Our Story

 

2008 – Girls Rule was born with the passion of 4 women who wanted to make a difference for girls
2009 – Laura Anderson, co-founder, unexpectedly passes away
2010 – The Laura Anderson Scholarship Fund was created
2011 – 2012 – Continue to grow our workshop, continue to define our mission, & our vision
2013 – Dena Patton, co-founder, solely takes Girls Rule on and shifts it to a 501c3
2014 – Works on creating 2 new programs and creating brand awareness
2015 – Creates infrastructure, internal systems, measurement/outcome systems, board of directors website and programs
2016 – Hold 1st summer camp, start fundraising, starts movement
2017 – Retooled all 3 programs, continues fundraising and building our board
2018 – Hosts over 16 programs & 5 fundraisers, launch Tshirts, build community outreach, builds brand & impact, dreamLAB beta launch, Won charity of the Phx Business Journal
2019 – Continued growing the 3 programs, Strategic year working on our Board, Launched dreamLAB leadership afterschool program, launched our new website
2020 – Unfortunately had to cease all in-person programs (3 of the 4) and cease fundraising events due to COVID-19
2021 – Continuing outreach and promotion of girls advocacy through our social media, added the middle school leadership kit for dreamLAB
2022 – Continuing outreach of girls advocacy through our social media and speaking nationwide, continuing to grow the dreamLAB leadership program nationwide
2023 – On Oct 11 we hosted Rise Dinner Parties, our first fundraising in 3 years to help us rise out of Covid and open our programs again
2024 – We are continuing to grow dreamLAB afterschool program nationwide, and hosting our 9th year of Wings To Fly Summer Camp