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Rock Island, Ill. (October 30, 2024) – Royal Neighbors of America, a nonprofit life insurance organization, has presented Chanel Henderson, founder of Girl Grind 24/7, with a Nation of Neighbors℠ empowerment award and $5,000 grant to support her mission of preparing middle-school girls to become strong, self-assured leaders.

Launched in 2023 to help young girls recognize their limitless potential, Girl Grind 24/7 provides resources, guidance, and community to help girls develop confidence and resilience through education, secure relationships, and community service.

Nation of Neighbors is Royal Neighbors’ signature women’s empowerment program. This national award recognizes and supports women who work to empower women and girls through a nonprofit, business, or program. Nation of Neighbors recipients are influential leaders who exemplify the Royal Neighbors “neighbor-helping-neighbor” mission of community service.

Based in Charlotte, N.C., Ms. Henderson is an educator and mother of two who saw the need for girls to build self-esteem from within, rather than being swayed by outside influences. “We're letting these girls know early on that they are limitless,” Ms. Henderson said. “There are no limitations on what they have inside of them and what they can become.”

In just its first year, Girl Grind 24/7 has expanded to four middle schools in Charlotte, with a mission rooted in three core pillars: Academic Excellence, Safe and Secure Relationships, and Service with Purpose. Through local partnerships, Girl Grind 24/7 has shown young girls the value of giving back. Last school year, 17 girls organized a snack drive at their school, collecting nearly 1,000 snacks for children at Charlotte Family Housing. This experience allowed participants to connect with their community and learn the importance of intentional service.

"By fostering self-esteem and leadership skills among middle-school girls, Chanel is cultivating a generation of confident female leaders,” said Royal Neighbors Member Engagement Specialist Ursula Miniter. “This is precisely the kind of impactful work we aim to recognize and support through our Nation of Neighbors program."

The $5,000 Nation of Neighbors grant will enable Chanel to expand Girl Grind 24/7’s reach to additional schools, invest in technology, enhance programming, and strengthen community partnerships. Chanel also envisions a future where Girl Grind 24/7 can offer scholarships for college and leadership programs to further support girls in achieving their dreams.

About Royal Neighbors of America

In 1895, nine founding women created a membership community. They were one of the first to make life insurance accessible to women. Nearly 130 years later, Royal Neighbors remains committed to its mission of Insuring Lives, Supporting Women, and Serving Communities℠. The organization’s 275,000+ members, chapters, employees, and appointed agents across the country drive the mission through localized volunteerism and philanthropy programs making social impact the cornerstone of their work.

Royal Neighbors members experience Insurance with a Difference℠ through their tailored life insurance and annuity products, opportunities to make an impact in their communities, and access to a variety of Member Programs including savings on prescriptions, health screenings, grief support, and more.

In 2020, Royal Neighbors was upgraded to “A Excellent” (3rd highest out of 13) by the AM Best Company for overall financial strength and ability to meet ongoing obligations to certificate holders. The rating was affirmed as of November 17, 2023. In 2023, Royal Neighbors delivered $31.2 million in Social Good impact, record revenue. Royal Neighbors received its eighth Great Place to Work^® certification in 2024. For more information about Royal Neighbors of America, go to royalneighbors.org.