In 1969, the Dothan Service League met in response to a survey showing the community needs, and began discussing the need for a girls only program. Thus, Girls Club was created, and met one afternoon a week at Henry Green apartments with about 6-10 members. In 1970, the girls and their volunteer teachers met wherever they could, but by 1971 the Dothan Service League rented a small frame house on E. Savannah Street for the Club. The Girls Club was open Monday through Thursday in the afternoons with a total enrollment of 24 girls.
In 1976, the Board of Directors incorporated Girls Club, and after many fundraisers the Dothan Service League rented what was once the Gingerbread House to Girls Club, Inc. for $1 a year.
In November 1976, the first Executive Director was hired, and by 1978 the first Summer program was held averaging 50 girls a day. By Fall 1978 the club was open everyday for activities afterschool, and full day activities on school holidays. And in October 1981, Girls Club became a United Way agency.
Fast-forward 8 years, and in the Summer of 1989 Girls Club had the highest enrollment ever with 270 girls! The waiting list reached 165 and still there were phone calls and drop ins with questions about joining the program.
In May 1990, the National Girls Club of America held its national conference and voted to change the name to GIRLS INCORPORATED after a long court battle with National Boys Club over the use of the name “Girls Club” in conjunction with their name. The vote carried and we became known as Girls Incorporated of Dothan. Programming had become the core of the organization and there were 6 core program areas (Health & Sexuality, Sports & Adventure, Self Reliance & Life Skills, Careers & Life Planning, Culture & Heritage, and Leadership & Community Action) that were in effect in every center across the United States to some degree.
In September 1997, Charles G. Taylor donated a 13,000 square foot building located at 785 South Foster Street to the organization for use as their new center. Girls Incorporated of Dothan’s Board of Directors took on their first ever capital campaign for $250,000. Renovations began in January 1998 and by August 1998 Girls Incorporated of Dothan was open for their first Fall Afterschool Program in the new facility.
In 2006, Girls Incorporated of Dothan was awarded Affiliate of the Year in our region in the small budget category! This award was due to the hardwork of the staff, and the focus on academic support and parental involvement.
2010 was a great, record breaking year for Girls Inc. of Dothan with attendance at its highest ever during the Summer and Afterschool Program. Thanks to support from the Human Resource Development Corporation, Girls Inc. was able to provide much needed scholarships during the Summer and after school.