Last year, we presented some of our most dedicated supporters with a special challenge — and an opportunity to multiply the impact of your legacy.
We asked you to notify us by Dec. 31 if you had named Plan International USA in your will or made another deferred giving arrangement. And we shared some exciting news: For every planned gift notification we received, an anonymous donor would give $1,000 to Plan USA’s We Are the Girls campaign!
Well, you accepted our challenge, and the results were inspiring. We couldn’t wait to share them with you, and to celebrate your tremendous impact — for girls today, and generations to come.
Because of you, we not only met but exceeded our challenge goal!
You notified us of a total of 32 legacy gifts — that’s 32 investments in the futures of girls around the world. And, those 32 planned gifts resulted in an incredible $32,000 donation to Plan USA’s We Are the Girls campaign.
Your generosity truly made a significant impact, amplifying the positive change that we’re achieving together, and helping the campaign to finish strong!
A powerful ripple effect
When we launched our We Are the Girls campaign five years ago, we asked a simple question: What if girls led the way?
That question led us to create a new way of doing things, called GirlEngage, where girls become the drivers of the change they need in their lives. Persistency, a participant of The Graduation Project in Zimbabwe, said it best: “The project is for us, by us.”
The We Are the Girls campaign transformed the way we work, triggering chain reactions across Plan’s projects. Girls are now realizing their power and using their voices to create the world they want to live in.
Here are just some of the achievements made possible with the support of people like you:
- 15.5 million people impacted.
- $205 million raised in support of girl-led programming in 80+ countries.
- 568 young entrepreneurs in Guatemala received seed funding to start their own businesses through Plan’s Connection to Success program.
- 15,735 individuals in India and Nepal received information on trafficking risks and available support programs through information centers established by the PROTECT project.
- 160 girls in Zimbabwe are living safely in two dormitories they helped to design through The Graduation Project.
- 26,886 hygiene, dignity, food and other types of kits were distributed to girls and families in Mexico, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador through Protected Passage.
- 1,098 girls and young women from the U.S. shared their opinions on and experiences with political participation in 2022, as part of a global Plan survey.
Beyond the numbers: Hear from the girls that are changing the world
“The project has changed my life. Knowing about issues of gender, violence and others have made me see the world differently, and having participated in other spaces helped me feel more secure in my abilities and skills. I have developed my inner power and it has allowed me to be a leader in my community to empower more girls.” — Dayana, Champions of Change participant, El Salvador
“I believe that we have been trusted with the work we continue to do in our community. I now realize that all the dots are connected to form one line.” — Roshani, PROTECT project participant, Nepal
“My mom says she sees changes in my life. I tell her what I learned in the employment sessions. She tells me not to stop, to put everything into practice, and to keep growing.” — Eliza, Connection to Success participant, Guatemala
“I enjoy comfortable nights now, as it is my first time ever to leave the mat and sleep in a bed.” — Nokuthula, The Graduation Project participant, Zimbabwe
The Legacy Match Challenge and We Are the Girls campaign have both come to an end, but Plan’s work with and for girls through GirlEngage is just getting started. We’re so glad you’re on this journey with us, because none of this would be possible without you.
Questions?
Making a planned gift is a personal decision, and I am always happy to answer any questions you may have about the process. Please don’t hesitate to call me at 401.562.8525 or email me at angelica.scanu@planusa.org to discuss your gift.
Thank you for making a difference for girls and their families today, and for investing in a more equal future for us all!
