Our History
Girls Inc. is the longest-running girls’ leadership organization.
Our Mission
Girls Inc. inspires all youth to be strong, smart, and bold.
Our Vision
Powerful girls* in an equitable society.
*Girls Inc. of the Valley welcomes girls, regardless of their assigned sex at birth, and gender-expansive youth.
We are committed to promoting equality and justice by welcoming all youth who experience gender-based oppression
(including but not limited to transgender girls, cisgender girls, transmasculine youth, and non-binary individuals).
Our Values
Recognize and support the strength in every girl.
Respect the dignity of each human being and demonstrate genuine care and concern for the wellbeing of others.
Understand and appreciate diversity, embrace inclusiveness, and advance equity.
Drive for results anchored in integrity and accountability.
Collaborate for impact.
Girls Inc. was founded in 1864 to serve girls and young women who were experiencing upheaval in the aftermath of the Civil War.
In 1981, local women opened the Girls Club of Holyoke in the former Tommy’s Taxi Building. In 1990, when the national office of Girls Clubs of America changed their name to Girls Inc., the Girls Club of Holyoke followed suit. Girls Inc. of Holyoke, now Girls Inc. of the Valley, was built on the foundation of 150 years of service to our grandmothers, our mothers, ourselves, and now, our daughters.
Girls Inc. of the Valley is an independent organization affiliated with the national office of Girls Inc., headquartered in New York City. Through that office, we connect with 80+ sister affiliates across the U.S. and Canada, from California to New Hampshire, Alberta to Ontario, and many places in between.
Research informs everything we do. Twice annually, the national office publishes the “Girls Inc. Fact Book” as part of their extensive research into the lives of girls and young women in the U.S. and Canada today. This research ensures that we deliver the most valuable experience to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold.
Girls Inc. National keeps gender equality in the national conversation. They advocate with elected officials, policy makers, corporations and community organizations on issues that affect girls such as equality in education, violence prevention and juvenile justice.
Across the decades, we adapted to meet the specific environmental challenges facing girls and young women, always working in partnership with schools and communities, and guided by our founders’ fundamental belief in the inherent potential of each girl. Woven into those early girls’ clubs are the same core values of Girls Inc. today: the importance of creating a safe gathering place for girls to learn and to share in a sisterhood and a strong premise that each girl can develop her own capacities, self- confidence, and grow up healthy, educated, and independent.
For 160 years, Girls Inc. has been evolving with girls.
We not only support girls, we also equip them and give them the opportunity to envision, and then create, a more equitable future.
Girls Inc. is the leading expert on girls.
Working with and on behalf of girls for 160 years has given us unparalleled knowledge and expertise. The Girls Inc. Experience changes the trajectory of girls’ lives and prepares them for lifelong success.
Girls Inc. has served millions of girls across the United States and Canada.
Our participants are equipped with the skills to lead and create positive change in their communities.
Girls’ Bill of Rights
We will always support girls and ensure that their rights are recognized and respected.