5 YEARS EMPOWERING GIRLS
2019-2021 EVENTS
2021
Celebrating Our Differences and Goal Setting
As 2021 came to an end, we celebrated our last session for the year in December. With many holidays celebrated in December, the session began with an ice breaker where the girls shared how they celebrate their holiday traditions. This was a great way for the girls to learn about cultural differences. Although there were many differences and unique celebrations shared, the common similarity was celebrating with family and friends over a delicious meal.
Following the ice breaker, the session began. The December session was focused on preparation to accomplish a goal and the importance of goal setting – especially as we entered the new year! The girls were taught how to effectively create a SMART goal (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic and Timely) to help them understand how to identify, create, and achieve a goal. They also had the opportunity to create their own SMART goals.
After the girls created their SMART goals, they turned those goals into a vision board to showcase their creativity and to visual the goals and dreams they want to achieve.
Lastly, the girls all received a journal for daily use to document their goals, thoughts, and expressions of daily gratitude.
Between their goals, vision board and journal they now have the tools to enable them to achieve their goals and dreams, creating a positive habit that will be used throughout
their future.
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Celebrating the End of an Amazing Year
One of the many words I used to describe this program year of Wonderfully Me was PERSEVERANCE. The commitments from the parents to keep their daughters engaged; the girls' resilience when so many emotional things were going on around them and the unwavering support of my Board members and volunteers are ways we met the challenges to complete an AMAZING virtual program year.
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I am so glad we were able to gather and have fun with their families and each other but also celebrate each "Wondergirls" program accomplishments who were in attendance.
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Enjoy this video from a portion of the day. Registration is underway for the 2021-2022 program year. Click to enroll your daughter or volunteer. Forward questions to wonderfullyme4ever@gmail.com or 484-713-8254
April 2021 Wonderfully Me Session
“Choose to be Fit” was the focus of the April Wonderfully Me Empowerment session. Allyson Hotz of Main Line Health gave many examples of how to be fit while navigating spending a lot of time at home during the pandemic. The girls learned how to read food labels, portion control and how hidden sugars are found in food. The importance of rest was discussed. They even got moving by doing easy exercises as part of their computer breaks. The session ended by being reminded that because we all have different body shapes; when choosing to be fit, we must concentrate on eating healthy, feeling healthy and loving who we are in the process.
2020
December 2020 Wonderfully Me Session
Most often, one of the main reasons people have conflicts may stem from not accepting one another's differences. During our December session, “Embracing and Celebrating our Differences”, the opportunity to discuss the importance of embracing a person for who they are were taught.
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The girls shared experiences, showed clothing items (Christmas pajamas), and artwork that illustrated their diverse cultural identities through family heritages, beliefs and traditions. Notably, the differences, similarities and their uniqueness were compared to demonstrate that it is important to be open-minded and accepting of one another differences.
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By the end of the session, tools were given to help decrease the negative stereotypes and prejudices that are generated from perceived points of views as well as celebrate one another and not their differences.
October 2020 Wonderfully Me Session
Our October session was very busy for the girls of Wonderfully Me. The monthly Zoom session was entitled, “How to Respond to a Bully” in recognition of Anti-bullying Prevention Month. Many wore orange, the color of the cause. The girls were given tool on how to recognize a bully, to help those being bullied and how to stop a bully. The parents were given resources to aide them if needed. After wards, breakout sessions were conducted to reinforce the topic.
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Saturday evening, the families gathered for a socially distanced outdoor Movie Night. They were excited to personally reconnect with friends from last year and meet the newly joined. Wrapped in blankets, enjoying good food and drinking of hot apple cider, they enjoyed watching Zootopia.
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We are thankful that BJ’s Wholesale Club, Wawa and Wegman’s of Downingtown are committed to aide nonprofit organizations in their communities during this time of decreased funding. The evening would not have been possible without their support.
On Saturday, September 19th, Wonderfully Me, Inc. began its second program year. We were excited to welcome several new girls to the program and were thrilled to welcome back our returning young ladies. An icebreaker, program overview, and orientation were conducted during the virtual session. The girls had the opportunity to provide input on topics they want addressed this program year.
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Although the meetings are virtual, the topics and activities will still engage, empower, and encourage our young girls. The online discussions with their peers are especially important as they are still socially isolated and/or experiencing anxieties from distance learning. To help the girls with this adjustment, Wonderfully Me has added a classroom success tactic portion where suggestions are given to help when subject anxieties arrive. In addition, a one-to-one virtual mentoring component is being developed to allow for more social interaction opportunities.
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Volunteers are welcomed to join us as we help our Chester County families nurture our phenomenal girls to EMBRACE who they are, LOVE who they are, and SUCCEED in what they do. All volunteers must have current Child Abuse History Clearances and Mandated Child Abuse Reporter Training.
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For more information contact, Angela at 484-713-8254 or at wonderfullyme4ever@gmail.com
Wonderfully Me Delivers Care Boxes and Cheer
On Friday, July 17th, Executive Director, Angela White along with volunteers, Alissa and Wanda visited a few program participants and distributed care boxes. The boxes contained household items such as paper towels, toilet paper, bleach and liquid hand soap. The products helped families slow the spread of COVID-19 while at home. Fresh fruits and snacks were included for the children to enjoy.
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This act of kindness would not be possible without the generous donations of boxes and fruit from HOOBER’S produce in Reading, PA and Alissa for the homemade cookies.
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Wonderfully Me Goes Virtual in Response to COVID-19
As a way for continued program engagement while social distancing is still in effect, Wonderfully Me has instituted a virtual platform to complete the program year. Instead of continuing the yearly program theme, “Uniquely You,” we have revised it to address the possible emotional and physical implications of the coronavirus on the girls in the program.
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In mid-April, we held a Fun Family Fitness time where Marquita Danzi, owner of Track Yo Soul Fit, lead us through various exercise routines using items we had in our homes. This was beneficial to all who participated since we were adjusting to the stay at home orders in our communities.
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Due to the continued social distancing and school closings, along with the uncertainty of a vaccine and the misinformation from the media, we aimed to reduce the anxiety many of our children experienced during this time.
This month, we hosted, Girl Talk: How are You Doing? During two separate sessions, 30 girls (ages 8-14) had the opportunity to talk openly with their peers about how they were handling the consequences of the pandemic.
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They were also educated about coronavirus from Dr. Wendy Wallace, a pediatrician from Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and Dr. Natasha Ramsey, MPH, a Fellow, Division of Adolescent and Young Adult Medicine, Children’s National Medical Center. Dr. Tazzarae Spivey-Mooring, Ph.D., a psychologist and owner of Diamond Counseling and Consultation Services, Inc. addressed concerns about their emotional health. Afterwards, the participants played a virtual game.
Finally, the June meeting will once again consist of family fitness time and then a no sew face mask will be made. The upcoming program year will begin Saturday, September 19, 2020 from 10am-12pm. The tentative location will be East Ward Elementary School, 435 Washington Ave. Downingtown, Pa. You can register at www.wonderfullyme.info or call 484-713-8254 with questions.
Wonderfuly Me delivering care boxes
Girls discussing how they are handling being home during COVID-19
2019
Ugly Christmas Sweater Party
12/7/19
On December 7, 2019, Wonderfully Me Inc. held its first fundraiser, An Ugly Christmas Sweater Party at Milestone Events in West Chester, PA. A display of the artwork by the girls was on display. The attendees dressed in their Christmas sweaters, danced with music provided by DJ Rich from Philadelphia, enjoyed catered food from Arrianna’s of West Chester, PA, and of course, held an Ugly Christmas Sweater Contest where Stuart Ross was declared the winner. We would like to thank these businesses for their support in donating items to our silent auction: Arrianna’s Gourmet Catering, Designer Events, Sleeping Pretty, Sullivan Dental, Scott & Molly’s- Glen Eagle, Sheraton Valley Forge, and Wegman’s -Downingtown. A portion of the proceeds of the night’s events will be used for the girls programming.
December 2019 Meeting
The December meeting was entitled: Who Am I/ Self- Awareness. The session began with a Beach Ball Icebreaker where the girls, parents and volunteers tossed the ball while giving compliments to one another. The group activities and discussions empowered the girls to begin developing self-awareness. The groups had discussions and engaged in activities that would help them identify and know their strengths, weakness, emotions and understand their interactions and how to reflect on their day or actions. Journals were decorated and introduced to the older groups so they can be used at home for a way to self-reflect.
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We thank Chick fil A Lionville for the food gift card that was distributed to the girls.
Welcome to Wonderfully Me, Inc.
10/9/2019
After 2 years of preparation, Wonderfully Me spread its wings and opened its program doors for some extraordinary young girls. On Saturday, October 12, 2019, Wonderfully Me welcomed 17 excited girls and their guardians to East Ward Elementary school to begin the inaugural program year. The start of the program was delayed due to construction being performed on Route 30 Bypass. However, once the participants arrived, everyone participated in several bonding and informative activities and orientations. The girls enjoyed making custom butterfly-inspired wall hangings with the affirmation: EMBRACE, LOVE, SUCCEED. The inspirational artwork was taken home to be displayed to encourage the girls to realize their potential and to celebrate themselves and each other.
Angela White, the founder, is extremely grateful for the outpouring of support from the community to assist her in making her dream come true. From the Community Courier Editor, Francine Fulton, placing an article about the organization along with the solicitation for volunteers and participants to the partnership with Coatesville Kids to College After School Program providing free transportation for the girls in their program. Donations are crucial to the longevity of the program. The Farmhouse Coffee and Espresso Bar in Downingtown assisted the program by donating coffee,
biscotti and cookies.
The WME Board and volunteers look forward to November 16th as they begin a discussion on a topic that will empower, encourage and educate them in a safe fun environment so they can become better equipped to handle possible life challenges as they occur.
If you would like to volunteer or register your daughter (ages
8-14), granddaughter or niece, please contact Angela White at 484-713-8254 or email wonderfullyme4ever@gmail.com. Registration ends after the November session.
Angela, Executive Director and Founder of Wonderfully Me, Inc. (3rd from right), had the pleasure of educating the members of the Greater Downingtown Business and Professional Women Club's on October 9, 2019 about Wonderfully Me, Inc.
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Angela with the Greater Downingtown Business and Professional Women's Club President Lois Hall.
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