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Hinsdale Central grad leads group to help girls
Emily Parkinson (right) is a 2010 Hinsdale Central grad who founded a chapter at the University of Wisconsin of She's the First, an organization that supports girls' education in developing countries. Co-founder Jenna Bushnell is on the left. | photo courtesey of Emily Parkinson
Updated: January 21, 2013 2:14PM
HINSDALE — Emily Parkinson is a 2010 Hinsdale Central graduate who’s done considerably more than go to classes since becoming a college student at the University of Wisconsin. Parkinson is vice president of philanthropy for the sorority to which she belongs, Pi Beta Phi. Earlier this year, she founded a local chapter of a group that sponsors girls’ education in developing countries. She’s the First is the not-for-profit organization that caught Parkinson’s attention. The group fosters leadership and global awareness in young Americans by inspiring them to lead creative fund-raisers and correspond with sponsored students.
Q. Why did you choose to start a chapter of She’s the First at the University of Wisconsin?A.
I’ve donated to things before and have volunteered with community service; it’s something I was raised with. I heard about She’s the First through a sorority alum. I wasn’t intending on starting a club, but I was really interested in the cause and decided to do it when I found out there wasn’t already one in Madison. It was sort of the right time for me to get more involved.
Q. What was it about She’s the First that caused you to take notice more than you might have with some other groups?A.
We had learned in a class I took about girls’ education in developing countries. I want to be a teacher, so this is a perfect thing for me. I’m passionate about education, and being a woman, I am connected with it. I think this is so important because educating these girls can really transform them and the economy in the countries where they live.
Q. Were you surprised to learn about the lack of educational opportunities for girls in some countries?A.
Not really, although it’s worse in a lot of cases than I thought. I know the way things are in America isn’t the way things are in other places.
Q. How were you able to start a chapter of She’s the First at the University of Wisconsin?A.
I started going through the process of getting approved by the University in April and recruited six girls to be executive board members. We really got going in September.
Q. What are your goals for the group?A.
It’s about fund-raising and raising awareness. One thing I really like is that 100 percent of the money we raise goes right to the girls we sponsor. We have a girl now in Guatemala who we’re working toward a full sponsorship. It’s $300 for membership and $1,000 for the sponsorship. It’s when you have a sponsorship that they send you a photo of and information about the girl you’re sponsoring.
Q. Are you finding the experience of having started a She’s the First chapter fulfilling?A.
I love it. It’s so different when you put so much effort into something. It’s more important to you when you’re so much more invested in it.
Q. You’re a junior now and have one more year of college after this one. Do you expect your group to continue after you graduate?
A. I want it to, and I think it will. There are 30-40 active members, and a lot of them are freshmen. I’d like to come back to Madison 10 years after I graduate and still see it going strong.
