Girls Empowered

Yesterday, at our Girls Leadership Program, our theme was communication. The girls used their communication skills to work in teams to see which team could build the tallest marshmellow tower. The girls learned the difference between passive, aggressive, and assertive communication and practiced being assertive during role plays. We had a discussion about the positives and negatives of social media and how to set healthy boundaries for themselves. Thank you to Linda Hollenback from Hollenback Consulting LLC for talking to the girls about networking, elevator speeches, and being the CEO of their success.

These girls started off the Girls Leadership Program today by learning about the qualities of effective leaders. Thank you to Kelly from the Kiwanis Club of Central Bucks for teaching the girls about philanthropy and inviting them to participate in a book drive to provide books to local children in need. The girls will work in teams and utilize their leadership skills to collect books and nonperishable food for the Doylestown Food Pantry this week.

It was a great last day of Camp Girl Power. Thank you to Crafty Couch Counseling for helping these girls make empowering buttons. These girls left feeling EMPOWERED. We have just a few spots left in our upcoming empowerment programs. See flyers below for more info. Email us at [email protected] to register.

In honor of June’s LGBTQ Pride month, Girls Empowered would like to highlight the achievements of Ruth Charlotte Ellis, an African-American LGBTQ rights activist, and also the oldest surviving open le***an at 101 years old. Ruth’s resilience started early on, with the loss of her mother while Ruth was still a teen. Her father was the first African American mail carrier in Illinois, where Ruth grew up. Ruth graduated high school in a time when less than 7% of African Americans completed high school. She became open about her le***an identity around 1915, living with the same woman for over 30 years, and offering that home as a refuge for other le***an and gay African Americans. Ruth and her partner also opened the first ever woman-owned printing business in Michigan, called Ellis & Franklin Printing. In 2009, Ruth was inducted into the Michigan Hall of Fame. Also inspired by her work, The Ruth Ellis Center began, which is a social service agency that serves homeless LGBTQ youth. We think that Ruth Ellis was incredibly EMPOWERED!

The girls had fun at Camp Girl Power today learning how to be effective leaders and team players and putting their skills into practice through relay races.

Today, at Camp Girl Power the girls learned all about relationships. They learned about healthy vs unhealthy relationships, how to be assertive, and about bullying. Thanks to Nova Bucks for teaching the girls how to be upstanders when it comes to bullying. They also enjoyed lunch at Lake Galena.

We still have a few spots left for session II of Camp Girl Power. Check out the flyer below. Email [email protected], if interested in registering.

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It was another great day at Camp Girl Power. During our Mind, Body, Spirit day, the girls made stress survival bags, coping cards, and learned about the importance of exercise and eating well-balanced meals. The highlight of the day was yoga by Lake Galena with The Yoga Gnome.

We still have a few spots left for session II of Camp Girl Power. Check out the flyer below. Email [email protected], if interested in registering.

A message from our Founder and CEO:

Last month, my mom passed away. She was always my biggest fan, support, and advocate. My mom helped me develop a strong sense of self-worth growing up by always encouraging me to do my best and supporting me whether it was in academics, extracurricular activities, or relationships. When I struggled, she got me help whether it was a tutor to help me with algebra or singing lessons when I didn’t get into the school show. She taught me there was no shame in asking for help when I needed it. My mom taught me the importance of self-discipline and a good work ethic when it came to being a student and pushed me to obtain the highest level of education I could explaining that an education is one thing nobody can ever take away from you. My mom always encouraged me to have friends and date during my teen years. She was always there to talk through problems and navigate these relationships. She taught me the careful balance of maintaining relationships but also knowing when they weren’t healthy and to let them go. My mom emphasized the value of quality over quantity when it came to friends and not giving into peer pressure. Consequently, I never felt the need to go along with the crowd.

As a child, you assume everyone has parents similar to yours. However, as I grew up and even more so when I started working with clients in therapy, I realized that not everyone has parents or another support to help them develop positive self-worth and healthy relationships. While girls may have more opportunities today than ever before, it is also one of the most challenging and confusing times to be a girl. Thus, I used my own upbringing as well as my clinical training, skills, and experience to create Camp Girl Power in 2014 and founded Girls Empowered in 2015 to provide the opportunity for all girls to learn how to be EMPOWERED by providing them the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources to stand up for oneself, make positive choices, and be in control of one’s future.

Girls Empowered has created a scholarship in loving memory of my mom, Rhonda Bonnie, to provide the opportunity for a girl in our local community in financial need to attend Camp Girl Power this summer. Contributions towards this scholarship are welcome. They can be made in honor or memory of a mother or mother figure. Please make donations online to https://www.girlsempowered.org/donate-now/ or mail a check payable to “Girls Empowered” to PO Box 201, Doylestown, PA 18901. Donations should be designated to “In Loving Memory of Rhonda Bonnie Scholarship”. Please specify if you would like the donation made in honor or memory of a mom in your life and where to send an acknowledgement letter.

Be EMPOWERED,

Dawn H. Haaz, Psy.D.
Licensed Psychologist
Founder and CEO of Girls Empowered, Inc.
[email protected]

We had a great first day of Camp Girl Power. Today, the girls focused on self-identity and self-esteem. Thank you to Action Karate Doylestown for not only teaching the girls karate moves but also how karate can help with self-discipline and self-confidence. The girls got to be real life super heroes and made affirmation cards.

We still have a few spots left in Session II. Check out the flyer below and register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewePA0iXI1JB-tRMgaLk1usOFTLC9V-1BaPSQ5UheOI1Vdvg/viewform?pli=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3tHTnbegJT4SKVz9ZmOAqi3Ri96zJ9TTLlhy8O1VpBzYL1eKCOmwZuUgE_aem_AaScQHMgVqZrsCzG-LkPsnKY3nsKlVhfYbBKOOgW4dpvgi2STqnzwEekF-39B76igP6MCEzU40V-QCQkO0kPGRMV

Girls Empowered had a great time EMPOWERING these Girl Scouts during their Disney themed camp this week. We explored Disney characters as heroines, the qualities of a heroine, and how they are heroines in their every day life.

Join Girls Empowered for the 4th of July parade. All award winners, past and present campers, and any girl in elementary through high school are invited to join us. Please email us at [email protected] to RSVP.

It's Juneteenth Day. Today, we celebrate the end of slavery in the U.S. This federal holiday was signed into law by President Biden on June 17, 2021. However, this may not have happened if it wasn't for 94-year-old Opal Lee, known as the “Grandmother of Juneteenth,” as she had worked as an activist for over 40 years to get this day recognized. Lee said, "If people can be taught to hate, they can be taught to love.” Girls Empowered agrees! Contact us at [email protected] to schedule a diversity program.

This is a great opportunity for those working on college essays. All proceeds will be donated to Girls Empowered.

We have just one spot left for Camp Girl Power next week. There's a few more spots open for Session II. We have a full scholarship available for a girl in financial need. Email [email protected] to register.

Happy Father's Day to all the dads and father figures who EMPOWER the next generation of women.

Congratulations to all of the graduates! Wishing everyone a fun and EMPOWERED summer! Hope to see many of you this summer!

Girls Empowered is exciting to be marching in the Tri Municipal 4th of July Parade in Chalfont. Award winners, campers, and any girl in the community in elementary through high school is invited to join us. Please email us at [email protected] to let us know if you can march with us.

Want to EMPOWER your daughter this summer? There's just a few more spots left in Camp Girl Power! Register here today: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewePA0iXI1JB-tRMgaLk1usOFTLC9V-1BaPSQ5UheOI1Vdvg/viewform?pli=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR3tHTnbegJT4SKVz9ZmOAqi3Ri96zJ9TTLlhy8O1VpBzYL1eKCOmwZuUgE_aem_AaScQHMgVqZrsCzG-LkPsnKY3nsKlVhfYbBKOOgW4dpvgi2STqnzwEekF-39B76igP6MCEzU40V-QCQkO0kPGRMV

Working on your college essay this summer? This is a great opportunity to receive help from a professional, who will generously donate the proceeds to Girls Empowered. See details below.

Thank you to Smith Insurance Brokers for being a sponsor of Camp Girl Power. With their generosity, Girls Empowered is excited to provide a girl in financial need with a full scholarship to attend Camp Girl Power this summer. Please email us at [email protected] for more information and to apply for this scholarship.

Concluding Girls Empowered Award winner announcements is our high school Honorable Mention, Brooke. Brooke has been quite busy throughout her high school career, participating in the Interact Club, Student Council, Link Crew, Flag Football, Athletic Leadership Council, and also teaching swim lessons. Additionally, she was a captain of her varsity basketball team this year, and led a group of younger, inexperienced players. Despite a challenging season without many wins, Brooke continued to uplift, inspire, and motivate the younger teammates. Brooke’s coach shared, “One of Brooke’s most remarkable qualities is her ability to remain positive and encouraging even in the face of adversity.” We wish Brooke luck next year at Messiah College and trust she will continue to EMPOWER others there too!

Thank you to The Center for Neuropsychology and Counseling for being a sponsor of Camp Girl Power. With their generosity, Girls Empowered is excited to provide a girl in financial need with a full scholarship to attend Camp Girl Power this summer. Please email us at [email protected] for more information and to apply for this scholarship.

Introducing, middle school Girls Empowered Award Honorable Mention, Sadie! In school, Sadie participates in Student Council, Math Club, National Honor Society, and is a Distinguished Honor Roll student. Outside of school, Sadie volunteers at a women’s shelter and is also a Bux-Mont Scholar Athlete. When her team folded, Sadie decided to serve as a mentor and volunteered to coach a team of younger athletes. Since August, Sadie has been volunteering up to 5 days a week to help a team of 6 girls teaching them cheer skills, confidence, endurance, leadership, and grit. That’s pretty EMPOWERED!

Summer is just around the corner, and there's just a couple spots left in Camp Girl Power. Register here: https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSewePA0iXI1JB-tRMgaLk1usOFTLC9V-1BaPSQ5UheOI1Vdvg/viewform?pli=1&fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTAAAR0CVg8tyYGHPl1lVZVApqdI83TVmJsLnq0yJ1ukWEJAHdR0mhZlhlZ64LE_aem_AeagIcPRpouX2adj61KZTyKLXvgmSjov1FZ4ajHltvbw9GC6383gRjpchbm_BYi7qdwfO3BHF0p3BLyKN3D3THIX

Please meet elementary school Girls Empowered Award Honorable Mention, Caitlin! Caitlin was nominated both by a former teacher, as well as her current teacher. In school, Caitlin participates as a team leader in 6th Grade Club and is also a field hockey player outside of school. Both teachers recognized Caitlin’s helpful, kind nature. On the field, Caitlin has taken newer players aside to practice skills they are struggling with. In school, Caitlin is quick to stand up for peers being picked on. Additionally, as a formerly shy and introverted student, who did not feel she was a strong writer, Caitlin really shined presenting her 6th grade project on asthma, a condition she personally experiences. This project required significant writing, researching, and public speaking. Caitlin presented personal accounts with confidence and commanded the room. Her teacher said, “Cait has overcome her own challenges and uses those lessons to show everyone kindness, even in their darkest moments.”

In honor of Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month, Girls Empowered would like to recognize the accomplishments of Kimberly Ng. Kimberly Ng is the former manager of the Miami Marlins Baseball Team. In 2020, she became the first woman, as well as the first Asian American, to serve as general manager in Major League Baseball. Born of Cantonese and Thailand descent, her interest in baseball and sports began early. She played softball throughout college and while attending there, also served as president of University of Chicago’s Women’s Athletic Association. Defying gender stereotypes and paving the way for other women and minority groups in sports and leadership positions, we think Kimberly Ng is pretty EMPOWERED!

Girls Empowered Award runner up at the high school level is 12th grader, Elizabeth. Elizabeth was nominated by a teacher at school and recognized for the number of leadership roles she has played at her school. In addition to participating in West United, a student organization that works to create an inclusive environment for all students, she also runs the account and shares the stories of other students, mindful to represent a variety of community members. Additionally, with the help of other students and staff, Elizabeth not only helped to stock women’s bathrooms with free feminine products, but later worked with administration when the products were removed without explanation. Way to be EMPOWERED, Elizabeth!