Our Mission

Girls Empowered empowers girls by providing them with the knowledge, skills, confidence, and resources to stand up for oneself, make positive choices, and be in control of one's future.

As a licensed psychologist, Dawn H. Haaz, Psy.D. has worked with many women who have struggled with low self-worth, negative body image, and a history of unhealthy relationships. They have often suffered from depression and anxiety, drug and alcohol abuse, eating disorders, and abusive relationships. In working with these women, Dr. Haaz realized unfortunately they did not always have the opportunity during childhood and adolescence to develop the foundation to become empowered. Her experience helping these women has inspired her to develop ways to empower young girls. After all, it is not easy being a girl in the 21st century. In addition to the typical pressures of sex and drugs that teenage girls in every generation have to contend with, girls today are faced with increased competition, cyber-bullying, an unstable economy, and the pressures that come with increased media coverage.

By providing girls with the foundation to feel empowered at a young age, Dr. Haaz realized they will have an enhanced ability to develop into healthy, successful women who can reach their fullest potential. Thus, during her post-doctoral psychology residency, with the help of Samantha Lohr, M.Ed., Dr. Haaz created Camp Girl Power, which ran in August 2014. Camp Girl Power was designed to be a fun and interactive camp with the goal of providing girls with the skills to be empowered in the 21st century.

After one successful summer of Camp Girl Power, Dr. Haaz decided to start an organization dedicated to empowering young girls not just during the summer but all year long.