This event is at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m PT and is open to the entire Young Women’s Leadership Network.
This webinar is the fourth of a four-part Zoom series hosted by JWI on female reproductive health, sexual health, and wellness. This event will focus on the efforts of the organization "Support the Girls" that Dana Marlowe founded. We will hear from Dana on her story and how she created this company, and the amazing work they are doing for women everywhere.
Support the Girls collects donations of new and gently used bras, and individually sealed tampons and maxi pads and distributes them to girls and women experiencing homelessness across the U.S. and globally. Bras are considered a luxury and wearing the same bra for years causes health problems. Many times living on the streets means having to decide between buying a hot meal or a box of tampons. No one should have to make that choice!
Whether they be homeless, refugees, in transitional housing, or fleeing domestic violence, women and girls should never have to compromise on dignity. We partner with over 800 vetted organizations to meet the needs of the women we come in contact with. So far, more than 550,000 girls and women have been able to retain their dignity through our product drop-offs.
Dana Marlowe
Dana Marlowe can turn a moment into a movement. What began with her spontaneous question of “What can I do with my old bras?” led to the creation of I Support the Girls, a non-profit organization that provides a source of dignity, self-esteem, empowerment, and support to marginalized women via the donation of bras and menstrual hygiene products. As a human rights advocate in the intersections of feminism, menstrual equality, health, and dignity, Dana works tirelessly to better the lives of the most invisible populations. These women and girls are often overlooked by mainstream society. Dana can’t fix the larger societal issues that create insecurity, like homelessness and living paycheck-to-paycheck, but she can combat feelings of worthlessness by encouraging an accommodated period and properly fitting bra. In her tenure as the Executive Director and Founder at I Support the Girls, Dana has worked behind the scenes and beyond borders, not only facilitating donations, but also visiting countless shelters to connect with women experiencing homelessness, hearing their stories and using these experiences to become a stronger advocate. I Support the Girls donates bras and menstrual hygiene products to women across the world who are experiencing homelessness, poverty, are refugees, evacuees of natural disasters or are breast cancer survivors. Dana has spearheaded the initiative to create the I Support the Girls affiliate network throughout the United States and globally. Her approachable and realistic attitude have inspired the creation of over 50 of nationwide and global affiliates, all led by real women charged by Dana’s actions and striving to emulate her advocacy in their local communities. Dana’s efforts have been showcased in The Washington Post, the Associated Press, Yahoo News, The Today Show, Marie Claire, Cosmopolitan, NPR, NationSwell, and countless more. She recently met television celebrity Mike Rowe, who surprised her on his show Returning the Favor, a documentary that highlights local heroes who accomplish big charitable results. Dana’s efforts have been recognized, and she has been humbled to recently receive the Dr. Tererai Trent Award for empowerment of women from the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO), a Woman to Watch from JWI, and the Magnificent Mom Award from ABC7. I Support the Girls is expanding daily, thanks to Dana’s tireless energy and indomitable spirit. But success isn’t counted in number of bras and pads donated. Dana defines success as minds changed and advocates created. The work of I Support the Girls will be complete when society smashes taboos about menstruation, the Tampon Tax is abolished, and women’s dignity is no longer seen as a superfluous budget item. As a visionary around women’s health, Dana saw a need where society often forgets to look, all due to a chance encounter that she capitalized on. Spurred by passion and purpose, she is changing lives and attitudes through this uplifting work. I Support the Girls is Dana’s passion project. She is also the founder and principal partner of Accessibility Partners, an IT company making technology accessible for people with disabilities. Dana promotes equal access to technology and full inclusion of people with disabilities in technology usage. When she is not sorting bras or striving for inclusivity, she can be found at playgrounds with her sons, walking her new puppy, or attending early morning dance raves.