The American Girl Power! Essay Contest
In 1997, the Regional Prevention Center of Mission, Kansas, learned about Girl Power! and decided to do something to help promote the healthy development of young girls. The center was aware that the local Junior League hosted an annual fundraising event using the products of the Pleasant Company, manufacturer of American Girls dolls, clothing, and accessories. The fundraiser was a fashion show featuring period costumes and sets. Approximately 2,000 girls and parents attended the event and proceeds were used to support various children's charities. Knowing that the event targeted 9- to 13-year-old girls, the Regional Prevention Center saw that a partnership with the Junior League would be a perfect way to promote the Girl Power! campaign.
In cooperation with the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties, the Regional Prevention Center launched a Girl Power! essay contest and tied it to the American Girls Fashion Show. The purpose of the contest was to give girls the opportunity to celebrate growing up as an American girl, address the challenges of growing up in the 1990's, and express themselves through creative writing. The contest was a great success and has become an annual event.
Program Format
Each year, contest guidelines and entry forms are distributed to area schools, public libraries, Girl Scout troops, 4-H clubs, and other organizations that serve girls. Girls are given specific essay topics. The topics for the first 2 years were "What it means to be an American girl today" and "My dream for a healthy, drug-free future is...." The contest is divided into three age categories: third grade; fourth and fifth grade; and sixth, seventh, and eighth grade.
The contest runs for 4 to 6 weeks. Essays are judged by a panel of prevention experts, teachers, and Junior League representatives. One first-place winner from each age category is chosen. These winners receive two tickets to the American Girls Fashion Show, an American Girls doll, and a Girl Power! baseball cap. Second-place winners receive a gift certificate from Barnes & Noble Bookstores and a Girl Power! baseball cap. Every girl who enters the contest receives a certificate of participation and Girl Power! products.
To extend the impact of the program, the Regional Prevention Center asked the participants for permission to use their essays in other prevention efforts. More than 60 percent of the entrants agreed. The essays have been reprinted in media kits on the accessibility of tobacco to youth. In addition, the Regional Prevention Center developed a Girl Power! assignment book for girls to use in school. It includes copies of essays that were submitted for the competition, tips for getting Girl Power!, and descriptions of prominent women in history.
Media Outreach
Each year, the Regional Prevention Center makes media pitch calls announcing the contest. In 1998, the Johnson County section of the Kansas City Star publicized the contest in an article, and several local newsletters published a copy of the entry form. Press releases announcing the winners' names and copies of the winning essays were distributed to the press and received prominent local coverage.
Funding
The American Girl Power! Essay Contest is funded by the Regional Prevention Center and the Junior League of Wyandotte and Johnson Counties in Kansas. Prizes are donated by local businesses, including Barnes & Noble Bookstores. Barnes & Noble has also agreed to sponsor a writing workshop for girls to help them prepare for the essay contest. In future years, the coordinators plan to extend their outreach and seek additional business sponsors. They have also applied for a grant from a local women's foundation.
Use of Girl Power! Products
Each girl who enters the contest receives Girl Power! products, including a Girl Power! diary, sticker, bookmark, pin, and Dominique Dawes poster. First- and second-place winners also receive a Girl Power! baseball cap.
