Choice Bank and BIO Girls are putting girls first
Citing that a staggering 62% of girls suffer from low self-esteem BIO Girls’ main mission is to increase the self-esteem of adolescent girls.
Citing that a staggering 62% of girls suffer from low self-esteem, BIO (Beautiful Inside and Out) Girls’ main mission is to increase the self-esteem of adolescent girls through life-skills lessons, small-group mentoring, and non-competitive physical activity over the course of a 12-week program.
The program is built to focus on girls in grades 2 – 6—the most formative years of self-esteem building—and over the course of those 12 weeks the girls meet regularly to train their minds and bodies with the tools and confidence to navigate adolescence. By the end of the 12 weeks, the program culminates in an athletic finale including anything from running a local 5k race to putting on a dance performance.
Started in 2012 by Missy Heilman, the first BIO Girls program took place at one site in Fargo, ND with just 30 participants. Since then, BIO Girls has blossomed across the Midwest with over 30 sites and the support of hundreds of volunteers and businesses to positively impact even more young girls in our communities.
Over the years it has been such an inspiration to witness the passion Missy and the rest of the BIO Girls team has poured into diversifying and expanding the program. Putting girls first is at the forefront of everything they do and as they continue to expand it is important for us to support the work they do. So, in 2019 we decided to increase our commitment to BIO Girls and their vision to empower adolescent girls by donating over $8,000, which went on to impact the 1,085 girls who participated in the program this year.
Half of Choice Bank’s donation went to sponsor the headbands that each of the girls could earn by following through with their at-home workouts during the program and wear at their finale. The other half was dedicated to funding the scholarships of all need-based participants—a total of 68 girls.
Bettering the places we live is one of our core values. We’re dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and economic viability of families and businesses in our communities. Learn about our People First history here.
