2016 – Hold 1st summer camp, creates after-school program, learn fundraising, starts movement
2017 – Tweak and tightened up all 4 programs, continues fundraising, launched dreamlab beta
2018 – Hosts over 16 programs & 5 fundraisers, launch Tshirts, build community outreach, builds brand & impact
2019 – Continued all 4 programs, Strategic year working on Mens Board, dreamLAB national online launch, Fundraising
About the founders:
The four founders originally met in 2004 when they were involved at an Arizona-based girl’s charity.
But when their mutual interests to empower girl’s leadership skills found them wanting more direct training around self-esteem and leadership they decided to create something of their own.
From that experience, in 2008 they took their inspiration and determination and created The Girls Rule Foundation focusing on empowerment, leadership and SEL education for girls.
The founders are business owners, professional trainers/coaches, girlfriends and most of all, passionate about making a difference for teen girls. Together they created the Girls Rule Signature 2-hour Dream Big workshop and Shine Brightly Summit to help girls shine their light and build a bright future.
Laura Anderson (pictured left) passed away unexpectedly in 2009 of complications of Lupus. It was a devastating time, and the foundation wasn’t going to continue. However, in 2010 we decided to create The Laura Anderson Scholarship Fund to honor her legacy and use the dollars to scholarship girls to attend our programs who otherwise couldn’t afford to attend.
In 2013 Dena Patton solely continued Girls Rule as her philanthropy mission and took on the task to grow our reach and our mission to impact more girls to help them build bright futures.
In 2016 we launched our 8 day leadership summer camp and in 2017 we launched our first ever after-school program called dreamLAB which is a 12 week leadership club for girls 6th-12th grades, which is now available online as of 2019.