Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy handed out 55 hot spots Thursday morning to students who do not have internet at home. Dr. Elaine Swafford, executive director of CGLA, has expanded Maslow’s hierarchy of needs to include: internet.
“Most of us don’t worry about going home in the evenings and not having the internet to do our shopping or listen to the latest You Tube video, but many of our students go home after school and cannot complete homework assignments because they do not have internet,” said Dr. Swafford.
Designed by local neonatologist Dr. Liz Kennedy and Karen Hutton, CEO and owner of Hutton, the Backpack for Success program was designed to meet the basic needs of CGLA girls so they could attend school and not focus on anything but education. The funds raised for the Backpack for Success program meet clothing requirements, address meal deficiencies, provide hygiene products, support transportation costs to and from educational trips and give internet service at home.
Donna Coleman, director of Development at CGLA, said that the Backpack for Success program has been an amazing support system and is one of many programs that CGLA utilizes to raise funds to support the individual and collective needs of the girls and the school. “If you like to shop, CGLA has multiple options to meet your purchasing needs, while financially sponsoring CGLA at the same time,” said Ms. Coleman. Some of these include the Publix, Food City, Amazon Smile, Kula and most recently, Barnes and Noble.
CGLA’s second event this week takes place Friday as Mrs. Alma Konvalinka and Mr. Aldo Heredia and their students are leading the school in celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month with a “Mix It Up” event. The hallways will be buzzing with informative conversation and culinary booths will be set up with Hispanic cuisine.
“Every day, at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, we experience at least one wow moment, and this morning, it was sending our girls home with internet access and tomorrow it will be celebrating our Hispanic Heritage Month Curriculum,” said Dr. Swafford. She went on to say that she is excited to see what each day brings in the life of CGLA and she added, “you don’t want to miss this excitement.”
Visit CGLA online, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, and get involved in the various ways to support CGLA. Watch for the Annual Fund that is kicking off in conjunction with the #Giving Tuesday Campaign. CGLA’s upcoming Founder’s Campaign will support the revitalization of a much needed space for classrooms, a cafeteria/auditorium, a maker’s space, and the ongoing maintenance services needed for additional school facilities. CGLA also participates in the Combined Federal Campaign.