Girl Scouts of the USA launched ToGetHerThere, the largest, boldest advocacy and fundraising cause dedicated to girls’ leadership in the nation’s history. The multi-year effort will seek to create balanced leadership – the equal representation of women in leadership positions in all sectors and levels of society  – within one generation.

Getting involved with this cause is one of the greatest things you can do for the next generation of girls. There are so many ways for you to participate. Your involvement can be as easy as learning more about the issues or as profound as connecting a group of girls to your company for mentorship. In each way, you’re creating an encouraging environment that supports successful futures for girls.

It has been said that women’s status in society is a direct measure of that society’s success. But it goes deeper than that and starts with girls. The statistics we read about girls today have a predicting effect on all of our futures. A girl who doesn’t believe she has what it takes to be a leader isn’t likely to run for mayor one day. A girl who is laughed at by peers for being outspoken in the classroom isn’t dreaming of sitting at the head of the table, running a board meeting. A girl who hides her abilities in science and math won’t find the cure to illnesses that affect us all.

The Facts

• Programs for girls receive only 7.5% of philanthropic dollars.
  Yet – investing in girls produces the greatest return in economic development, social progress and public health.
• 3% of Fortune 500 CEOs are women, and women make up only 15% of corporate boards.
  Yet – companies with more female senior executives consistently outperform their industry peers.
• Women account for 20% of the bachelor’s degrees in engineering, computer science and physics.
  Yet – when today’s girls graduate, the U.S. will need 3 million more scientists and engineers.
• Only 17% of U.S. senators, representatives and governors are women.
  Yet – women are rated higher than men on character traits highly valued in political leaders.
• Almost 9 out of 10 girls say there are more men than women in leadership positions today.
  Yet – close to 3 in 5 girls think that women can rise up in a company but they will only rarely be put at the very top.
• Nearly 40% of girls report that they have been put down by peers, when they try to lead.
  Yet – On leading: Girls fear being laughed at, making people mad at them, coming across as bossy.
• 9 out of 10 girls say the fashion industry makes them feel fat.
  Yet – 48% of girls wish they were as skinny as the models in fashion magazines.
• Only 1 in 5 girls believe she has what it takes to lead.
  Yet – corporations whose boards are at least 1/4 women outperform those with the smallest female board participation.
• Women managed only 3% of the hedge funds and 10% of mutual funds during the recent economic meltdown.
  Yet – women-owned funds significantly outperform funds in general, even during tough economic times.

Click here to take the ToGetHerThere Pledge.