Our History
In the early 1960s, the Chattanooga Business and Professional Women's Club recognized a need to support underserved girls in Hamilton
County. When Girls Inc. of Chattanooga was chartered in 1961 as the Girls Club of Chattanooga, girls ages 6 to 18 attended afterschool programs in hygiene, cooking, sewing, flower arranging, Bible studies, and other programs that would train them for traditional roles as wives and mothers.
The changing roles of women in the 1970s and 1980s prompted our organization to prepare girls for expanded roles in places of business, government, and community service. In 1990, the renamed Girls Inc. of Chattanooga strengthened its mission to lead girls into the 21st century as strong and equal members of the Chattanooga and world communities. Since 2000, two programs originated by Girls Inc.of Chattanooga have been adopted for nationwide use by the national Girls Inc. organization.
Today, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga inspires and equips all girls to be strong, smart and bold on their journey of self discovery. Through in-school, afterschool, spring, summer and fall break camps, career academies and outreach programs, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga has served more than 23,000 girls from diverse backgrounds throughout Hamilton County. Our educational programs are research-based and produce measurable outcomes. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2011.
County. When Girls Inc. of Chattanooga was chartered in 1961 as the Girls Club of Chattanooga, girls ages 6 to 18 attended afterschool programs in hygiene, cooking, sewing, flower arranging, Bible studies, and other programs that would train them for traditional roles as wives and mothers.
The changing roles of women in the 1970s and 1980s prompted our organization to prepare girls for expanded roles in places of business, government, and community service. In 1990, the renamed Girls Inc. of Chattanooga strengthened its mission to lead girls into the 21st century as strong and equal members of the Chattanooga and world communities. Since 2000, two programs originated by Girls Inc.of Chattanooga have been adopted for nationwide use by the national Girls Inc. organization.
Today, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga inspires and equips all girls to be strong, smart and bold on their journey of self discovery. Through in-school, afterschool, spring, summer and fall break camps, career academies and outreach programs, Girls Inc. of Chattanooga has served more than 23,000 girls from diverse backgrounds throughout Hamilton County. Our educational programs are research-based and produce measurable outcomes. We celebrated our 50th anniversary in 2011.
Our Mission
The mission of Girls Inc.of Chattanooga is to inspire and equip all girls to be strong, smart and bold® - healthy, educated and independent - on their journey to self-discovery. Our organizational goals are to provide a healthy and positive environment where girls enjoy being girls, participate in enriching programs that nurture their capacity for personal achievement, college attainment, confident adulthood, economic independence and community service.
Our Values
- To empower all girls to realize their full potential
- To make a positive and lasting impact on the lives of girls through quality programs with measurable results
- To honor diversity and embrace the unique characteristics, talents, and strengths of all girls
- To act with integrity and transparency in our business practices and to be a responsible steward of the financial investments by our supporters
Our Staff
Bea Lurie President & CEO
Phil Minton II Director of Finance & Administration
Toccora Johnson Manager of Elementary Age Programs
Hannah Vann Manager of Teen Programs
Shannon Colbert Manager of Development & Communications
Awayne Williams Administrative Assistant
Raven Cooper Program Coordinator
Madeleine Dougherty Program Coordinator
Mary Elizabeth Kyle Program Coordinator
Rachel Kelly Program Coordinator
Katie Robinson Program Coordinator
April Sanford Program Educator
Alexis Williams Program Educator
Phil Minton II Director of Finance & Administration
Toccora Johnson Manager of Elementary Age Programs
Hannah Vann Manager of Teen Programs
Shannon Colbert Manager of Development & Communications
Awayne Williams Administrative Assistant
Raven Cooper Program Coordinator
Madeleine Dougherty Program Coordinator
Mary Elizabeth Kyle Program Coordinator
Rachel Kelly Program Coordinator
Katie Robinson Program Coordinator
April Sanford Program Educator
Alexis Williams Program Educator
Our Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Kim Lawrence Chair
Dr. Deborah Arfken 1st Vice Chair
Melinda Varboncoeur Treasurer
Dr. Dane Boyington Facilities and Technology Committee Chair
Sheila Boyington Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Mary Bach Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Members
Amelia Allen
Billy Buchanan
Dr. Jennifer Ellis
Rebecca Pobieglo
Cindy Rix
Lisa Shander
Kathryn Smith
Edna Varner
Cissy Williams
Rodney Woods
Honorary Lifetime Members
Dr. Sue Anne Wells
Uneva Shaw
Kim Lawrence Chair
Dr. Deborah Arfken 1st Vice Chair
Melinda Varboncoeur Treasurer
Dr. Dane Boyington Facilities and Technology Committee Chair
Sheila Boyington Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Mary Bach Executive Committee Member-at-Large
Members
Amelia Allen
Billy Buchanan
Dr. Jennifer Ellis
Rebecca Pobieglo
Cindy Rix
Lisa Shander
Kathryn Smith
Edna Varner
Cissy Williams
Rodney Woods
Honorary Lifetime Members
Dr. Sue Anne Wells
Uneva Shaw
