G.AL.S. (Girls and Life Sports) Newsletter Article

Wouldn't you like to make a difference in a young girl's life? For many of us there was that one important female figure in our life that motivated us to become who we are today. So why not take this opportunity to motivate one, maybe two, young ladies who may not have exactly gotten off to a good start in their young lives, but that you might be able to give a second chance?

The GALS Program is a curriculum based program modeled from Youth Connections, developed by Rainbow Days, Inc. in Dallas, Texas. The goal of GALS is to provide a safe place for young women to enhance vital life skills that will assist them in making healthy choices, overcoming adversity, and staying drug-free while gaining a greater understand about themselves and others. We believe that the program will leave a lasting, positive impact on all participants.

This year we will bringing the GALS Program to the Krier Unit which houses young women who commit to work on a year long education and counseling program to improve their lives. The Krier Unit houses 24 girls who are within the juvenile justice system. The Juvenile Probation Department is committed to assisting us in implementing the program within the unit. They are thrilled to see community participation in the facility and believe the program can help change the lives of these girls. But to make this happen, we need your help.

In December, the GALS Program was awarded funds from the Bench Brunch that would enable us to set up new training. In order to set up this training, however, we need a minimum of 15 volunteers. The training will be done on a Friday (5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. ) and a Saturday (9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.), with dinner, breakfast items and a light lunch to be provided to the participants. We would like to be able to set this training up in May, with classes to begin at the Krier Unit in August. The Program would run for 10 weeks, from August to November, and would only require about one hour of your time each week. The Juvenile Probation department is very flexible and can schedule the sessions after work or even on weekends to accommodate your schedule.

There is a very real need in our community for a program such as the GALS Program. These young women need positive role models to help them succeed in life, and the Bexar County Women's Bar and Foundation would like to help motivate these young ladies and be the encouraging force behind them, but we need your help to do this. Can't you spend one hour a week to make a difference in a young girl's life? Please call today to either Michelle Weekley at 308-9003, ruttan03@sbcglobal.net or Judge Simmons at 335-2831, rebsimmons1@yahoo.com to sign up for this worthwhile program. Don't wait, contact us today as we need to start setting up the training by March 31st. We will be happy to answer any questions you may have.

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