Las Chicas, GIRLS'BIZ 2007-2008, sold scented soy candles from la Bougie. Their $500 donation supported a family of AIDS orphans in Africa for a year through African Youth Outreach, and their second donation went to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The girls enjoyed an overnight in the Dells and money for shopping in May.
2006-2007 The GEM Company
(Girls Making Money)
The girls donated the profits from their charity breakfast to the Breast Cancer Recovery Foundation, Inc.
2005-2006 NorthStar Gift Company
The NorthStar Gift Company sold hand painted clay pins and ornaments, holiday decorative items,
bags of fine chocolate snowmen and fleece blankets and scarves for their holiday line. In the spring,
these ambitious girls sold hand painted flower pots with live plants and silk flower pens, stemmed glass charms, handmade soaps in painted dishes and two pewter items made by an artist in California. In February, 2006,
they generously donated $1000 to the Bill Jordan Wildlife Defense Fund, USA, an organization which rescues
and rehabilitates elephants and rhinos in Africa and India. In May, 2006, the girls rented a cool condo unit
at a water park motel in Wisconsin Dells for themselves, five adults and three siblings. The next week
the girls went shopping in Madison with the remaining profit.
2004-2005 Red, White & True
the Star Spangled Girls Gift Company
the Star Spangled Girls Gift Company sold several seasonal decorative items in the fall/winter,
and sold Lucky Bamboo plants and jars of layered scented bath salts in the spring. They made a gift
of $750 to the Red Cross Tsunami Relief fund and used the remaining profit to treat themselves
and their mothers to hotel, dinner and shopping at Ikea and Woodfield Mall, near Chicago.
2003-2004 The GB Alums Book Company
The GB Alums Book Company decorated holiday candles and is currently assisting in writing the
GIRLS'BIZ Tool Kit and Curriculum and in learning about obtaining funding to finance the publication of the book.
2002-2003 The Starlight Company
The Starlight Company made classy aprons from holiday dishtowels as part of our holiday gift baskets.
We sewed and stuffed microwaveable rice neck packs, and flax seed eye pillows for a spring relaxation gift set. Our trip was to the Art Institute, shopping in Chicago and Gurney Mills and a two-night stay at a motel.
We gave $100 to the Rape Crisis Center.
2001-2002 Thinking of You, the Girls' Gift Company
Thinking of You, the Girls' Gift Company created metal, wire and bead tree ornaments for
holiday gift baskets, and made scented soaps Mother's Day gift sets. That year we drove to the Mall
of America, stayed one night at a motel, did lots of shopping and gave $200 to the Ronald MacDonald House.
1999-2000 The Dragonfly Company
The Dragonfly Company created six lines of handmade jewelry. With the profit, we stayed
overnight at a motel with an indoor water park at Wisconsin Dells.
1998-1999 GEKO Co.
(Girl Entrepreneurs Knowing Opportunity)
The GEKO Company created holiday baskets, Mother's Day candles and painted flowerpots filled with ivy.
With the profit, we went to the Mall of America in Minneapolis, and spent the night at a suite motel.
1997-1998 GIRLS'BIZ
GIRLS' BIZ met Olympic athlete Jackie Joyner Kersee at the WWE-SC tenth anniversary celebration
at the Monona Terrace in Madison, WI. The girls created gift baskets for Valentines Day and Mother's Day.
With the profit, we rented a van and drove to the Illinois amusement park Six Flags for the day.
We drove home in a thunderstorm with lots of lightening bolts!
1996-1997 GIRLS'BIZ
GIRLS' BIZ created tee shirts with cool iron-on designs. With the profit, we went out for pizza!