VISION: The vision of Women Helping Girls (WHG) is that underserved girls will enter young adulthood with the social, emotional, and academic skills needed to be successful in a diverse world.

MISSION: Women support underserved girls in the Rochester City School District in leading productive and successful lives by recognizing and respecting each girl's assets, and by providing emotional support, guidance, mentoring and broadening experiences.

Description:
Women Helping Girls, a program of the Greater Rochester Branch of the American Association of University Women, offers girls in grades 7-12 a series of activities and enriching experiences designed to broaden horizons, develop life skills, and reinforce the importance of completing one's education. WHG emphasizes mentoring, a sense of community, and positive interactions with peers and family. A variety of optional activities are offered on selected Saturdays for the girls and their mentors, such as visits to area museums, career days, financial workshops, and field trips. Social gatherings designed to include parents/guardians of the girls as well as the entire WHG volunteer group are held several times throughout the year.

History:
Begun in 1992 by a group of AAUW members who were Rochester City School District administrators and teachers, Women Helping Girls has touched the lives of over 350 girls. In the beginning, Women Helping Girls provided mentoring and activities to girls in several RSCD middle schools. In 1995, Women Helping Girls was centralized at the Dr. Freddie Thomas Learning Center, now Freddie Thomas High School. From 1995 to 2003, Women Helping Girls implemented an in-school program for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders during the school day as well as a mentoring and a high school program. The partnership with the Rochester City School District and Women Helping Girls continues, with the program now located at Wilson Foundation Academy (formerly James Madison) and Wilson Commencement Academy (formerly Wilson Magnet High School). Girls are invited to become part of Women Helping Girls in the 7th grade, and continue in the program through their graduation from high school.

Contact person: Joyce Pearson, Coordinator, (phone), (email)
Office fax number: (585) 244-5277

Address:

494 East Avenue Rochester, NY 14607 (See a map)