacles, develop their self-image, and experience new situations that could build their confidence and help them find their inner potential.

Even then, we knew it was a big dream. But today, we are 90 campers strong and Girls First has touched the lives of more than 500 girls. Our former campers are now returning as camp counselors, becoming college freshmen, and being nurtured into future female leaders. This fall, all of our girls were able to meet Martina Navratilova and Monica Seles at a pro-am tennis match. Two lucky girls were given the opportunity to attend the “Salute to Women in Sports” annual gala and awards dinner, hosted by the Women’s Sports Foundation in New York City.

We never imagined that our dream would create such wonderful opportunities and partnerships for our girls. Now, as we enter our second decade, the staff and Board of Directors are preparing to take our dream to the “next level.” Girls First needs a home.

We envision a day when every young woman in Girls First will take part in similar trips and experience one-on-one mentoring by prominent women role models on a regular basis. We dream of opening a local center where our campers, young leaders, and community volunteers can participate in on-going programs, workshops, and mentoring activities—a center that would be a model for inter-generational support and outreach activities for ALL girls and women in our community.

We know it’s a big dream. And to achieve it will take more time and energy than we or our board members can possibly provide – it will also take a full-time Executive Director—a person dedicated to identifying resources that will allow us to offer after-school programming, on-going fitness and sports-specific training, and year-round support—all in one location.

The need for our programs is clear. And as more and more New Orleanians find their way home, this need will only continue to grow. We want Girls First to grow to meet this need, but our financial constraints force us to turn away hundreds of deserving applicants each year.

Together, we can make this dream a reality. Are you ready to help Girls First get to the “next level”? Please help the young women of New Orleans by donating whatever amount you can. Your generous support can help fund our broadening mission. Spread the word to others about the positive impact that Girls First is making. Tell them that there is a program that works—together, we’re creating a broader vision for our city and its young women. In eleven more years, just imagine how many more lives could be touched and changed by Girls First.

With your help, we can create the Girls First Center—an environment where year-round programming will teach girls to work in teams, build their knowledge of sports, grow with confidence, and develop more positive self-images. We’ve seen the difference a one-week residential camp and 12 monthly activities can make—now it’s a matter of being there for the girls 365-days a year.

It is a big dream, we know. We believe, do you?

Helen Siegel and Missie McGuire,
co-founders of Girls First