As summer reaches its peak, droves of kids are embarking on a journey to summer camp, an experience that holds tremendous potential in shaping their future. Notably, for girls attending single-gender camps, this opportunity brings forth numerous advantages, such as feeling a sense of comfort in embracing their true selves and shedding worries about taking risks. The experience can pave the way for boosted self-esteem, self-confidence, self-worth, and independence in their lives.
WFBoston Funds Camp Programs
With a mission of financially empowering women and girls, the Women’s Foundation of Boston (WFBoston) realizes that building a solid foundation in childhood results in positive outcomes as girls move into adulthood. Because summer camp is one of those foundational experiences, WFBoston supports nonprofits that offer these types of programs. Two such partners, Girlstart and Girls Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM), offer STEM-based programming that introduces girls to new concepts and helps them build confidence.
Building STEM Skills in Underrepresented Communities
Girlstart is a national, female-led nonprofit offering year-round out-of-school time STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math) programming for girls in grades 4-8. With funding from WFBoston, Girlstart offered two one-week Pet Vet themed camps in Greater Boston. Participants channeled their inner veterinarian, coding a pet-themed computer game and using 3D modeling to design and print a unique animal shelter. Whether exploring cat genetics, fish tank environments, or programming games to help pets, girls gained hands-on experience using innovative technology, while growing their confidence in the engineering process, and working as a team, all while learning more about STEM fields and opportunities.
GSCWM Introduces Girls to STEM, Financial Literacy, and Healthy Living
Girl Scouts of Central and Western Massachusetts (GSCWM) aims to build courage, confidence, and character in girls who want to make the world a better place. With funding from WFBoston, GSCWM offers free summer programming in the Greater Worcester area which include STEM projects, financial literacy, and healthy living for girls from underserved communities.
Summer Camp Offers a Host of Benefits
Summer camp can be a time for girls to build memories, learn new skills, push boundaries, be active, and get to know themselves. A recent Girl Scout blog shared some of the positive effects of summer camp for girls:
- Broaden horizons
- Build resilience
- Try new things
- Boost emotional intelligence, decision-making skills, creativity, and problem-solving abilities
- Unplug from phones and social media
Empower Girls Today by Donating to WFBoston
To support organizations like Girlstart and Girls Scouts of Central and Western MA, and help more girls experience the long-term advantages of summer camp, the Women’s Foundation needs your help. Summer camp is an experience all girls should have because of its life-changing benefits, independent of their means. Help empower more girls and donate to the Women’s Foundation of Boston today!
Laurie H. Glimcher, MD, was named President and CEO of the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in 2016. She is also Director of the Dana-Farber/Harvard Cancer Center and the Richard and Susan Smith Professor of Medicine at Harvard Medical School. Previously, she was the Stephen and Suzanne Weiss Dean and Professor of Medicine of Weill Cornell Medicine and Provost for Medical Affairs of Cornell University. Dr. Glimcher is a distinguished immunologist, widely renowned for her work in one of the most promising areas of cancer research.
Linda Henry is the CEO of the Boston Globe Media Partners. She is a co-founder of HUBweek, a civic collaboration between the Boston Globe, Harvard University, Massachusetts General Hospital, and MIT that explores the future being built at the intersection of art, science and technology. Linda is also an early-stage impact investor, an Emmy-Award winning television producer with two shows currently airing, and a community activist. She serves as a director of the Red Sox Foundation, is a trustee of the Liverpool Football Club Foundation, chair of the Boston Globe Foundation, and chairman of the John W. Henry Family Foundation. In addition, she is a founder of the Boston Public Market, serves on the advisory board of MassChallenge, and is on the board of the Engine at MIT. She earned a BS from Babson College and her MS from MIT.
Bekah Salwasser joined the Red Sox Foundation as the Executive Director in January of 2018. She earned her B.A. in Psychology from Brown University and has extensive experience in philanthropy and both professional and semi-professional sports. After four years working as Community Relations Director for the Boston Celtics, Bekah went on to lead Scholar Athletes as its Executive Director, a program that supports public high school athletes with both their athletic and academic achievements. Earlier in her career, Bekah served as a professional soccer player for the Boston Breakers and as Executive Director of the Charlestown Lacrosse and Learning Center.
Kimberly Fay Boucher is a business executive who has driven high performance organizations in technology, consumer products and social enterprise/nonprofit industries over the past 25 years. She is currently the Technology Commercialization Business Leader for the CTO at Analog Devices, where she is responsible for driving new technologies from incubation stages to successful businesses. Kim is also a Senior Lecturer at the MIT Sloan School of Management, where she teaches Disciplined Entrepreneurship in the Martin Trust Center. She holds a BS in Management Industrial Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She is a NCAA Academic All-American Women’s Basketball player and has been inducted into the WPI Hall of Fame.
Ami Kuan Danoff (Co-Founder and CFO) is a private investor and the trustee of a foundation. She is a Harvard Quantum Founder and a member of the Harvard FAS Dean’s Council. Ami earned a bachelor’s degree from Harvard University in Visual and Environmental Studies and holds a dual master’s degree in Applied Economics and International Finance from the Sloan School of Management at MIT. She was a portfolio manager in global equities at Putnam Investments and co-manager of the Putnam International New Opportunities Fund, and also worked as an international equities analyst at Fidelity Investments.
Christina Heenan Suh holds an MBA from Harvard Business School, a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania in English and Marketing and a master’s from Columbia University. A former management consultant, her work focused on strategy and implementation projects for Fortune 100 clients. She was also an account executive at Hill+Knowlton (WPP) marketing consumer packaged goods. As an Executive Board Member of the Brookline Education Foundation, which funds professional development in the Brookline Public Schools, Christina led their Grant and Oversight Committees. She currently sits on the board of the Brookline Library Foundation and teaches ESL at Rosie’s Place in Boston.
Christina Gordon (Co-Founder and CEO) holds a dual master’s degree in International Finance and Applied Economics from MIT’s Sloan School of Management. She earned her bachelor’s degree from Boston University and also studied for a joint master’s degree in Women’s Studies and Sociology at Brandeis with a focus on women in the workplace. Christina is a former assistant fund manager and technology industry equity analyst at Wellington Management. She also worked as a stock analyst at Fidelity Investments. She is a trustee of a private foundation, a member of Women Moving Millions and currently sits on the board of Rosie’s Place, a sanctuary for poor and homeless women in Boston.