Chrissy Shea
CEO and Executive Director at Project Glimmer
Project Glimmer’s mission is simple—to inspire and empower girls with the right tools and resources to help them build the future of their dreams. The nationwide platform boasts dozens of programs aimed at igniting ambition, building an expansive network of peers and mentors, and addressing some of the most basic needs affecting girls nationwide.
What motivates you to pursue this kind of philanthropy? I’ve been leading the organization for seven years, and it’s truly been the most purposeful work of my life! I began my career in advertising and marketing, working on brands like Levi Strauss & Co, Macy’s, Bloomingdales, and Ingrid & Isabel moving from San Francisco to New York City and back to San Francisco again. Some of the most meaningful moments of my earlier career were working on social impact initiatives that gave back. This, along with becoming a mother, fueled my desire to focus on making a difference in the world, giving kids equal opportunities and enabling them to thrive.
Over the past decade, Project Glimmer has grown from a single program—a holiday gift drive for forgotten teenage girls—to a nationwide platform of programs that inspires a girl’s ambition and aspirations, connects her with a network of peers and mentors, and supplements some of her most basic personal needs. Through all of our programs, Project Glimmer centers the girls: helping them envision and realize an empowered future. Showing up to work is easy knowing that we are instilling a sense of belonging and self-worth and creating a safe space for young women to explore their hopes and dreams!
You’re an inspiration to so many — who has most inspired you? Team Project Glimmer. I’m incredibly inspired by this community which includes our board, staff, donors, volunteers and partners who have joined us on our mission to inspire girls to envision and realize an empowered future. My hope is that every girl in this country has the opportunity to create a life of her choosing with the support of her community behind her. It’s the emails, texts and voices of the girls who receive Project Glimmer gifts, who are inspired by the role models who share their personal and professional stories at our Empowerment Events or Coaching sessions, who are motivated to go for their goals after attending Empowerment Academy. It’s these moments that fuel my ambition to continue our work together, as Team Project Glimmer.
Best advice for someone looking to give back and get involved in their community: The first piece of advice I’ll share is something our founder Sonja Perkins once told me, “Communities don’t work unless everyone participates.” While participating may sound daunting, it’s easier than you think, and we must come together to disrupt the cycle of poor health and life outcomes that begins in childhood. The girls we serve are some of the most vulnerable members of our community, their needs for emotional support, physical safety and financial security are largely ignored. No matter how old you are, where you live or whether or not you can donate money, you can help empower girls to change the world—and you can start right now.
Volunteer your time! Even an hour can make an impact. Individuals, companies and groups can sign up to “Box Joy” from the location of their choice and help us wrap gifts for Mother’s Day and Graduation. We have close to 80,000 requests for gifts from our community partners across the country this spring!
Start a fundraiser online! Most people can spare $10; it’s forgoing a coffee or two at Starbucks. If a cause is important to you and you express that, suddenly your network can really come together to make a difference. Support a nonprofit in lieu of receiving birthday or wedding gifts.
Work with your company to give back! Most companies have social impact groups or divisions looking for volunteer opportunities. At Project Glimmer, we work with companies to host career-building Empowerment events and corporate Boxing Joy days where employees come together to help wrap gifts. All it takes is finding the right contact and sending that first email.
What impact do you most hope to leave on the world? To me, the empowerment of women is recognizing her value, building her self-esteem and providing her with a network of ongoing support. Since leading Project Glimmer, it’s abundantly clear that together, we need to empower girls starting at a young age. In order to break the cycle of poverty, abuse and neglect, we must help build confidence and a greater sense of self in our youth. What’s been incredible to see over the years is the sheer number of people who have stepped up to help support Project Glimmer and, ultimately, help lift the next generation of resilient women leaders. It embodies hope, a mark I am humbled and honored to leave on the world.