08/02/2026
"How blessed we are to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard."
— Winnie the Pooh (Adapted)
Girls First is a program like no other.
For the past 17 years, this phenomenal arts program has delivered the pinnacle of dedication, intentionality, and investment in the arts, trauma-informed practices, and social emotional teachings. Each year, the goal was to build on and continue to create an environment of love, learning, and life ( and especially artistic) skills that consistently met the beautiful , inside and out, young people and their families exactly where they were. Through committed and passionate teaching artists and similar mission-minded community partners, we delivered something truly special in Norristown and eventually the Philadelphia and Chester areas.
It is bittersweet to say that due to a loss of long-term, sustainable funding, and despite a valiant effort on our part to secure it, our Girls First Board made the difficult decision to close our doors.
We would be remiss to close this chapter without thanking every single person who shared their time and talents with us.
Your decision to work, partner, volunteer, donate...every single aspect, made a true difference, and for that, we will be forever grateful to you.
We hope you know that you made an impact.
We opened our doors in 2009, and what an unforgettable journey to 2026 it has been!
To our beloved Girls First families, were it not for you entrusting your children to our care to nourish and nurture them each afternoon, year after year, we would not have had the opportunity to be a part of so many young lives and their life stories. Without question, we know their time with us will always hold a special place in their hearts, just as it always will for us.
Girls First may be closing its doors, but we will carry these memories forever. We are so thankful for the laughs, growth, relationships, and memories that we created behind those Big Red Doors.
We couldn't have done this without you, and we are beyond honored that we got to do this with you.
Forever and always letting them be...Girls First💜
