Financial confidence starts long before adulthood.
Learning how to save, set a goal, build a budget and make thoughtful decisions about money can shape how a young person approaches independence for years to come. For girls, access to those skills is part of something even larger: having the knowledge and confidence to imagine, plan for and build their own futures.
That is why a recent partnership between Girls Inc. of Pinellas and Cox Automotive turned an ordinary corporate gathering into something with lasting community impact.
In August 2026, a Cox Automotive team visiting Clearwater for a sales training session chose to close its time together by giving back. Team members assembled financial literacy kits using materials developed by Girls Inc. of Pinellas, creating hands-on resources designed to teach girls about saving, budgeting, goal setting and responsible money management. Cox Automotive also contributed $3,500, supporting the creation of 50 financial literacy kits for girls and five facilitator kits.
For Pinellas Community Foundation, stories like this illustrate what strong nonprofit organizations make possible: turning generosity into opportunities that equip people with tools they can carry forward.
Through the Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation, donors can also help strengthen the organization for the long term, helping ensure Girls Inc. can continue investing in girls today and for generations to come. PCF identifies the fund as an endowment in its Giving Hub.
Turning Time Together Into Something More
The Cox Automotive project began with a simple choice.
A team had gathered for professional training at the JW Marriott in Clearwater. Rather than simply ending the session and heading home, they chose to use some of their time together to create something meaningful for girls in the community.
Working with materials developed in-house by Girls Inc. of Pinellas, Cox Automotive employees assembled kits centered on practical financial skills.
The result was tangible: 50 girls would have new resources for building their financial knowledge, while five facilitator kits would help adults guide that learning.
But the value of the project goes beyond the number of kits assembled.
Understanding money can influence how a young person thinks about education, careers, entrepreneurship, independence and future goals. When girls have opportunities to practice these skills early, financial literacy becomes more than a lesson. It becomes another tool for navigating adulthood with greater confidence.
As Darla Otey-Murphy, CEO and Executive Director of Girls Inc. of Pinellas, shared:
“We are grateful that the Cox Automotive team chose to use their time together to create something meaningful for the girls we serve.”
She added that the company’s investment of both time and resources will help girls develop greater confidence around money and their futures.
Strong. Smart. Bold.
Girls Inc. of Pinellas serves girls ages 5–18 throughout Pinellas County, with a particular focus on girls from low- to moderate-income families, Title I schools, single-parent households and communities where access to high-quality enrichment and mentoring may be limited.
Its mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold.
That mission takes shape through after-school, school-day, summer and community outreach experiences that address many dimensions of a girl’s development. Programs include academic enrichment, STEM and STEAM, financial literacy, health and wellness, leadership development, college and career readiness, entrepreneurship, social-emotional learning and confidence building.
Girls Inc. also works with schools, recreation centers, businesses, community organizations and families to connect girls with mentors, professional role models, hands-on learning and real-world experiences.
The goal is not simply to prepare girls for their next school year or their first job. It is to give them the tools, support and encouragement they need to thrive in school, work and life.
Financial Literacy as a Foundation for the Future
The Cox Automotive project fits naturally within that larger mission.
Financial literacy is one of the areas Girls Inc. incorporates into its programming, alongside academic enrichment, leadership, entrepreneurship and career readiness.
The skills reinforce one another.
Learning to set a financial goal requires planning. Building a budget requires decision-making. Saving requires patience and an ability to think beyond the immediate moment. Understanding money can also make conversations about college, careers and entrepreneurship feel more concrete.
For a girl beginning to imagine her future, those lessons can help turn “What do I want to do?” into “How can I get there?”
That is where a relatively straightforward community project can have impact well beyond the day it takes place.
Cox Automotive contributed time and financial resources. Girls Inc. contributed its expertise and educational materials. Together, they created resources that can help girls practice skills with relevance far beyond the classroom.
Girls Inc. shared that it looks forward to continuing the relationship with Cox Automotive and exploring additional opportunities involving mentorship, career exposure, financial education and volunteer service.
Why the Girls Inc. Endowment Fund Matters
Programs and partnerships create impact today. Building a nonprofit that can continue creating that impact requires thinking about tomorrow, too.
The Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation provides a way for donors to support that longer view.
An endowment works differently from a gift intended to be spent immediately. At PCF, nonprofit endowments are permanently invested to grow sustainably over time, with the nonprofit receiving distributions each year.
That means a contribution to the Girls Inc. endowment can continue working beyond the year in which it is given.
The purpose is long-term sustainability: helping build a reliable source of support that can strengthen the organization as it continues serving future generations of girls.
For nonprofits, PCF also provides professional investment management and fund administration, allowing organizations to focus their attention on mission and impact while building financial resources for the future.
For donors, an endowment offers a different way to think about generosity.
There are moments when a gift needs to solve something now. There are also opportunities to invest in an organization so it can continue solving problems years from now.
Both matter.
The Power of Partnership
The Cox Automotive project is also a reminder that philanthropy does not take only one form.
Sometimes it is a financial contribution.
Sometimes it is an employee giving their time.
Sometimes it is a business introducing young people to new careers and possibilities.
Sometimes it is a donor choosing to make a long-term investment through an endowment.
Strong communities need all of them.
Girls Inc. of Pinellas intentionally works across sectors, partnering with schools, businesses, community organizations and families to broaden the experiences and opportunities available to girls.
PCF’s role is different but complementary. Through charitable funds like the Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund, we help nonprofits build resources designed to sustain their work over time. PCF describes nonprofit endowments as one of the tools available to organizations seeking long-term financial sustainability.
Together, these different forms of partnership create an ecosystem of support around organizations doing important work in Pinellas County.
Celebrating Women in STEAM
Girls Inc. of Pinellas has also invited the community to its Celebrating Women in STEAM Luncheon, taking place December 11, 2026, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. at The Collection on Palmetto in Clearwater.
The annual luncheon celebrates local women who are pioneers in science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics.
By recognizing women succeeding in STEAM fields, the event gives girls an opportunity to see what is possible while honoring the role models helping create those possibilities. The luncheon reflects Girls Inc.’s commitment to encouraging girls to consider careers in fields where seeing someone who has already forged a path can make a meaningful difference.
Fuel Her Fire
Girls Inc. also shared its Fuel Her Fire Gala, an annual fundraising event bringing together supporters who believe in the potential of the girls the organization serves.
Described by Girls Inc. as “A Party With a Purpose,” the event combines an evening of entertainment and celebration with fundraising to support the organization’s work. The program includes live entertainment, dancing, auctions, a VIP cocktail experience and other opportunities for supporters to participate.
Both events offer another way to engage with Girls Inc. and the community surrounding its mission.
Investing in What Girls Can Become
Fifty financial literacy kits may begin with lessons about budgets, savings and goals.
But what they represent is bigger.
They represent girls being trusted with knowledge that prepares them for independence. They represent adults and businesses choosing to invest their time in the next generation. They represent a nonprofit creating opportunities for girls to see themselves as capable decision-makers, leaders and professionals.
And through the Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund at Pinellas Community Foundation, that investment can extend even further.
An endowment looks beyond one program, one event or one year. It helps build the financial foundation that allows an organization to keep pursuing its mission as the community and the needs of the girls it serves evolve.
Because investing in a girl’s future is not only about preparing her for what comes next.
It is about making sure the opportunities are there when she is ready for them.
Support the Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund:
Give through the Girls Inc. of Pinellas Endowment Fund at PCF
Learn more about Girls Inc. of Pinellas:
Visit Girls Inc. of Pinellas
