Because of you, every girl got in.
This winter, every girl who needed financial support to join the Winter 2026 ZGiRLS Confidence Program was able to participate.
That’s life changing.
Because when a girl is already questioning herself, comparing herself, or struggling to feel like she is enough, the last thing that should stand in her way is cost.
What you made possible this winter was a turning point for hundreds of girls.
The girls below are real participants from the program you helped open the door to. Their stories show what can happen when a girl is given the space to be seen, the tools to grow, and the support to start believing something new about herself.
To protect the privacy of the incredible girls we serve, the photos used here are of past participants and may not reflect the specific girls featured in these stories.
We don’t just hope girls are growing. We measure it.
Because your support matters, we take measuring impact seriously. At the beginning and end of each program, girls complete surveys that help us understand changes in their confidence and self-esteem. These shifts matter because they reflect something deeper than a score. They show girls beginning to believe in themselves, trust their abilities, and quiet the self-doubt that takes hold in middle school.
INCREASE IN CONFIDENCE
girls who reported feeling confident in their abilities before vs. after the program
INCREASE IN FEELING CAPABLE
girls who reported feeling capable of achieving their goals before vs. after the program
DECREASE IN NEGATIVE SELF-IMAGE
girls who reported having a negative self-image before vs. after the program
AGE 12
By the end of ZGiRLS, Brianna rated her confidence a 5 out of 5.Just a few weeks earlier, she was at a 2.8.
Before ZGiRLS, Brianna’s mom watched her carry the weight of outside opinions. Confidence, goal-setting, and navigating conflict all felt overwhelming. She hoped the program would help Brianna realize she wasn’t alone and give her tools to grow.
And little by little, that’s exactly what happened.
Over the course of the program, Brianna began to trust her own voice in a new way. The comments that once stuck with her started to lose their power, and she found herself believing something different. As she shared, “no comments can put me down. I am good enough.”
AGE 11
At the beginning of the program, Kennedy’s confidence score was 3.4 out of 5. By the end, it had risen to 4.7 out of 5.
Her mom enrolled her in ZGiRLS with a simple hope: that Kennedy would feel more confident in who she is. As she put it, “She is an amazing girl and I want her to see that.”
During the program, Kennedy began to see in herself what her mom had always seen.
Now, the advice she gives other girls is simple and powerful: “Always be you.” More importantly, she left ZGiRLS with a stronger sense of who she is and the confidence to show up as herself.
AGE 12
Madison was the kind of girl who stayed quiet, especially in new or unfamiliar situations.
Her mom shared, “Madison is very shy and we are hoping that the program helps her build some self confidence and enable her to come out of her shell a bit more around others.”
ZGiRLS gave Madison something she needed: a safe and welcoming space to open up to others.
When asked what the most important thing she learned about herself during the program was, she shared, “I learned how to confidently express my emotions to people.”
By the end of the program, her confidence grew from 3.6 to 4.1, reflecting the progress she made in finding and using her voice.
AGE 13
Amaya came into ZGiRLS carrying the pressure so many girls know well: the belief that she had to get everything right the first time. Her mom hoped the program would help her trust herself more and feel more comfortable being in the process of learning.
As Amaya listened to other girls open up about their own struggles, something shifted. She realized she wasn’t the only one carrying hard feelings or impossible expectations. She began to understand that mistakes were not proof that something was wrong with her, they were part of growing.
As she shared, “I learned that I am not the only one that has negative feelings and that I can do things if I set my mind on it.”
Her confidence grew from 3.9 to 4.5.
And the advice she now gives reflects just how much changed inside her: “Be kind to yourself and treat yourself like a friend.”
That is the kind of lesson a girl can carry with her for life.
AGE 12
When Kerry signed Calliope up for ZGiRLS, she had one simple hope: that her daughter would begin to feel like she was enough.
At the time, Calliope found it hard to speak up and stay positive in challenging situations. She entered the program with a confidence score of 3.2.
Over time, as she felt safer and more comfortable, she began to let herself be seen. She started sharing her thoughts. She stepped away from comparison. She began to imagine a different way of showing up in the world.
She described that shift like this: “I can be however I want and can express myself even though it may be hard.”
By the end of the program, her confidence grew to 4.9, along with a stronger sense of ownership over who she is and how she shows up.
This is what your generosity made possible.
The girls above are just a few of the stories from this winter. Each one represents a girl who walked away with more confidence, a stronger voice, and a deeper love for herself.
That growth happened because someone made sure she got in… and this winter, that someone was you.