News from Baking for Good

I was thrilled this week to have the opportunity to interview Tammy Tibbetts, Founder & President of our featured community fundraiser, She’s the First. She’s the First promotes the importance of educating girls, especially in the developing world. She’s the First believes in giving underprivileged girls the means to break barriers and become the “first” to achieve their goals. Read on to hear more about Tammy’s inspiring work with She’s the First. -Heather

What was your inspiration for She’s the First? How did the program come about?

I was Director of Operations for the MacDella Cooper Foundation for two years, and I traveled to Liberia twice to work with the abandoned children and orphans in our sponsorship program. I saw firsthand the life-changing impact of an education. I also saw so much potential in the powerful social networks of my friends, primarily those 18-28 who live on Facebook and Twitter. We can leverage the thousands of people we’re connected to online and influence offline action that ultimately sends girls to school. In most cases, this girl will be the first in her family to graduate.

What does She’s the First hope to accomplish?

We want to send as many girls as possible to primary and secondary school in countries where they otherwise would not be given the opportunity, because the tuition is not free. This will close the global gender gap in classrooms. We’re very focused on girls because research shows that every extra year of education they get increases their income, helps them avoid abuse, enables them to marry later and have fewer children, and all this in turn creates healthier, happier, self-sustaining families.

How does the program work?

You gather your friends and each chip in small dollar amounts, and when you reach even $80, you can sign up to sponsor a girl together via one of the 501c3 organizations we’ve partnered with in our directory. Or, you and your friends can plan a fundraiser, just like you would a party, and collect other people’s donations – that won’t cost you a cent, and you just donate your own time and talents! When you are ready to make your donation, we recommend you contact the She’s the First team, and then we can help kick-off your relationship with the sponsorship program you chose. We’d also love to tell your success story on our blog to inspire others.

How does She’s the First use social networking to accomplish its goals? What have some of the advantages/disadvantages of social networking been for She’s the First?

We use social media in many ways. We can raise awareness that girls’ education is not only about paying it forward — giving an education to someone because you were lucky enough to get one — but it also has huge economic, health and social benefits in the larger scheme of the Millennium Development Goals.

We’ve used Twitter and Facebook to promote sales of our tickets to the GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert, and one sponsor even sent a girl to primary school in Haiti simply by tweeting to her friends. We talk to our supporters, celebrities, and other non-profits through Twitter and Facebook. The most meaningful use of social networking so far has been our communication with some of the students who’ve been sponsored through our efforts. The profits of GIRLS WHO ROCK, for example, sponsored three Tanzanian girls in AfricAid’s Kisa Project. We email with the three of them, and they understand that there’s a whole campaign of women and men behind them. We post their messages to our blog and their co-sponsors comment back. I pass the comments along to the girls. It’s been a great joy to give them this extra boost of encouragement, and of course we learn so much from them telling us what their lives are like. Plus, it’s good writing practice for them to send us letters. You can read some of them on the blog here.

How did She’s the First get involved with pop/r&b singer JoJo?

I worked with JoJo in 2008 on the Ultimate Prom video series I created in my day job. On a video shoot, we were talking about Africa, and she expressed a genuine interest in getting involved in helping children there. So when She’s the First was about to launch, I asked if she wanted to be in our premiere PSA, and she said yes! We can’t wait for her new album to be released – she’s a true talent and good soul.

Do you have a personal mantra? What is it?

Yes! Style with substance, a phrase that I borrow from my ultimate role model, the late Ruth Whitney, who was the legendary editor-in-chief of GLAMOUR. When she was inducted into the American Society of Magazine Editors’ Hall of Fame, the dedication read: “In the spirit of great journalism, she combined style with substance.” Who wouldn’t want to be remembered that way?

Tell us a bit about your travels. How did they change your life?

Both times I went to Liberia, you just can’t escape the fact that people live deprived of everything we take for granted in the US. Even the tiniest gift was received with enormous gratitude. The kids have hunger for food but also for knowledge. The important thing to remember though is that doing good in the world is not about giving handouts. It’s about working with local communities to educate the youth, so that a generation of leaders can grow and change the infrastructure. No matter where you travel, don’t just take pictures — ask questions, listen. And when people give you their stories, don’t forget them. Tell them. Let them fuel your actions and push you to achieve your vision of improving some piece of the world. There are fleeting moments when that will feel impossible. But I promise it’s not!

What advice would you give women on how to accomplish their goals?

Write them down. I write short-term to-do lists every week and long-term ones a few times a year. I want to do so much, and if I think of it all at once, it’s crushing. But if I space them out into phases, I’m able to focus and attain them. Also, work with a team. We have an incredible leadership team behind She’s the First and we’re looking to expand, especially with campus group leaders. So email us at info@shesthefirst.org if interested.

What are some ways that people can help support She’s the First?

 First, join the community of fellow changemakers and sponsors by linking up with our Facebook page, Twitter page, and YouTube channel. Then, check out our directory of vetted sponsorship programs and see which one interests you. Gather a group of friends to go into a sponsorship with you, by each contributing $10. Or, you can choose to plan a fundraiser in the same way you’d get together to host a party. Have a BBQ and ask guests for a suggested donation (it’s still cheaper than if you had gone out to eat at a restaurant!) . Plan a happy hour. Organize a concert (we’re looking for people to branch out our signature GIRLS WHO ROCK benefit concert in Manhattan to other cities; email info@girlswhorock.org if interested). Gift a sponsorship as a gift to be shared among a staff or group of friends. Basically, the possibilities are endless because you’re using your own creativity and talents! 

Look to shesthefirst.org/blog for more ideas and of course, consider buying from BakingforGood.com next time you need a gift for someone — 15% of the proceeds can support a sponsorship in the network!