Helping children of limited means to reach their full potential is a mission that World Vision and Girls Inc. share. Four years ago, the Dallas non-profit, began a partnership with World Vision and in that time World Vision has provided supplies such as clothing, toys, and school supplies for the girls as well as office supplies and furniture for the organization.

“It is a wonderful opportunity for non-profit agencies to grow,” says Nina Hadnot, Site Director of Girls Inc. South. “If it had not been for World Vision, there would be a lot that our kids would miss out on because we are unable to provide that.”

A couple of years ago, Girls Inc. had to cut their budget by $1 million. “In cutting the budget back, that cut out a lot of things that we would’ve purchased,” says Gracie Tolbert, Chief Programs Officer of Girls Inc. “World Vision compensated for the things we could not purchase.” Girls at Girls, Inc. work on an art project using some World Vision-donated supplies. Left to right: MaryJane, Mayra, Yarely, and Lorie.

And that’s a big help to the girls who attend the program and to their families. Nina and Gracie explain that at their Love Field location of Girls Inc., 65 percent of the girls’ families make less than $15,000 annually. For those families, even the $30 per year membership stretches their budget to the breaking point. Little things like a bottle of shampoo or conditioner, clothing, or even as small as a pencil can make a huge difference.

“We’re so grateful to the donors because if it had not been for them, there would be a lot that we couldn’t have done,” says Nina.

Yarely
Ten-year-old Yarely Zepeda was only 5 when she started coming to Girls Inc. The fun activities kept her attending for the past five years. She remembers with special fondness the talent show where she got to showcase her jump-rope abilities.

She also has gotten a lot of tutoring help with reading. Without having Girls Inc. her grades in reading would be suffering.

Yarely received World Vision-donated school supplies at Girls Inc. She describes how they help her: “The folders, I could keep my stuff organized. And a pencil so I could write and always have something at least so at school I won’t need to ask my friends to borrow some of their supplies.”

At Christmas time, staff and volunteers distributed gifts to each of the girls. Many of those came through World Vision. Yarely got shampoo. “I used it for the whole past month until it was empty. It smelled really good,” she says.

MaryJane
MaryJane Gonzales, 10, approaches life looking for interesting experiences to help her grow. Through her short time at Girls Inc. (she started attending in August 2008) she has already met people from Japan and South Africa. She likes having those types of opportunities to see beyond her own neighborhood.

She struggled with schoolwork, getting 50s in most classes. Now, with the help of tutors at Girls Inc., those scores have jumped to the 70s and 80s.

At Girls Inc., MaryJane got a new wardrobe to help her dress more appropriately for school. She used to wear sleeveless muscle t-shirts to school because she says the sleeves of her other shirts were too tight.

MaryJane and her three siblings came live with their father, grandmother, and uncle. Their father has been unable to find work, but fortunately their grandmother and uncle do have jobs.

Still, with seven people—all living in one trailer—money is tight. MaryJane appreciates the school supplies that were donated by World Vision donors. “Since my family doesn’t have really that much money, they give you supplies here and that’s real helpful,” she says.

To the donors, MaryJane shares this message: “Thank you for everything that they have done. It’s real neat for them to send us stuff.”

Mayra
Soft-spoken Mayra Perez, 11, first came to Girls Inc. two years ago. She was nervous during that first visit. “I didn’t think they were going to like me because I was new in Dallas,” she says. Her mother, sister, and Mayra moved from Brownsville when Mayra’s parents separated. Her mother found work at a plastic bag factory. And Mayra found new friends at Girls Inc.

She also improved her math scores from C’s to B’s. She says that without Girls Inc. she would continue to struggle with arithmetic. When she doesn’t have pencils to do her homework she has access to World Vision-donated school supplies.

Through its partnership with World Vision, Girls Inc. also is able to offer clothing to the girls in their program. “I’m thankful for those because I don’t have that much clothes,” says Mayra.

Lorie
Nine-year-old Lorie Lopez also found improved math scores at Girls Inc. She describes them as “a little bit low” before Girls Inc. and now “they’re high” and math has become her favorite subject.
Girls Inc. gave Lorie some of the Hannah Montana clothing they picked up at World Vision. Lorie says she liked “that I always got to wear them everywhere and I felt pretty cool.”


Thanks for Partnership
Through donor support, World Vision is able to offer assistance to non-profit organizations large and small. With the money these donations allow them to save, organizations can expand their services to those left most vulnerable by poverty.

“It has saved us in a lot of areas so we are able to do other things that we would not have been able to do if it had not been for World Vision,” says Nina. She describes World Vision as “God-filled” organization. “I hope it’s here for eternity.”

“Whoever thought of it deserves a pat on the back,” says Gracie.

April 2009
Dallas, Texas