More than a decade ago, Dawn Haaz noticed a striking pattern – then she took steps to break it.
A licensed psychologist, Haaz was seeing patients – particularly women – who suffered from low self-esteem and were caught up in repetitive patterns of unhealthy relationships, anxiety, depression and lack.
“I was seeing girls and women struggling with the same themes – low self esteem, unhealthy relationships, an inability to be assertive and unhealthy body image,” Haaz explained, “and I began to think, what if older women had learned these skills when they were girls and pre teens.”
This spark motivated Haaz to organize and hold her first camp, “Camp Girl Power” in 2014 – from that camp Doylestown-based non-profit Girls Empowered was born in 2015.
March 1 kicks off Women’s History Month, and Haaz said what better time to celebrate future generations than with a gala event March 6.
On March 6, 2025 from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Spring Mill Country Club in Ivyland, Girls Empowered will hold a dinner and awards presentation to celebrate young people, their achievements and 10 years of service programs.
The evening’s fundraising goal is $10,000. Tickets cost $65 each; a pair of tickets cost $120. Proceeds benefit Girls Empowered, Inc.
SolFul Living Founder Amanda Soler will offer the keynote address. Soler is creator and host of the “SolFul Connections” podcast. Diana Meyer, United States of America’s Mrs. New Jersey 2025 will be a guest speaker at the event. Meyer founded “Reaching for a Fearless Future” to inspire girls to reach their full potential, Meyer’s website said.
Haaz said Girls Empowered teaches stress management, coping and self care skills, the value of self care and provides reference points for what healthy relationships – versus unhealthy ones – look like.
“Girls Empowered is intended as something prevention based,” Haaz said.
When healthy relationships are not modeled, it’s easy to think unhealthy ones are the norm. She said understanding self esteem – as well as ways to build healthy self esteem – is part of program and event features.
READ: Bucks County Changemakers Interview with ‘Girls Empowered’ Founder Dawn Haaz
Haaz said the March 6 event aims to raise the organization’s profile and public awareness; raise needed funds for programming and to share the value and importance of programs like this specifically geared toward empowering girls.
Over the past 10 years, Girls Empowered has facilitated more than 175 programs empowering over 2,500 girls in the community. During this time, Girls Empowered partnered with over 60 local businesses and organizations, according to a Girls Empowered press release.
Summer camps and year round empowerment programs are Girls Empowered features.
Topics include healthy self-esteem, self-care, body image, healthy relationships, diversity, leadership, team building and career exploration, the press release said.
“I hope people leave [our evening] feeling empowered,” Haaz said.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit Girls Empowered.org. Tickets are on sale until Feb. 28.
