The lights were dimmed and the room buzzed with excitement as nearly 300 Girl Rising champions gathered for Girl Rising’s 10th-anniversary gala on Thursday, October 10th at City Winery in New York. It was a night filled with an immersive showcase of Girl Rising’s decade-long journey, featuring heartfelt stories of impact, voices of young changemakers who have defied the odds, and vibrant visuals. Themed “A Decade of Impact, A Future of Change,” the evening marked a milestone in Girl Rising’s work to break down the barriers preventing girls from accessing quality education and opportunity. With HP as the Producing Sponsor and Intel as the Equality in Action Sponsor, the gala successfully raised vital funds to fuel the next chapter of Girl Rising’s transformative programs.
A standout moment of the evening came from Rukia Sebit, Co-founder and Executive Director of the nonprofit Sunflower Trust and a long-time Girl Rising partner, who shared, “It’s the stories of girls which shine a light on their voices, their agency – without these things, no amount of reading and writing skills will take hold.”
Honoring Visionary Leaders
As part of the celebration, we recognized some of the champions who helped advance our mission. We honored the visionary storytellers behind its namesake film—Holly Gordon, Richard Robbins, and Tom Yellin—with the Founders Award during the event. Additionally, we awarded Amita Vyas, George Washington University Professor at the Milken Institute School of Public Health and founder of the Global India Fund, with the Catalyst Award. This recognition celebrates her pivotal role in helping to launch Girl Rising’s initial in-depth education programs and her dedication to advancing gender equity.
Celebrating Partnerships that Fuel Impact
The gala also celebrated the partners and donors who have been essential to Girl Rising’s success. We recognized organizations including HP, Intel, CNN International, Paramount Pictures, the Gerald L. Lennard Foundation, the Tedone family, and many others for their steadfast support. Their commitment has helped Girl Rising expand its reach, empowering girls and communities worldwide.
A Call to Action for the Future
While the gala reflected on the remarkable progress of the past decade, it also served as a powerful call to action. “Since our film launched a breakthrough global movement in support of girls’ education ten years ago, we’ve continued to use storytelling as a catalyst to drive change, amplifying young voices, building agency, and expanding a global network of allies so that girls can become the leaders the world urgently needs,” said Girl Rising CEO Christina Lowery. “We are deeply grateful to our donors, supporters, program partners, and passionate staff members who make this work happen—and we are just getting started.”
As the night came to a close, the message was clear: the next decade holds even greater promise. Girl Rising is committed now more than ever to evolving our programs to meet the needs of the young people and global communities we work with. With a focus on using data and evaluation to strengthen our impact, we equip girls with the skills they need to succeed as adults. By continuing to partner with educators, parents, and communities, we aim to ensure that every girl has the opportunity to learn, rise, and thrive.
Here’s to a decade of impact—and a future of change!
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