Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has received $100,000 in funding from the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG) as part of the competitive Women’s Recovery Response Grant.

The new funding will enable Girls Inc. Of Carpinteria to launch the ¡Listos! Smart & Ready program. Girls Inc. of Carpinteria received the grant for being among California organizations dedicated to women and girls who have been disproportionately affected economically by the pandemic.

“We are thankful for the initial investment from CCSWG that will allow ¡Listos! Smart & Ready to launch this fall,” said Jamie Collins, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria executive director.

“Our programs are designed to be adaptive and responsive. This program will allow us to reach more youth through an inclusive lens while continuing to uplift our core values and drive our mission forward,” Collins said.

The program will focus on three core areas:

Financial Literacy: Providing financial literacy classes and workshops to help families understand the basics of budgeting, saving, and investing.

Savings: Developing incentives for families to save money, such as matching funds.

Investment: Providing families with access to low-cost investments to help them build wealth over the long-term.

These tools and resources will help families build a foundation for financial stability and security.

Serving youth in the post-pandemic era, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria continues to see an increased need for financial assistance requests from families. Families are still recovering economically from layoffs, furloughs, and temporary reductions in work hours. All this while inflation and housing costs in the South Coast Region continue to skyrocket.

“The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls is elated to embark on the second year of this highly competitive and transformative grant opportunity, which continues to funnel much needed resources to diverse communities centering on women and girls throughout the state,” said Tifani Bartow, CCSWG deputy director of operations and grants.

“It is clear that the need for economic recovery, and sustained investment in economic equity, access to opportunity and supportive resources for women, girls, and gender expansive Californians is still critical,” Bartow said.

Currently, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria has $200,000 invested in this pilot program. During its upcoming annual event, An Enchanted Evening in Bloom, funds raised will go directly to support the effort.

“Our annual gala is a great time for the community to come together and support our work,” Collins said. “We are working to close the income achievement gaps for under-resourced families.

“The funds raised are crucial to our financial assistance program, and our ¡Listos! pilot program. We believe that if we are able to support families in building a small financial foundation, the impact down the road for the families we serve will ultimately benefit the Carpinteria community.

“We are confident that with the support of our community, we can build program sustainability and help families achieve their financial goals.”

For more about Girls Inc. of Carpinteria or the ¡Listos! Smart & Ready Program, call 805-684-6364 or visit www.girlsinc-carp.org.