10.16.2019
Rainbow Girls Raise $45,000 for Treehouse
Jenna Rees joined Rainbow Girls in 2009 and has participated in a variety of roles. She started by editing their quarterly newsletter, then directed their leadership development program before being elected Grand Worthy Associate Advisor (or Vice President).
During that time, she has fundraised for Make-A-Wish, Shriner’s Hospital, Hilarity for Charity and Fred Hutchinson Research Center—all through Rainbow Girls.
In 2018, Jenna was elected Grand Worthy Advisor (or President) for the Rainbow Girls of Washington and Idaho. The first thing she did was start planning how she could leverage her position within the organization to support youth in foster care. As the region’s Grand Worthy Advisor, Jenna was able to choose the organization Rainbow Girls would fundraise for that year, and the choice was an easy one.
“When I read Treehouse’s mission about preparing youth in foster care for life, it struck a chord in my heart and reminded me of my own mom’s journey through foster care,” Jenna said. “I knew then that if I was elected, Treehouse was the perfect choice to support.”
Rainbow Girls is a philanthropic junior sorority for ages 11-20. The goal of the organization is to prepare girls for responsible and purposeful adulthood through character, teamwork and leadership development.
The Washington and Idaho group has more than 500 members in 32 different cities. For the past year, they all have been fundraising for Treehouse, organizing community events throughout Washington and Idaho. That includes the Color Run in Monroe, as well as community dinners, painting sessions and even a watermelon-eating contest.
They also sold their own handmade merchandise, ranging from bath balms and hair bows to screen-printed clothing and accessories. Each member was responsible for raising a small amount of money to create a big, cumulative donation.
During the year, there were lots of highlights. One particularly powerful moment was after the Color Run, when the Rainbow Girls announced they raised more than $15,000.
“It was such a humbling moment, and I was so proud of the girls who had just run their hearts out for Treehouse,” Jenna said. “It was only our third year of putting on the Color Run, and it’s definitely one of the most beloved events in Washington/Idaho Rainbow!”
At their year-end convention, the Rainbow Girls of Washington and Idaho announced that across 11,017 hours of service work, they raised $45,000 for Treehouse. It was the culmination of a lot of hard work for the girls and the community.
“It’s truly awe-inspiring to see how much change a group of determined young women can accomplish together,” Jenna said. “Anyone has the power to change someone else’s life, even if she seems like just an ordinary 11-year-old girl.”
Interested in making Treehouse a beneficiary of your event or fundraising initiative? Email me at [email protected] to get started.
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About the Author
Spencer Sheridan is the Senior Event Coordinator for Treehouse. He is passionate about engaging community partners to support youth in foster care. Contact Spencer at [email protected] if you are interested in hosting an event to benefit Treehouse.