By the age of 14, a girl's confidence is typically 30% lower than that of her male classmates.80% of 10-year-old girls have already been on a diet.Only 35% of students in STEM-related fields are female.Less than 6% of Nobel prizes have been awarded to women.Only 8% of Fortune 500 companies have a female CEO.If you find these facts as disturbing as I do, visit gemsgirls.org and get involved in our new nonprofit organization! Our mission is to partner with educators in providing after school clubs that equip girls with emotional intelligence and practical skills to achieve their future goals- while having fun!We partner with teachers, coaches, social workers, Girl Scout troop leaders, and other adults who have a heart for helping preteen girls. Our clubs provide a safe space for girls to have the hard conversations- about things like social media pressure, body image, friendships, stress, and more. We introduce the girls to role models from history, women who embody the strengths we teach. And we provide tools and strategies to help the girls deal with stress in healthy ways, recognize their own gifts, and develop positive relationships. All the materials, curriculum, and marketing resources are provided to the GEMS Leaders- free of charge!If our mission resonates with you, we'd love to have your support with any of the following:1- Donate to the GEMS Girls fund to provide scholarships for girls and stipends for leaders.2- Sign up as a GEMS Leader to start a club at your school.3- Share the mission of GEMS with teachers and principals in your area.4- Sign your daughter up to join a local GEMS club- our 4th grade cohorts begin in the fall of 2022!"Courage, sacrifice, determination, commitment, toughness, heart, talent, guts. That's what little girls are made of, to heck with sugar and spice." --Bethany Hamilton