Hello all,

Help me raise money for She's the First, a not-for-profit that helps promote girl’s education worldwide.

Some background:
For those of you who don’t know about She’s the First (STF), the organization was founded in part by one of my best friends who I lived with and met up at Syracuse University—Christen Brandt. Together, her and founder Tammy Tibbetts started STF over a year ago. Last year, they helped send over 30 girls to school in Africa. You can read more about their organization at shesthefirst.org or in an article I wrote last semester on pages 8 and 9 of my publication, Medley.

Tammy then founded GIRLS WHO ROCK, a benefit concert to help support and fundraise money for She’s the First. Last year, their first concert brought in $6000.

What You Need to Know:
On June 10, GIRLS WHO ROCK will be holding their second annual concert at Gramercy Theatre. Their goal is to raise $5000 before the event begins to help sponsor 42 girls go to school in Uganda. The top 3 highest donors will receive a shout out during concert.

We have 38 days to meet my goal of $30—I set it low, as I wasn’t sure what expectations to have. So far, I have contributed $11 to GIRLS WHO ROCK (in honor of being a part of the Class of 2011). Now, that I’ve had the opportunity to receive an education, let’s give someone else one too. Every little bit counts!

Thank you,

@KirstenAcuna

What else you can do to help:
Helping is as simple as spreading the word about She's the First to your friends, co-workers, and family. STF encourages social networking--so Tweet, Facebook, Tumblr, and blog to share about the program and my fundraiser.

Visit shesthefirst.org or girlswhorock.org to learn more or follow them on Twitter @shesthefirst and @GirlsWhoRockNY respectively.

Student Takeover!!

It's not over yet! We produced GIRLS WHO ROCK concert on June 10th 2011 during Internet Week New York where we doubled last year's proceeds and now we are taking over this project where our goal is to raise $5,000 online to sponsor 42 girls in Uganda! Can you helps us?

With your support, girls at the Arlington Academy of Hope can be first in their families to graduate high school -- a milestone less than 20% of girls in Uganda reach. We are taking over this page because we are high school students ourselves, and we want girls in Uganda to have the same opportunity that we do.

Sincerely,
Aijia, Cordilia and Teri, GIRLS WHO ROCK, student-volunteers
(that's us in the video above!)

About Arlington Academy of Hope

In Uganda, only 23 percent of school girls will make the jump from primary school to secondary. That means that out of a classroom of 35, only 8 girls will enter high school -- so when John and Joyce Wanda, an American couple, wanted to make a difference in their home country, they knew exactly which area to target. The couple formed Arlington Academy of Hope (AAH), a not-for-profit organization to help children in rural Uganda to reach their full potential, and we're thrilled to say @AAHUganda will be our beneficiary.

The primary school, where it costs $360 to sponsor a girl for one year, has 340 students from grades 1 through 7, the customary seven-year elementary school program in Uganda. AAH fights to raise the number of girls in secondary education by sponsoring them throughout high school at boarding schools throughout Uganda for $1,000 per
year -- while also funding farming projects, medical clinics, and some of the educational needs of the surrounding communities.

Visit girlswhorock.org and shesthefirst.org for more!

Photos of Asha and Peninah, students at the Arlington Academy of Hope in Uganda.