Oak Ridge Today

Centennial Golf Course has breakfast fundraiser for Girls Inc. on Saturday

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Waffle-Breakfast-Jan-2019

Centennial Golf Course will host a waffle breakfast fundraiser to benefit Girls Inc. of Tennessee Valley from 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday, January 26.

The cost of admission is $5 for all ages, and it includes access to a full waffle bar with toppings, a press release said. All proceeds will go to Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge. There is no need to pre-register for the event.

Girls Inc. is an after-school, summer camp, break camp, and sports program for girls 5-18 years old. The organization began in 1976 and opened its permanent Oak Ridge campus in 2000 at 1798 Oak Ridge Turnpike. Girls Inc. has grown to be an integral part of our community and serves more than 850 girls every year across Anderson, Roane, and Knox counties, the press release said.

Centennial Golf Course is located at 101 Centennial Boulevard in Oak Ridge. The course is currently operating on its winter schedule, with tee times available Monday-Sunday from 8:30 a.m. until 5 p.m. The clubhouse serves breakfast every Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. until 11 a.m.

Questions about the fundraiser can be directed to Centennial Golf Course at (865) 483-2291 or Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge at (865) 482-4475.

Pancake Breakfast fundraiser on Saturday to support local humanitarian programs

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Pictured above is recent community mission work by members of First United Methodist Church. (Submitted photo)

Pictured above is recent community mission work by members of First United Methodist Church. (Submitted photo)

 

The First United Methodist Church Oak Ridge Adult Missions Ministry will sponsor a fundraising Pancake Breakfast at Applebee’s Restaurant on Saturday morning.

The church’s Missions Ministry supports many local humanitarian programs such as ADFAC, TORCH, Family Resource Center at Oak Ridge Schools, Ecumenical Storehouse, Free Medical Clinic, Girls Inc., Agape House, Tabitha’s Table, and Second Harvest “Food For Kids,” a press release said.

The Pancake Breakfast is scheduled from Saturday, December 9, from 8-10 a.m. [Read more…]

Altrusa, Girls Inc. partner for Make a Difference Day

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Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. (Submitted photo)

 

Oak Ridge Altrusa Club members partnered with Girls Inc. on Thursday, October 27, for Make a Difference Day. Eleven Altrusans with various careers such as nursing, real estate, engineering, and community service met with approximately 70 girls between the ages of five and 13 at Girls Inc. and discussed the different aspects of their careers. Each of the girls had a questionnaire and engaged in conversation with each of the career professionals.

One child has dreams of becoming a baker. When asked what she would like to bake, she explained “cakes, cookies and crème brule.” Other girls were interested in fields such as architecture, nursing, pet care, and coding. One child explained that many girls are interested in coding and being encouraged to go into coding, but she felt that architecture would be a better fit for her. Each girl had big dreams for their futures.

Event organizer Altrusan Jane Palmer commented to the participants: “You are helping each one of these girls look at possible careers in a new way. Your influence will last a lifetime.” [Read more…]

Girls Inc. art on display at Library in August

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Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

Photo courtesy City of Oak Ridge

 

The art exhibit at Oak Ridge Public Library for the month of August is a collection of drawings and paintings by young artists from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge.

This organization first began in 1976 as a girls-only sports program, but quickly grew into an after school, summer camp, and sports program for girls between five and 18 years old. Girls Inc. serves more than 850 girls per year, a press release said.

Girls in the program are encouraged to be strong, smart, and bold, the press release said. [Read more…]

Summer coding, technology classes for girls offered in Oak Ridge

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Submitted photo

Submitted photo

 

Oak Ridge Computer Science Girls or ORCSGirls is on a mission to inspire girls in the community to explore the possibilities of technology and computer science, a press release said.

In its short existence since the beginning of the year, ORCSGirls has already run 16 coding and technology events and reached more than 200 middle school girls thanks to TechShopz in a Box by TechGirlz and wonderful volunteers, including many from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (read about them here) and the girls from the Oak Ridge Wildbots, the press release said.

This summer, ORCSGirls has partnered with Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge and is offering three full day workshops for girls aged 13-18 at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. On July 8, girls will create their own mobile game and learn about app programming. Topics at the July 15 class will include an introduction to virtual reality, including making 360 degree pictures, building a Google Cardboard, and learning JavaScript. [Read more…]

‘Fore’ the Girls: Girls Inc. has Golf Classic on May 8

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Girls Inc. Golf Classic

Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge is hosting its 20th Annual Golf Classic on Monday, May 8, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

“What a better way to kick off spring than a beautiful day on the course supporting our next generation of women!” a press release said.

The Golf Classic this year will feature first- and second-place team prizes, division prizes, prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a putting contest.

“This fun day on the course will include refreshments and snacks as well as a fabulous dinner from the Oak Ridge Country Club by the recently remodeled pool and patio,” the press release said.

This year, the funds received from the Golf Classic sponsors and team fees will all support the upcoming Girls Inc. programs. Girls Inc. supports more than 900 girls per year in intentional and research based programs to empower girls to be healthy, educated, and independent, the press release said. [Read more…]

Weaver presents program on African-American involvement in Manhattan Project to Oak Ridge youth

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On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.” (Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park)

On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.” (Photo courtesy Manhattan Project National Historical Park)

 

On February 22, in honor of Black History Month, Rose Weaver, in conjunction with Manhattan Project National Historical Park, presented an informative program on African-American involvement in the Manhattan Project and the creation of the “Secret City.”

Weaver is an active member of the Oak Ridge community and has a passion for preserving the history of the African-American presence since the city’s inception, a press release said. During the past 15 years, Weaver and her late brother, Terry Weaver, have been gathering oral histories and artifacts for a traveling exhibit to tell the stories of the rich history of Oak Ridge and to share with area youth.

She gave her program to a group of 20 young girls at Girls Inc. in Oak Ridge, the press release said. The girls are participating in a year-long educational program called Parks in Focus. The goal of the program is to educate the youths about the natural/cultural history of the area as well as basic photography skills. [Read more…]

TechShopz for middle school girls are coming to Oak Ridge

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techshopz-oak-ridge

Great opportunities for middle school girls interested in learning more about coding and technology are coming to Oak Ridge.

The first two events are “You Can Code” held on January 21 and “Infographics” held on January 28 at Roane State Community College in Oak Ridge. For more information and to sign up, visit www.orcsgirls.org.

These TechShopz are powered by TechGirls (www.techgirlz.org), a 501(c) nonprofit dedicated to reducing and ultimately eliminating the gender gap in technology occupations. [Read more…]

Children’s Museum to celebrate national parks at gala in December

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childrens-museum-gala-2016

Martha Hart of Karen’s Jewelers, left, with Lee McGetrick and Mike Morris, all members of the Children’s Museum Gala Committee, display a National Park poster for the Gala, which will celebrate the National Park Service Centennial. (Submitted photo)

 

The Children’s Museum of Oak Ridge will celebrate the 100th birthday of the National Park Service at its annual Gala Evening, a benefit for the museum on Friday, December 2.

“Tribute to the National Parks—A Centennial Celebration” will feature National Park trivia and prizes, National Park-inspired cuisine by Rosa’s Catering, music from the Oak Ridge High School Choral Ensemble, an exhibition of children’s photographs from the parks, and a surprise for Gala attendees.

The Gala will be an official National Park Service Centennial Event. In honor of that designation, the museum will offer free admission Saturday and Sunday, December 3 and 4, inviting the public to view the “Parks-in-Focus” National Parks photography exhibit in the Imagination Gallery. Photos of area parks taken by girls from Girls Inc. of Oak Ridge will be shown in the exhibit.

Guests are invited to come dressed to represent a favorite National Park or in semi-formal attire to the Gala, to be held from 5:30-9:30 p.m. December 2 at the museum, which is at 461 West Outer Drive in Oak Ridge. [Read more…]

‘Fore’ the Girls: Girls Inc. has fundraising Golf Classic on Aug. 26

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Girls Inc. Golf Classic

Submitted by Rhoni Basden, Girls Inc.

What a better way to kick off fall than a beautiful day on the course supporting our next generation of women! Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge is hosting its 19th Annual Golf Classic on Friday August 26, at the Oak Ridge Country Club.

The Golf Classic this year will feature a Hole-In-One Car Prize sponsored by Sexton Automotive, first- and second-place team prizes, division prizes, prizes for closest to the pin, longest drive, and a putting contest.

This fun day on the course will include refreshments and snacks as well as a fabulous dinner from the Oak Ridge Country Club by the recently remodeled pool and patio.

This year, the funds received from the Golf Classic sponsors and team fees will all support the upcoming Girls Inc. programs. Girls Inc. supports more than 800 girls per year in intentional and research-based programs to empower girls to be healthy, educated, and independent. The annual Golf Classic has supported participating girls for more than 19 years in scholarships, program needs, and sports seasons. [Read more…]

Girls Inc. receives funding from Panhellenic Council for Operation SMART

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Panhellenic Council and Girls Inc.

Girls Inc. members receive a check from Panhellenic Council Member Joan Vicary. (Submitted photo)

 

Girls Incorporated of Oak Ridge has received a generous contribution from the Panhellenic Council that will support the Girls Inc. Operation SMART program, a press release said.

“This contribution provides funding for the agency to fulfill its mission of inspiring girls to be strong, smart, and bold by encouraging the development of girls in the STEM fields,” a press release said. “The Operation SMART program helps girls develop an enthusiasm for and skills in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM). Through hands-on activities, girls explore, ask questions, persist, and solve problems. The funding provided girls with vegetables to plant, Legos and a Lego table, owl pellet dissection kits, lab equipment, a wooden workbench, and other STEM supplies to enhance the program.” [Read more…]

Women’s Interfaith Dialogue features Girls Inc. director on Monday

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Rhoni Basden

Rhoni Basden

The Women’s Interfaith Dialogue of Oak Ridge will feature a presentation by Rhoni Basden, executive director of Oak Ridge Girls Inc., on Monday, September 14, at 11 a.m.  The program will be held at Grace Covenant Church, Trinity Center, which is at 320 Robertsville Road.

Basden’s presentation is entitled “Girls Inc.: What We Do for Girls in Oak Ridge.”  She will address the focus, work and activities of the organization. She has headed the local club since 2013.

Basden located in East Tennessee from Seattle where she worked in nonprofit development and federally funded programming. She has an extensive background in child development, special needs, and nonprofit administration in varying organizations from Head Start programs to Autism Awareness groups throughout the city of Seattle. She began her studies at Stetson University in Florida and graduated from the University of San Francisco. [Read more…]