History of Girls Inc. of Greater Columbia (GIGC)
Girls Incorporated of Greater Columbia (GIGC) is part of a national network of youth-serving organizations. We are the very first affiliate organization of Girls Inc. in South Carolina. GIGC began with a community interest group meeting in January 2006 in Columbia, SC. A steering committee was established and organization of GIGC initiated in February 2006. Through the vision and determination of its founding members, GIGC registered with the South Carolina Secretary of State Office as a charity in July 2006. Girls Inc. National granted GIGC provisional affiliation status in September 2006. GIGC received 501(c)(3) designation from the IRS in December 2006. Fast forward to the present, GIGC now has a viable, working board of Richland and Lexington County residents.
As an all-volunteer group, GIGC began outreach projects, workshops and one-day events to small numbers of Columbia metro area girls in June 2007. Since that time, we have continued to reach more girls from all over the Greater Columbia area, in addition to girls from other surrounding counties in the Midlands. At the current time, there are no other Girls Inc. programs or affiliates in South Carolina.