A Franklin nonprofit focused on educating and inspiring young girls wants to raise $150,000 to renovate its building and make more space for programs.
Girls Inc. of Johnson County has operated out of a Victorian home built in 1875, just north of downtown Franklin, for the past 75 years. The exterior is desperately in need of a facelift, and the interior needs to be re-arranged and remodeled to make better use of the space since the organization’s membership has doubled since 2010, CEO Sonya Ware-Meguiar said.
The nonprofit provides after-school and summer programming for girls ages 5 to 18. Their programs include after-school care, where girls can get help with their homework from staff and participate in programs about healthy living, self-esteem and bullying. They also have a summer camp, including educational programs and field trips, and a summer program to help student prepare to enter kindergarten.
In 2010, Girls Inc. had 243 members. That number grew to 479 in 2015 and should pass 500 by the end of the year, Ware-Meguiar said. With growing membership comes the need to renovate their facilities, Ware-Meguiar said.
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Click here to purchase photos from this galleryGirls Inc. is in the second of four phases of renovations. Prior to these projects, no major improvements had been made to the building outside of routine maintenance and repairs, Ware-Meguiar said. They began by adding an accessible restroom, putting another heating and air conditioning unit on the third floor and converting the attic into storage space for filing cabinets and program materials, which will free up space in other parts of the house to be used for programs, Ware-Meguiar said.
Now, Girls Inc. is working to raise the funds for the second phase of the project: $103,000 in exterior repairs. That work will include painting, repairs to the gutters and carpentry, and a new porch roof, storm windows, doors, rear steps, lighting and a wheelchair accessible ramp.
They received a matching $50,000 facade grant from the Franklin Development Corp. Girls Inc. will need to contribute $53,000 to the project. About $12,000 has been raised so far, Ware-Meguiar said.
Their goal is to raise the money by the end of January, since that is when the work on the project is expected to be complete. If Girls Inc. doesn’t raise the funds by then, they will take out a low-interest loan, an option Ware-Meguiar described as a last resort.
The organization will be fundraising until all of the projects are completed, she said. An expanded restroom on the second floor, a new basement staircase and a new entry on the west side of the building are some of the projects planned for later stages.
Girls Inc. has been reaching out to community groups and people who have supported them in the past to get donations for the projects, Ware-Meguiar said.
Work on each of the next projects will began as soon as funds have been collected, she said.
Ware-Meguiar hopes to have all the money raised by the end of 2018, but said they will continue fundraising after that if needed to reach their goals.
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Girls Inc. of Johnson County is renovating the 1875 Victorian home it operates out of. During the first phase, the organization added an accessible restroom, put another heating and air conditioning unit on the third floor and converted the attic into storage space. Here is the work they still have planned:
Phase 2: 2016-2017
Exterior renovation: $103,000
New signage: $1,200
Basement clean-up: $5,000
Phase 3: 2016-2017
Expanded and renovated restroom on second floor: $35,000
New basement staircase: $5,000
Moving administration to second floor: $2,500
Phase 4: 2017-2018
New secure entry on the west side: $50,000
New curb-side drop off: $7,500
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Girls Inc. of Johnson County is seeking donations to cover the cost of repairs and renovation to the century old home they operate out of in Franklin. Here are the ways you can donate.
- Online at girlsincjc.org through PayPal
- Over the phone by calling 317-736-5344
- Checks by mail to 200 E. Madison St., Franklin, IN 46131
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