Now Reading
As Parents Work From Home Amid COVID-19, Girls With Impact Waives Tuition for Its Educational Programming to Ease Burdens
Modern social impact and innovation academy has “never been in a state of emergency,” says CEO Jennifer Openshaw
As Parents Work From Home Amid COVID-19, Girls With Impact Waives Tuition for Its Educational Programming to Ease Burdens
Modern social impact and innovation academy has “never been in a state of emergency,” says CEO Jennifer Openshaw
Published 03-18-20
Submitted by Girls With Impact
As more schools close and parents work from home amid COVID-19, kids are in need of educational alternatives.
“Parents are struggling to find alternatives and fill the gap so that they can work effectively from home,” says Jennifer Openshaw, CEO of the non-profit, Girls With Impact.
That’s why the non-profit organization is waiving its $395 tuition for its signature 10-week Academy this Spring. Registrations are currently being taken for the classes starting March 30.
“Families are taking a financial hit in so many ways,” says Openshaw. “One of the beauties of operating our program live, online from day-one is that we’ve never been in emergency mode. It allows us to easily adjust and meet the demands of families.”
The Academy, designed with Harvard experts, enables students to take live classes from the comfort of home. Courses run for 10 weeks accompanied by an online learning platform where girls access the curriculum activities. Students select the day and time of their weekly classes.
Among the enhancements Girls With Impact is making to help during the virus’ spread is adding more classes to accommodate the growth in students and moving its graduation ceremony – typically held in person – to live, online. Parents will be able to watch, too, from home.
The Academy, offered year-round each quarter is lead by trained instructors. It was designed with experts from Harvard Business School.
Openshaw said the college-level program is valued at about $2,000 given the college and career advantage it’s already demonstrated. Graduates have won scholarships as high as $200,000. Low-income girls are underwritten thanks to funding from Girls With Impact’s corporate partners, such as Eversource Energy, XPO, the Charles Schwab Foundation, and Becton Dickenson.
The 10-week program includes weekly coach-led classes, start-up kit, training materials, and graduation with certificate. The fee waiver will apply for the Spring cohort only.
In addition to learning soft and hard skills in business, girls graduate with a business plan, venture prototype and venture pitch.
“We’re proven that our ‘Impact-Driven Entrepreneurship’ training from the bedroom can give girls from all backgrounds a tremendous college and career advantage,” said Openshaw.
The program tracks 25 outcomes including:
Confidence: 81% of graduates view themselves as leaders vs 47% pre-program
Initiative: 91% are more confident raising their hand vs 44% pre-program
Public speaking: 91% more confident vs 44% pre-program
Cash management: 75% are better equipped to manage cash flow
College ready: 93% feel more college-ready
“If we’re lucky, by the time these girls graduate from our Spring program, the virus will be a thing of the past,” added Openshaw.
Girls With Impact is on a mission to train 10,000 young women to “lead from the top.”
To take advantage, girls should register now to meet the March 19th orientation. Go here www.girlswithimpact.org.
# # #
