I am always the first to say that Southeastern Wisconsin is one of the best places to raise a family. Our commitment to the community and our neighbors is one of the biggest reasons that make this area so great.
If you know me, you know that I do a lot of charity work and I love to volunteer my time and talents to better our community. This month, I want to highlight one of my favorite organizations – the Gals on the Go Project.
What is the Gals on the Go Project?
Growing up isn’t always easy. Thanks to social media and other societal pressures, depression, anxiety, and other mental health issues are on the rise among teens and adolescents. The Gals on the Go Project was founded by Gals Institute, a local therapy practice, to help Waukesha County children learn the coping strategies, self-compassion, and resiliency they need to succeed.
Since its formation, it has helped support over 1,000 boys and girls with workshops focusing on topics such as healthy relationships, building resiliency, effective coping strategies, boosting confidence, and calming anxiety.
Popular Gals on the Go Workshops
Thanks to funding from the community and special grants, the Gals on the Go Project is able to run workshops throughout the year to support children in the Waukesha area. Some of their upcoming events include:
- Calm, COOL, & Capable: An educational workshop to help children understand and identify different emotions
- Beauty Inside & Out: Tools to cultivate self-esteem and body acceptance in a social media-obsessed world
- Girl Scout Leadership Workshops: A collaborative effort between Gals on the Go and Girl Scouts to empower girls to become leaders within their own communities
- Social Skills for Success: Relationships: An interactive workshop that focuses on healthy relationships, friendships, and communications
- Frenemies 101: A new workshop that helps children identify and deal with sometimes-harmful relationships
The organization also provides scholarships, emotional regulation items to another non-profit, Blessings in a Backpack, and attends multiple community events promoting adolescent mental wellness.
How to Support Gals on the Go
If the Gals on the Go mission intrigues you, there are many ways to support it. You can:
- Register a child for an upcoming workshop
- Spread the word about Gals on the Go and their mission to other families and potential supporters
- Purchase one of the Beauty Inside & Out Birthday Party packages
- Donate supplies from their Amazon Wish List
- Follow them on Instagram, Facebook, or LinkedIn
The organization is also hosting its popular fundraiser, Bingo for Bags, at The Valerie in Oconomowoc in November. It’s always so much fun to play bingo with friends while supporting a worthy cause. I hope to see you there!
As a mother of young children, I see firsthand how societal pressures and social media can influence and affect them. That is why this organization is so close to my heart. When we empower our younger generations to become the leaders we know they can be, it makes the community better for everyone.
Image credit: GALS on the Go Facebook Page
