NASHUA – While Girls Inc. has closed both its centers and their preschool, the one thing moving forward is their annual gala, which for the first time, will be held virtually this year.

As many businesses and organizations make the shift toward working remotely, much of the Girls Inc. staff has also been impacted during this pandemic. The new CEO of Girls Inc. of New Hampshire Sharron McCarthy stepped into this role in January 2020 and said that 70 percent of their staff is now furloughed with the centers being closed down. Right now, there is just a crew of essential employees. McCarthy said it is a killer to not be able to have the girls they serve in their life, citing that the centers are the girls’ happy place.

“We closed both centers the week the schools closed, and so that means there’s a couple hundred girls that we were serving every day after school that we can’t be helping out,” McCarthy said.

However, the nonprofit is still moving forward with its fundraising efforts, including an online auction that is live right now, running through April 15. This online auction and the upcoming live auction are critical as far as the nonprofits operating budget goes.

The live, virtual event will be held from 7-8 p.m. on April 17. Funds raised go toward serving girls in New Hampshire with their unique programs, their two centers, summers camps and Young Women’s Leadership programs. While there is no fee to attend the virtual auction for the Girls Inc. Gala 2020 – “Fuel Her Fire and She Will Change the World,” people are asked to register online so the nonprofit can keep them up to date on details and send out a brochure in time for the event. Information for both auctions can be found on their website at, https://girlsincnewhampshire.org/.

Girls Inc. is working with Events United in Derry to put on the live, virtual event. It will feature a live singer, past Girls Inc. members who are now adults, and emcee/auctioneer Mark Federo. Participants will be able to watch live either on Facebook Live or YouTube.

Event registration and details are available online at, https://www.biddingforgood.com/auction/auctionhome.action?vhost=girlsincnewhampshire.

“This event this year is probably more important than it’s ever been to Girls Inc.,” McCarthy said.

McCarthy said the gala will come in at about 25 percent of holding it in a rented venue.

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