Confidence Builders
Find out more about the companies and organizations that help build confidence in girls and women. Check out the confidence-building programs and workshops they provide. Get involved!
Is your company or organization a confidence builder? Tell us!
Founding Partner
Kappa Delta Sorority
Recognizing the impact self-confidence can have in the lives of girls and women, Kappa Delta Sorority took the lead in creating the Confidence Coalition in 2009 to bring together the many organizations and companies committed to promoting self-esteem and confidence among girls and women. Everything Kappa Delta does — from creating programs and initiatives to forming partnerships, from providing leadership training to encouraging community service — promotes confidence in women and girls.
National Women's Organizations
National Domestic Violence Hotline
The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) provides an immediate response 24/7 to victims of domestic violence and their families, and a seamless referral system to community programs in response to the needs of women, men and children.
National Charity League, Inc.
The mission of National Charity League, Inc. (NCL) is to foster mother-daughter relationships in a philanthropic organization committed to community service, leadership development and cultural experiences. The NCL experience inspires and empowers women to succeed as confident, well-rounded and socially aware contributors in their communities. With more than 38,000 members nationwide, NCL currently thrives in local communities through 154 Chapters in 16 states in the US.
Operation Beautiful
Can one little Post-It change the way women view themselves? The women behind the Operation Beautiful site believe so! Operation Beautiful encourages girls and women to post anonymous notes in public places, such as the bathroom, the gym scale, and even the grocery store. The messages, which include variations on "You are beautiful, inside and out!," encourage others to have a positive self-image and stop degrading Fat Talk. Thousands of notes have been posted all over the United States and the world, including Iraq, England, Guatemala, Australia, Germany, Singapore, and more. The message behind Operation Beautiful is simple and powerful - you are enough, just the way you are.
The Ophelia Project
The Ophelia Project serves youth and adults who are affected by relational and other non-physical forms of aggression by providing them with a unique combination of tools, strategies and solutions. The Ophelia Project recognizes the harmful effects of peer aggression and is committed to creating safe social climates in our communities. A safe environment, where people are protected, respected, encouraged and held accountable for their actions, fosters a healthy setting for personal and professional growth.
Soroptimist
Soroptimist is an international volunteer women's organization offering programs that improve the lives of women through three distinct platforms: economic empowerment, elimination of violence, and gender equality. Soroptimist, a 501(c)(3) organization that relies on charitable donations to support its programs, also sponsors the Live Your Dream campaign in recognition of the power of women and their dreams. Visit the campaign’s online home at: LiveYourDreamCampaign.org. For more information on how Soroptimist improves the lives of women and girls, visit Soroptimist.org.
The White House Project
The White House Project, a 501(c)(3), aims to advance women leadership in all communities and sectors—up to the U.S. presidency—by filling the leadership pipeline with a richly diverse, critical mass of women. By providing research, training, events and awareness campaigns, the White House Project gives women the confidence and the skills to run and win, demystifying the political process and inspiring a richly diverse group of women in to the leadership pipeline.
i am that girl
Dedicated to celebrating the unique diversity and beauty of every girl and woman, i am that girl will start a revolution of women dictating life on their own terms, demanding respect from others but more importantly from themselves. It strives to inspire future women leaders in every profession, whether it’s entertainment, science, sports, politics, education, philanthropy, business, or mother hood. It encourages women to define their own worth, be confident in their own skin, feel beauty-full always, believe in themselves, support one another and reinvent themselves into whomever they CHOOSE to be. i am that girl stands for those who cannot stand for themselves, lends a voice to those whose voice has been taken, and fights for those who no longer have a fight left in them.
Talk to Jess, LLC
Founded by author, Actionist® and self-esteem expert, Jess Weiner, Talk to Jess, LLC is a media company dedicated to creating a nation of confident women and girls. Jess serves as The Global Ambassador for the Dove Self-Esteem Fund and writes a featured column on the Dove Digital Channel on MSN. She is also a best-selling author of the books A VERY HUNGRY GIRL and DO I LOOK FAT IN THIS? and a celebrated advice columnist for Seventeen Magazine. Jess has appeared on Oprah and is a frequent contributor to shows such as CNN Showbiz Tonight and The Today Show. You can meet Jess, get advice and find out more about the self-esteem and Actionist ® movements by visiting www.jessweiner.com
Manna Scholarship Fund (MSF)
Manna Scholarship Fund (MSF) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated to providing funds for residential and inpatient treatment for individuals who have life-threatening eating disorders and need intensive care. Since its inception in 2007, MSF has provided seven scholarships for individuals who otherwise could not have received such care. As an effort to prevent eating disorders from occurring, MSF has also created the Gems of the Heart program. The Gems of the Heart program involves young ladies learning about how to have a healthy body image and self-esteem, while making two pieces of jewelry – one for themselves, and one for the Manna Scholarship Fund. The MSF pieces of jewelry are then sold to raise scholarship money. The Gems of the Heart program has been fortunate enough to partner with the Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, as well as other private homes within the greater Atlanta community. If you would like more information on the Gems of the Heart program or Manna Scholarship Fund, please contact us at www.mannafund.org.
Young Women of Distinction
Young Women of Distinction is a community-based organization committed to building a culture of girls consciously collaborating to make a difference in their own lives and their communities. Young Women of Distinction serves to empower and inspire girls to realize their highest personal and professional aspirations by offering leadership and self-esteem and relationship building activities, cultural enrichment opportunities, and career development programs. The Organization is designed to reach ALL girls in elementary, middle, and high school.
Vera Bradley
Vera Bradley handbags, stationery, travel and eyewear are everywhere! Vera Bradley products have popped up on: Desperate Housewives, Brothers and Sisters, According to Jim, Samantha Who and in more than 20 feature-length films, as well as in celebrity gift lounges surrounding the 2009 Tony Awards and 2009 Daytime Emmys. With an award-winning float in the 2009 Rose Parade, 3500 retailers and 25 corporate-owned stores across the nation, the Vera Bradley story is a testimony to the American Dream; friends Barbara Bradley Baekgaard and Patricia R. Miller founded the company in 1982 with just a $500 investment. Visit verabradley.com for more information.
Justine Magazine
The official teen publication of the Confidence Coalition, Justine Magazine captures the down-to-earth, real world of teens with a focus on healthy lifestyle. It presents today’s style, fashion and beauty in a fun, yet realistic and useful way. In Justine you will find a positive and uncompromising voice to and for teen girls, including stories and advice on building confidence. The Chicago Sun Times says, “There hasn’t been a magazine for teen girls that’s entertaining and stylish and wholesome all at the same time until now.”
Universities
Wittenberg University
With leading experts in women's history and gender studies, Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, has consistently engaged students, faculty and community members in dialogues relevant to women's issues and related current events. Home to the WAGE Womyn's Center, which aims to ensure moral responsibility and value development by focusing on the issues, needs and concerns affecting women students, faculty and staff, Wittenberg also annually provides women's programming on topics ranging from self-esteem to self-defense. At the same time, the university offers a deeply interdisciplinary approach to its minor in women's studies. As part of this popular program, students study the lives, status and accomplishments of women around the world, while they explore how gender affects everyone's lives. Wittenberg has also received several grants designed to foster leadership, technological literacy and confidence in middle school- and high school-aged girls. In February 2010, the university also launched its first-ever Confidence Coalition on campus, which looks to become a permanent component of the Wittenberg experience.
America’s Junior Miss
The mission of America's Junior Miss (AJM) is to empower outstanding high school women by providing scholarship opportunities, developing life skills, and encouraging positive values; and to impact the lives of all young people through the Be Your Best Self outreach program.
Georgia O’Keeffe Museum
The O'Keeffe Art and Leadership Program for Girls encourages and supports independent thinking and leadership skills for girls. Participants explore their own creativity through art-making and creative-writing exercises that develop self-reflection and self-expression. Girls are nominated for the program by their art teachers. Multi-generational arts professionals, as well as high school and college interns, teach various skills and address issues of friendship, responsibility, personal identity, self-esteem, creativity, problem-solving, boundary-setting, and trust. Through engaging activities, the girls learn to use the resources in their environment, to create a vision for themselves, and to work toward achieving their goals and dreams. An art exhibit and opening in which the work by participants ¬ including paintings, drawings, three-dimensional artwork, performances, video, and poetry readings ¬ is shared with family members and the public provides a meaningful closure to the summer program.
Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.6 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouting is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. GSUSA builds self-esteem and self-confidence in girls through uniquely ME!, the Girl Scout / Dove Self-Esteem Program.
Girl Talk
Girl Talk is a national nonprofit organization that establishes positive weekly peer-to-peer mentoring programs for middle school girls, which are led by high school girls. Its mentoring program offers fun, positive weekly meetings, community service projects and friendship building activities for middle school girls. Girl Talk Chapters help young teenage girls build self-esteem, develop leadership skills and recognize the value of community service. Girl Talk is free to any high school girl who wants to make a difference in her community. Visit the Girl Talk Web site for more information.
Girls Leadership Institute
The Girls Leadership Institute (GLI) awakens girls to the full potential of their authentic selves. It works with girls, their families, and school communities through our national camps, after-school programs and in-school resources. GLI teaches girls assertive self-expression, emotional intelligence, and conflict management skills for success in leadership and life.
Girls Living Life On Purpose, Inc (GLLOP)
Girls Living Life On Purpose, Inc. (GLLOP) is the premier all-girl, faith-based organization dedicated solely to empowering African American and minority girls ages 12 to 17 through life-purpose coaching, character development, and abstinence education. It serves as a navigational tool to empower girls, who are often overlooked and under-served. Its programs are designed to create a process of change, a relationship of growth and a path to discovery, resulting in a clearer understanding and vision of the intersection of their passions and God’s purpose for their lives.
Girls on the Run
Girls on the Run® is a life-changing, experiential learning programs for girls in grades 3 through 8. The programs combine training for a 3.1 mile running event with self-esteem enhancing, uplifting workouts. Trained Girls on the Run coaches deliver the well-researched 12-week afterschool curriculum inspiring girls to celebrate their bodies, honor their voices, embrace their gifts and activate their power.
Love Is Respect Teen Dating Abuse Helpline
When a young woman begins learning about relationships, negotiating first loves and experiences, and determining if her relationship is unhealthy, self-confidence is a key tool. loveisrespect, National Teen Dating Abuse Helpline offers young women a safe, confidential, and secure place to share their concerns about their relationships with advocates who act as confidence coaches imparting each young woman with the skills and tools to maintain and build her self-confidence.
Smart-Girl
Smart-Girl is a prevention and enrichment program designed to give all girls the skills, tools and confidence they need to navigate the tumultuous years of adolescence and beyond. Armed with a research-based curriculum and using "best practices", Smart-Girl's program is delivered via highly trained peer-mentors to provide girls wtih the problem-solving skills, strength of character and support system necessary for an emotionally and socially healthy life. The result is young women who are less vulnerable to aggressive relationships, as well as drug, alcohol and sexual promiscuity. With Smart-Girl, the message is clear - "A Smart-Girl Makes Smart Choices." The Smart-Girl Curriculum meets the standards of the American School Counselor Association and through our new Train the Trainer program, Smart-Girl can partner with programs nationwide. For more information check out our website www.smart-girl.org.
America’s National Teenager
America’s National Teenager (www.nationalteen.com) promotes strong scholastic ideals, solid leadership principles and high character growth to young women. All National and State winners are awarded scholarships and the opportunity to serve as positive role models to teens across America. ANTSO holds to the highest standards of quality and integrity with a majority of the selection based on academics, community service and interview. America’s National Teenager is recognized as one of the longest running, most prestigious female teen scholarship programs awarding nearly $5 million in scholarships annually since 1970.
Local Girls' Organizations
California
GRAD GIRLS NETWORK, Inc.
Grad Girls Network is an emerging nonprofit organization that shapes underprivileged teen girls into confident and socially responsible high school graduates, who further inspire their peers to finish school and lead productive and enriched lives. Grad Girls Network has created several after school programs to bring together high school girls with professional women, who mentor the teens and assist them in shaping their own futures, and empowering them to become the next generation of community leaders. Our program currently reaches over 2,000 girls at Los Angeles area high schools, with chapters opening soon in Tucson, AZ and Atlanta, GA. Our goal is to create 10 new chapters in the upcoming new year.
Kentucky
Abigail Academy
Through private coaching, workshops and college visits, Abigail Academy offers guidance to young women to improve their self-esteem and establish personal values. Founder and self-esteem life coach, Abigail Mueller, has traveled through the US speaking and motivating adolescent women to confidentially unveil who they were meant to be. Abigail uses authentic conversation, meditation, affirmations, and accountability techniques to assist her students with moving into a more positive lifestyle. Abigail believes there is a way to help every young woman improve her self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-love; the only requirement to work with Abigail is to be willing to grow! To learn more about Abigail Academy visit us at www.abigailacademy.com.
Maine
Hardy Girls Healthy Women
Hardy Girls Healthy Women (HGHW) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the health and well being of girls and women. Its vision is that all girls and women experience equality, independence, and safety in their everyday lives. Through programming and social action, it encourages all youth to continue the ultimate struggle to create healthier societies in a world in which we all are valued for who we are and what we contribute.
Tennessee
The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis
The Women's Foundation for a Greater Memphis (WFGM) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit grant-making organization. It encourages philanthropy and fosters leadership among women and supports programs that enable women and children to reach their full potential. The Women’s Foundation for a Greater Memphis is the agent for change committed to a community of wellbeing and prosperity, where women live in sufficiency, strength, and safety, sharing their leadership and empowering their children. Now in its 13th year, the Women's Foundation has awarded more than $4.1 million in grants to support over 268 programs that help women and children in the greater Memphis community.
Online Resources for Women
bizMe.biz
bizMe.biz, an online magazine, is the young professional woman’s career coach – her guide and mentor as she gains her career savvy, budgets her paycheck, and acquires her lifestyle. Updated monthly, bizMe offers professional and lifestyle advice in a straight-talk format along with profiles of young professional bizgals who are learning the ropes, controlling their own purse strings, and making their mark. The magazine includes real-world advice from experts who share their career knowledge and wisdom¬, giving the bizgal that competitive confidence in the workplace.
PINK Magazine
PINK is the No. 1 resource for America's more than 65 million professional women. The PINK portfolio reaches more than two million women every year with the only global online community, daily e-Note (Little PINK Book), and national event series. In 2009, for the 5th straight year, PINK will bring America's most influential women in business to audiences of ambitious women nationwide. With an enduring commitment to offer inspiration, tools, tactics and success strategies to guide, enhance and advance the lives of professional women, PINK has raised more than $60,000 for nonprofits benefiting women and girls.
ChickSpeak
ChickSpeak is an online women's magazine and organization dedicated to inspiring big dreams, strong values and success in the world. We hope to be the most entertaining and engaging reflection of women's life in college, while also providing support and information necessary to stay healthy, grounded and achieve great heights while in college. Articles are updated daily and written by current college students or recent graduates and cover everything from health and beauty and relationships to travel and women's safety.
Women for Hire
Founded in 1999 as the first and only company devoted to a comprehensive array of recruitment services for women, Women For Hire offers signature career expos, inspiring speeches and seminars, a popular career-focused magazine and customized marketing programs. The website, womenforhire.com, offers a wide variety of career-related information and videos geared to working women, and an online job board that helps leading employers connect with top-notch professional women in all fields. Since its inception, Women For Hire has been recognized as groundbreakers in connecting employers with the brightest group of diverse career women, as well as providing those women with exceptional advice on advancement.
Women Working
WomenWorking.com is a world-wide community of businesswomen and experts run by a staff that is committed to supporting women to take their careers and lives to the next level. Through columns, a blog, forum, television shows, and newsletters, women can connect to businesswomen and experts who give honest feedback and coaching that will help them step out of their comfort zones, take calculated risks and dare to go for their dreams.
Online Resources for Girls
Best Bones Forever!
Best Bones Forever! is a campaign for girls ages 9-14 that focuses on fun and friendship—girls who “grow strong tighter, stay strong forever.” The campaign encourages girls and their BFFs to get active and eat more foods with calcium and vitamin D to build strong bones for life. The Web site for girls has quizzes, polls, recipes, and activities girls can do with their BFF to “grow strong together, stay strong forever.”
Girls With Dreams
GirlsWithDreams.com, is a social networking site powered by teens that provides support, advice, and tips on the issues girls struggle with most. Founder Carrie Silver-Stock wants to create a global movement where girls discover their power, passion, and big dreams. The mission is simple: girls will empower one another to build their best lives while learning how to take action and make a positive impact in their own lives and the world.
GirlsHealth.gov
Developed by the Office on Women's Health in the Department of Health and Human Services, www.girlshealth.gov promotes healthy, positive behaviors in girls between the ages of 10 and 16. The site gives girls reliable, useful information on the health issues they will face as they become young women, and tips on handling relationships with family and friends, at school and at home. We focus on the idea that being yourself¬, finding what makes you smile, and how to live well ¬is what makes you “you.” And that is beautiful!
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