Proceeds fromSmrtKuff® Apple Watch sales will support Girlstart’s mission to increase girls’interest and engagement in STEM AUSTIN, Texas (October 24, 2023) – Girlstart, an Austin-based nonprofit celebrating 26+years of empowering girls through STEM, announces today a new partnership with fashion-techcompany La Maison Steel. Through November 16, La Maison Steel will donate 20% of allSmrtKuff® sales to Girlstart to support its After School, Summer Camp, and Community STEMprograms. STEM challenges need new ideas and solutions, yet half of the world’s population, girls and women, are not invited ..read more

Back for the second time in Austin, TX, with McLaren Formula 1 Team, the Smartsheet initiative will spotlight how Girlstart is unlocking a world of possibilities for young girls through STEM education BELLEVUE, Wash., October 10, 2023 – In partnership with McLaren Formula 1 Team, Smartsheet (NYSE:SMAR), the enterprise work management platform, today announced it will highlight national women-led nonprofit, Girlstart, as the next Sponsor X taking the place of the Smartsheet logo on McLaren’s F1 race cars at the United States Grand Prix on October 20-22, 2023. Inspiring the next generation of wo ..read more

Can you believe it? Girlstart is celebrating an incredible milestone—our 10th anniversary in North Texas! It’s been an amazing decade of empowering girls, nurturing their curiosity, and unleashing their limitless potential in the fields of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM). Since we expanded to North Texas in 2013, Girlstart has served more than 6,000 girls and their families through our After School, Summer Camp, and Community STEM programs. Let’s take a journey through the transformative years and exciting accomplishments that have shaped our presence in this vibrant ..read more

Written by Lily Prath That’s a wrap on 2023 Girlstart Summer Camp! This summer, over 800 4th-8th grade girls were introduced to the wonderful world of STEM, with 37 camps taking place across 22 locations and six states. From exploring the depths of the oceans to the furthest reaches of the galaxy, this summer we offered a total of five unique camp themes; Keep Girlstart Weird, Girlstart Galaxy, Under the Sea, Scrub In, and Pet Vet. As Girlstart’s Summer Communications Intern in Austin, I had a front row seat to most of these camps! Campers started each morning with intention as they mapped out ..read more

As I write this second edition of Shane’s Lane, I am celebrating my one-year anniversary at Girlstart—and can’t help but look back on a year filled with hugs, smiles, hard decisions, transitions, welcoming new hires, and so much more. There are days when I have conversations that feel like I’ve been at Girlstart for years, but then I get asked how long I have served as executive director and I realize…it’s been the quickest twelve months ever! The three overarching goals I’ve been working towards with my team have been empowering more girls to pursue STEM, increasing Girlstart’s ..read more

April is National Volunteer Month and we’d like to give a shout out to all of the amazing people who volunteer for Girlstart! We are thankful for the time and energy they spend to help us provide fun and empowering STEM experiences to girls and their families. Today, we’re spotlighting Charmaine San Jose Hinahon, one of our long-time volunteers who has truly made a difference at Girlstart! How long have you been volunteering for Girlstart?   I have been a volunteer since 2009. How did you find out about Girlstart? What made you want to work with us?  My company, Thermo Fisher Sc ..read more

This February, Girlstart hosted a Valentine’s Day-themed STEM Extravaganza event at the Girlstart STEM Center in Austin, TX. We had 17 volunteers come out and help make this community event a success. Volunteers led hands-on activity booths, such as designing heart-shaped bubble wands, constructing a gummy heart dome, and creating an LED valentine. Throughout the event, attendees were able to learn about how those activities could translate into actual careers in STEM! We are so grateful for the time and effort our volunteers put into this event! With their help, Girlstart conti ..read more

Cheers to a new year of empowering girls in STEM! I want to give a warm welcome to all of our newsletter subscribers, whether you recently signed up or have been with us for years. Thank you for supporting our work to increase girls’ interest and engagement in STEM.  This is the inaugural edition of “Shane’s Lane,” a newsletter where every few months I’ll share with you what’s new in my world. I’m a runner–my goal is to do a half marathon later this year and I’ve done several 5Ks this month–so “Shane’s Lane” seemed an appropriate title, and a fun play on words.&nb ..read more

On MLK Day 2023, Unrivaled Group joined us at the Girlstart Austin office to help with outdoor cleanup. Volunteers helped to clean and organize two of Girlstart’s outside storage sheds, power washed our picnic tables, and prepped materials for our upcoming Community STEM events. Our outside space looks incredible thanks to the laborious efforts of the Unrivaled Group volunteers. We want to thank you for all of your support, and in the spirit of a servant leader, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., ask you to reflect on his wise words, “Everybody can be great…because anybody can serve”. Sign up to volu ..read more

WOMEN IN STEM – Dr. Danielle Sweeney Executive Director @ IVUmed Dr. Danielle Sweeney tackles global health issues as the executive director of IVUMed.Her love for mentorship leaves an impact on local doctors in their respective communities around the world as she carries on the philosophy of teach one, reach many. We are so honored that she has chosen to speak with us today about her career and the ways in which she uses her skills to impact the world. What sparked your interest and made you want to volunteer with Girlstart? I’ve been in the Austin community for many years and have loved the ..read more