FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Media Contact: Tess Ortega
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria Welcomes Four Distinguished Leaders to its Board of Directors
CARPINTERIA, CA (August 5, 2024) – As Girls Inc. of Carpinteria moves into a new fiscal year, they proudly announce the appointment of four esteemed professionals to its Board of Directors: Eleanor Gartner, Alan Griffin, Kirsten Jenkins, and Amber Kaplan. Each brings a wealth of experience and a deep commitment to empowering young girls in the community.
“We are thrilled to welcome Eleanor, Alan, Kirsten, and Amber to our board,” said Jamie Collins, Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Carpinteria. “Their diverse backgrounds and strong dedication to our community will be invaluable as we continue our mission to inspire the next generation of leaders to be strong, smart, and bold.”
Eleanor Gartner, currently serving as District Representative and Communications Director for Supervisor Laura Capps at the County of Santa Barbara, joins the board with extensive expertise in public affairs and community engagement. Her background includes leadership roles at Cox Communications and fundraising for children-focused nonprofits in New York City and Washington, DC. Eleanor holds a BA in Art History from Hamilton College and actively contributes to organizations like the Women’s Fund of Santa Barbara and Democratic Women of Santa Barbara County.
Alan Griffin, Senior Vice President of Investments at Raymond James & Associates, brings 47 years of financial advisory experience to the board. A longtime resident of Santa Barbara, Alan’s dedication to community service is reflected in his tenure with organizations such as The Scholarship Foundation of Santa Barbara, where he served as President from 2011 to 2013, as well as roles with the Family Service Agency, American Red Cross, Pathpoint, and the Santa Barbara Education Foundation.
Kirsten Jenkins, a Quality System Specialist at NuSil Technology (Avantor), enriches the board with over 13 years of experience in quality systems and community involvement. A Carpinteria native and graduate of California State University Long Beach, Kirsten is passionate about volunteerism and community outreach, previously contributing to the Latino Community Foundation. She looks forward to leveraging her skills to support Girls Inc. in empowering young girls through inclusive events and community engagement.
Amber Kaplan, Operating Partner at Goldenrod Ventures, brings a unique blend of scientific expertise and investment acumen to the board. With a background in immunology and biotech executive roles, Amber is dedicated to advancing women and minorities in science. She currently serves on the board of the MOXI Museum in Santa Barbara and the Library Advisory Commission in Carpinteria, reflecting her commitment to educational initiatives and community development.
Along with this appointment, Girls Inc. of Carpinteria welcomes their dedicated executive committee: Angelina Lane, President; Peter Dugre, Vice President; Hayley Fedders, Treasurer; and Bianca Vega, Secretary. These distinguished leaders have been serving Girls Inc. of Carpinteria in various capacities for the past 3-5 years and have now stepped into their leadership positions.
“We are eager to enter this year with such a dedicated board as we continue to fuel our current strategic plan in its final year, while planning for the future of Girls Inc.,” shared Angelina Lane, Board President. “We have many new and exciting initiatives to be announced, including a chance to re-envision our fundraising strategies, including our fall Evening in Bloom fundraiser, which will transition this year to a February gala.”
Girls Inc. will lean on its board and staff members for their expert guidance as they strive to expand their reach with their Strong, Smart, and Bold programming. Girls Inc. of Carpinteria seeks to promote its core values of community, inclusion, bold advocacy, and intentionality, guiding its efforts to generate sufficient funding to discontinue the current fee-based program model. This change is inspired by Girls Inc.’s mission to offer accessible and equitable programming to all girls.
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria extends a heartfelt thank you to Terri Allison, Orlando Hernandez, Chris Jacobs, and Lori Pearce for their six years of dedicated service on the board. Their invaluable contributions have significantly impacted our mission, and they will be greatly missed. Their continued involvement on Girls Inc. of Carpinteria’s committees will be invaluable to the organization’s future successes.
For more information about Girls Inc. of Carpinteria and its programs, please visit https://girlsinc-carp.org/.
__________________________________
Girls Inc. of Carpinteria is a member of Girls Incorporated®, a nonprofit organization that inspires all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Our programming focuses on the development of the whole girl: we deliver life-changing programs and experiences designed to equip girls to overcome serious barriers and grow up healthy, educated, and independent. A combination of long-lasting mentoring relationships, a pro-girl environment and research-based programming prepares girls to lead fulfilling and productive lives and become role models in their community. Girls Inc. of Carpinteria currently serves more than 1100 youth in the Carpinteria Valley, from Pre-K through 12th grade. To learn more, become a volunteer or offer support, please visit www.girlsinc-carp.org/.
# # #
Leave a Response