Our History

Girls Inc. was founded in 1864 to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War.

Across the decades, we have continuously adapted to meet the evolving societal and environmental challenges facing girls and young women, always working in partnership with schools and communities and always guided by our founders’ belief in the inherent potential of every girl. Woven into the early girls’ clubs are the same core values of Girls Inc. today: the importance of creating a welcoming and supportive gathering place for girls to learn and share in sisterhood and a deeply held belief that every girl can develop strong character, build self-confidence, and grow up to be healthy, educated, and independent.

History of Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey has been serving the region since 1961, beginning as Teen Aid before becoming an independent affiliate of the national organization, Girls Inc., in 2002.

Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey uses a whole-girl approach to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Girls learn to value themselves, take positive risks, and develop their inherent strengths through a combination of research-based programs, mentoring relationships, and a pro-girl environment.

At Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey, our programs focus on leadership development, community action, STEAM, early literacy, media literacy, and healthy decision-making. Through these research-based programs, our participants gain the skills to navigate gender, economic, and social barriers and grow into healthy, educated, and independent young women. Girls Inc. of Greater Philadelphia & Southern New Jersey serves over 3,000 girls annually.