Two Newmarket organizations have teamed up to ensure young girls have the supplies they need to continue learning in school.
“Getting involved at a young age with young girls and helping them realize their potential, 100 per cent breaks down barriers for them later on in life,” said Samantha Buckley, chief executive officer and creative director at EVENTMRKT.
Staff from EVENTMRKT presented a cheque for $5,000 to Girls Incorporated York Region at a ceremony on March 19 after counting all the money they raised from a Back to School fundraiser last summer.
“It was a really beautiful turnout,” said Buckley. “We had a silent auction, we donated all of the bar sales, as well, and ticket sales to Girls Inc.”
Girls Incorporated York Region is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering girls and young women to gain the confidence and skills necessary to pursue their aspirations. It has programs to teach science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) skills, finance competence, physical fitness, and self-defence against violence.
“It gives them a chance to be in an all-girl environment and gives them a chance to build their self-esteem, learn about bullying, resist bullying, stand up for themselves, for others, work hard at school, set goals, become self-sufficient as they grow older, go in careers and take the time to think and plan for their lives so they are successful,” said Barbara Wallace, executive director of Girls Incorporated York Region.
Members of Girls Inc. have opportunities to meet with women mentors, engineers, doctors, social workers, artists, and local business owners to be inspired.
Wallace said the event was a great chance to partner with local businesses and for businesses to support marginalized girls who need support.
“It’s a great opportunity for Girls Inc. to partner with a women-owned organization that supports the values we strongly inspire, which is all girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” said Wallace.
While progress is incremental, more women are vying for leadership roles within publicly traded companies, privately held corporations, and government business enterprises. According to Statistics Canada, women hold one in five director positions.
The government agency states women occupied just over one-fifth (20.5 per cent) of the 17,996 seats on boards of directors in 2020, edging up 0.3 percentage points over the proportion of women recorded in 2019.
Educational services was the only industry in which boards of directors reached gender parity as half of its directors were women in 2020. However, with 30 board seats, educational services was the industry with both the fewest directors and the fewest women directors.
The finance and insurance industry displayed the second-highest share of women directors, with women occupying 26.7 per cent of its board seats.
“It’s about time women were in those leadership roles,” said Wallace. “Women do a good job at team building and managing people.”
The event is just the beginning of a collaboration between the two groups. EVENTMRKT and Girls Inc. will host another event for prom. Newmarket partners can donate prom dresses, shoes, and jewelry for girls who can’t afford it.
“We’re going to be flipping this space into a special boutique experience for these women that are going to come, try on dresses, and have a great time with us and get them all dressed up for prom,” said Buckley.
