This summer, 30 high school-aged girls from central Indiana came together to learn the power of giving through Generosity Forward, a brand new program launched by the Women’s Fund of Central Indiana. Girls got to participate in philanthropy, volunteering, and deciding where to grant $5000 as a group and $100 individually.

The program consists of four sessions, all with different activities. In the first session different issues were explored such as reproductive rights, homelessness, and LGBTQ rights. Participants also learned about nonprofit organizations, and heard from philanthropists from Women’s Fund. The second session was a volunteer day, where participants got to create packages for schools with Project Period. The third session taught everyone about grantmaking and decisions were made about where to give $5000 and $100. The final session was the graduation at Gainbridge Fieldhouse. Each individual got to speak about their $100 donation and why they chose their organizations. The girls mostly targeted health-related issues like reproductive rights and mental health.

The final session ended on a high note because of an inspiring act during graduation. After the girls shared their speeches for why they chose each organization, an anonymous donor matched each girls’ $100 donation. This means each individual’s organization received $200. We got to witness kindness that proves generosity is contagious.

As one of the programs participants, I got to see how philanthropy can inspire people and leave a lasting impact. Each session taught me so much about empathy and kindness. Beyond the donations, the program also teaches girls leadership skills, confidence, and how to make a difference. Being a part of Generosity Forward showed me how powerful it is when young people come together.