Girls Inc. of Orange County

Mission - Girls Incorporated of Orange County inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold!
 
Vision - Empowered Girls in an Equitable Society 

Girls Inc. of Orange County (GIOC) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold through direct service and advocacy. For more than 71 years, GIOC has provided life-changing programs that equip girls with the skills, confidence, and support needed to succeed in school, careers, and life. Today, the organization serves more than 11,200 participants annually across Orange County, primarily through school-based, community-based, and summer programming. GIOC supports girls from elementary school through college and early career development, with a strong emphasis on serving youth in under-resourced communities and Title I schools. Programs focus on STEM education, leadership development, entrepreneurship, mental wellness, financial literacy, college access and workforce readiness. Signature initiatives including Eureka!, Smart Ups, Girls Meet the Workforce, College Bound, and Project Accelerate help girls explore career pathways, prepare for higher education, develop professional and entrepreneurial skills, and build lasting confidence. Through partnerships with schools, corporate partners, volunteers, and community organizations, Girls Inc. of Orange County helps girls realize their full potential and become future leaders, innovators, and changemakers!

Every girl deserves to know that she is enough — and that she is capable of more than the world has told her.

Girls Inc. of Orange County exists for that belief. For over 71 years, we have walked alongside girls and young women across Orange County, offering not just programs, but a place where they are seen, supported, and challenged to grow. Through research-based, holistic programming and sustained mentorship, we help participants overcome the social, economic, and gender barriers that too often determine a girl's future before she even has a chance to write it herself.

Our approach is whole-girl by design. Every program integrates social-emotional learning, academic enrichment, leadership development, wellness education, and career readiness — because we know that a girl's success in school is connected to how safe she feels, how she sees herself, and whether someone believes in her. From her earliest years through young adulthood, she learns to advocate for herself and others, build healthy relationships, strengthen resilience, and pursue her goals with confidence.

The Girls Inc. experience is built around three enduring outcomes: (1) Strong & Healthy — Participants develop emotional wellness skills, learn to manage their physical and mental health, and make choices rooted in self-respect and care; (2) Smart & Educated — Participants are motivated to achieve academically, graduate, and pursue postsecondary education or careers that reflect their ambitions; (3) Bold & Independent — Participants find their voices, build confidence and self-advocacy skills, and grow into resilient leaders who create change in their communities.

We are the people, the place, and the programs that stand beside her — for as long as she needs us.

Girls Inc. of Orange County focuses on supporting the girls and communities that need us most. Many of our participants face significant economic, educational, and social barriers that impact their long-term opportunities and well-being. 54% of Girls Inc. participants come from households earning less than $50,000 annually; 81% of schools served are Title I schools, which primarily support students from low-income families; 78% of participants identify as girls of color, and many participants will become the first in their families to attend college.

Girls continue to face barriers in STEM education, workforce access, leadership representation, and mental wellness support. Research shows that girls’ confidence often declines during adolescence, particularly in STEM-related fields, while young women remain underrepresented in many high-paying industries including engineering, technology, and computer science.

Girls Inc. of Orange County addresses these challenges through research-based programs focused on STEM education, leadership development, entrepreneurship, mental wellness, college access, and workforce readiness. By providing mentorship, safe spaces, and sustained educational support, Girls Inc. helps girls build the confidence, skills, and opportunities needed to thrive academically, professionally, and personally.

$10,000 – Powers a full year (2 semesters) of programming at a Title I school, inspiring more than 400 girls annually to become future CEOs and innovators
$5,000 – Powers a semester of programming at a Title I school, inspiring more than 200 girls annually to become future CEOs and innovators
$2,500 – Underwrites Eureka! summer programming, equipping middle school girls with STEM skills, confidence, and exposure to careers in science and technology
$1,000 – Sponsors an externship through Girls Meet the Workforce, connecting high school girls with professional mentors and hands-on experience at local companies
$500 – Supports the Collegiate Hardship Fund, providing financial assistance to Project Accelerate participants in college for essential personal expenses
$250 – Covers supplies for girls in the Business Builders program to create prototypes of their products
$150 – Funds essential items for College Bound girls, equipping them with the tools needed to confidently begin their college journey

Girls Inc. programs serve girls throughout Orange County, CA. Programs are offered at schools, community centers, and in partnership with other non-profit agencies.

How do you create a stronger community? A more loving society? You start with our kids, the next generation. Girls-future role models, moms, voters, leaders, entrepreneurs, scientists, teachers, and CEO's-are some of our most treasured and important community members. It's why, for over 71 years, Girls Inc. of Orange County has been working to give girls of all ages and backgrounds the knowledge, skills, and confidence to believe in themselves and become who they want to be. We empowered more than 11, 200 participants last year alone. But for every girl we help, many others in Orange County remain in need. Your time, resources, and support can help us close that gap. You can make a difference. Sincerely, Lucy Santana (CEO of Girls Inc. of Orange County)

Even in 2026, girls and women still face headwinds when it comes to representation, opportunities, and a seat at the table (almost any table). Those headwinds are compounded for girls of color and those from economically disadvantaged circumstances. I truly believe it doesn’t have to be that way, and I’m passionate about one day having a society and economy where women are truly on equal footing with men. Through the GIOC programs, we can foster a safe space, at a young age, for girls to truly learn they are worthy of safe relationships, robust and broad academic opportunities, a college education, a thriving career, anything they want. Every girl could benefit from the programming delivered by GIOC, and the younger and more often she can get it, the better. I love watching the world get a little bigger for each of the girls we serve. The sky is the limit! During the pandemic we learned not only how resilient we are as an organization, but about how we can effectively scale our programs. For every girl we reach today, there are 50 more in the county we miss. We can start to close that gap by thoughtfully expanding our reach – this includes developing both new and deeper relationships with school districts, and leveraging the online model to meet more girls where they are. It can’t happen overnight, but I think you can expect to see the number of girls meaningfully served by Girls Inc. year in and year out increase.