Nonprofit Spotlight
September's Nonprofit Spotlight is Girls Group!
Girls Group empowers young women to achieve emotional and economic self-sufficiency by ensuring they graduate from high school and begin their college or career journeys.
– Programming spans middle school, high school, and continues through college and careers.
– Participants are mentored by experienced staff and interns.
– Year-round comprehensive programming focuses on academic readiness, social/emotional life skills, financial education, and community service.
Girls Group changes the narrative on generational poverty. For over 20 years, they’ve empowered young women to stay in school, develop a college mindset, graduate from high school, and become first-generation college students. Their participants go on to build successful careers and healthy relationships—changing not only their own futures, but the futures of generations to come.
The stats can be daunting: nearly 30% of students who are low-income or students of color will not graduate from high school, and those who drop out are 150% more likely to live in poverty. Yet for two decades, 100% of Girls Group participants actively involved in their programs have graduated from high school, defying the odds through educational and financial empowerment. They address the root causes of poverty year-round, providing mentorship, resources, and individualized action plans that help participants navigate academic and personal challenges, and set and achieve their goals.
When you change the destiny of a young woman, you change generations. Through long-term, trusting relationships, Girls Group participants gain the confidence, skills, and opportunities to break cycles of poverty and reach emotional and economic self-sufficiency. They believe that with the right support, every young woman—regardless of circumstance—can realize her dreams and show the world what’s possible.
Details
Events to support Girls Group
Building Empowered Futures Luncheon
October 11, 2025
11:30 am –1:30 pm
You're invited for a luncheon at the Jack Roth Stadium Club overlooking the University of Michigan football field. The 2025 celebration will include networking, a program with stories from some of their participants, mimosa and bloody mary bars, catered lunch, and a paddle raise. Register and find more info on their website at girlsgroup.org/event/luncheon2025
Zingerman's Mail Order Warehouse Shop Fundraiser Sale
September 19, 2025
9:00 am –9:00 pm
Come to Zingerman's Mail Order's Warehouse Shop at 710 Phoenix Drive in Ann Arbor on Friday, September 19th! All of the sales that day from the in-person shop will be donated to Girls Group! The shop is open from 9am to 9pm and it's self service. It's full of some of Zingerman's favorite snacks, sauces, oils, candies, cheeses, and much more - at unbelievable prices. Come down and get some great deals for a fantastic cause!
Resources Offered
Girls Group provides year-round, comprehensive programming that supports young women from middle school through high school, college, and into their careers. They currently serve over 1,100 socially and economically disadvantaged youth across Washtenaw County through six core programs, including weekly sessions at 29 school and community sites. All programs are provided free of charge, and include transportation and meals.
If you or a young person you know is interested in joining, the student’s primary parent or guardian can complete the Girls Group Application. If you have questions, please contact their Program Director, Jennifer Brents, at [email protected]. For students enrolled at a school where they run weekly programs, another great first step is to speak with your school counselor about becoming a Girls Group member.
Programming is designed to help young women develop into confident, empowered, healthy, and successful individuals. Programming activities are designed to teach problem-solving, decision-making, and leadership skills that are critical to navigating the challenges of growing up. Building on this foundation of belonging and life skills, participants set and reach goals, specifically graduating high school and getting to and through higher education. This path is the foundation for their vision: that all young women in our community will be emotionally and economically self-sufficient.
Girls Group accepts new participants year-round on their website at: https://www.girlsgroup.org/become-a-participant/
How to Support
The number one way people in the community can support Girls Group is by spreading the word about their work! Follow them on social media, share their mission and impact with your friends, family, and networks—whether it’s in person, or on social media, the more people who know about Girls Group, the more young women they can reach and empower.
Because their programs and services are offered entirely free of charge to participants, they seek financial contributions from community members and foundations to support their work. Please consider making a gift at www.girlsgroup.org or by clicking the donation link.
They also occasionally have volunteer opportunities for community members who want to give their time and talents to support their programs and events.
By sharing their story, making a contribution and encouraging others to get involved, you help ensure that every young woman in Washtenaw County has the tools, resources, and encouragement she needs to succeed.
Volunteering
Whether you’re helping with a special project, lending your expertise, or cheering on participants at an event, your involvement makes a difference. You can sign up here: https://www.girlsgroup.org/volunteers/
Other Donations
Girls Group is currently seeking donations of new items for the back to school needs of their participants.
Backpacks
Notebooks
Loose-leaf Paper Packs
Folders
Pens
Pencils
Highlighters
Index Cards
Sticky Notes
Calculators
USB Drives
Self-care items (lotion, face masks, chapstick, etc.)
Reusable Water Bottles
Dorm Supplies (laundry bags, towels, etc.)
Hand Sanitize (travel size)
Art Supplies (markers, colored pencils, sketchbooks)
Please contact Kayla at [email protected] to coordinate your drive or donation to Girls Group.
Why Zing loves GG
One of our past team members had been an earlier participant in Girls Group. The joy that she brought to our team was truly delightful, and we know that community programs like this help give young girls the confidence to become incredible young women like her. We also know positively shifting the path of these students can drastically shape the world around us for the better for everyone. Our community will thrive even more when more of these young women get the opportunity to have their voices heard and to become the people they are striving to be. We're honored to support Girls Group and look forward to the fantastic ripple effect they'll have by nurturing these developing minds.