"’Mrs. Carns, are you still doing the ROX program? It was my favorite thing you did with us!’ This is a typical response I hear when I see my elementary alumni. I have been implementing the ROX curriculum for 15 years.

ROX days always enhance school attendance. The girls look forward to having a safe space to talk about things they are experiencing and struggling with. There is no doubt ROX has impacted the futures of our 5th grade girls. It is a rite of passage and has outlasted many other school programs. It has changed my life as a teacher, counselor and woman.  I look forward to continuing many more years of facilitating ROX!

In her own words, ROX has given her the confidence she needs to make good choices and step into leadership roles.

Lily has shown tremendous growth and leadership in our school. One example was when she volunteered for the school beautification project, planting flowers in front of the building. She not only showed initiative but also invited her mom and grandmother to join her, turning the project into a multi-generational effort of love and pride for the school community.

This year, Lily is taking her leadership even further by participating in our new “Accountability Buddy” program. In this role, she encourages and supports students who have struggled with chronic absenteeism, using her ROX skills to cheer them on, build connections, and create a sense of belonging. Even though the program just started, Lily is already thriving as a role model, showing kindness, empathy, and encouragement every week.

Beyond structured programs, Lily naturally uses her ROX tools daily. She practices empathy, active listening, and emotional support for peers who may be going through difficult times. Whether it’s reminding a friend to breathe, offering a listening ear, or helping others feel safe online, Lily consistently models what it means to be a confident, compassionate leader.

We absolutely love Lily and are so proud of her growth through ROX. From a quiet sixth-grader to a confident seventh-grade leader, Lily is a true example of how ROX helps girls step into their power. As she prepares for her final year at our school, we know she will continue to shine brightly and inspire others along the way.

Kadence was a quiet, shy 5th grade student. She had things to say, but wasn’t always the most confident to say them. Kids would say mean things to her, she would report them - but never wanted them to be addressed by an adult and especially not with her present! By the end of ROX, she was willing for an adult to intervene. 

Fast forward to half way through ROX Leadership programming… a student was saying rude things to her. She reported it to me and chose to address the student with me present. It was so inspiring to watch her use her voice, for the other student to actually hear from her how their words were impacting her! When they told her they were sorry and would stop making comments …. I thought she was going to burst! As soon as the student walked out of the office she smiled a smile I had never seen before! She was so excited, proud, and confident that the student would stick to their word! What an amazing moment to be able to witness her use her voice!

A Story About: A Georgia ROX Cohort
Submitted By: Gabrielle Brundidge, Licensed School Counselor, ROX Facilitator, ROX Dr. Patty Fellow
Key ROX Program Outcomes: Increased confidence, academic improvement, improved leadership
Did You Know? 3 out of 4 ROX Programs that start with philanthropy become self-sustaining due to demonstrated impact and effectiveness.

I’ve had the privilege of facilitating over 50 young women through ROX’s powerful curriculum. While I’ve watched their academic confidence grow, what’s been even more inspiring is how they’ve stepped into leadership roles and begun to carry themselves with a sense of pride and purpose.

This past year was especially meaningful. Thanks to the generosity of Dr. Witt, a new donor who believed in our mission, almost every eighth-grade girl was able to complete the ROX program. Her support didn’t just fund a curriculum, it created a ripple effect. 

ROX has become more than a program, it’s a movement. These girls are learning to lead, to speak up, and to advocate not just for themselves but for one another. That’s the true impact of ROX.

A Story About: Akasha, a 9th grade ROX Girl from Maine
Submitted By: Erin Muller, School Counselor, ROX Facilitator
Key ROX Program Outcomes: Improved school attendance, learned about healthy relationships
Did You Know? 78% of girls who participated in ROX have improved school attendance or feel an increased connection to school.

Thanks to ROX, Akasha went from missing 4 days of school each week to 1 day. Her grades improved, and she tested out of intervention. She graduated 8th grade and is now in 9th grade! Additionally, towards the end of the school year she decided to break up with her long-time boyfriend because she started to realize it wasn't a healthy relationship for her. She is a strong and fierce young lady!

This past spring was our first cohort. 10 6th grade girls were selected. At first the girls struggled to share their true feelings, but as time went on they gained skills that allowed them to express their own needs, support the needs of others, and to make decisions.

They grew in their confidence, leadership, and sharing their own voices. As the group continued to learn, they expressed that they wanted to make a video to share their experiences with what they had been learning by being ROX girls and also also the importance of what they had been learning. 

They decided what they wanted to share in the video and then recorded it (and faced their fears about talking on camera). Our district communications director and I worked to piece it all together and then the video was shared district-wide and on social media (see the video below!)

The girls were so proud of their work. Their teachers, principal, and counselor all commented that they saw the growth and learning in the girls. We are looking forward to continuing to build skills in our girls going forward.

I began with a pilot group as the only facilitator running an after school group for about 13 girls. My own daughter talking about what stuck with her from ROX motivated me to reach out and find a way to increase our footprint. We now have 8 certified ROX facilitators, offer ROX during school hours, and I have transitioned into admin. Our funding has evolved from community donations to school funding, and we strive to provide the ROX curriculum to every female by the time they graduate.

We now teach self-defense with all levels together on ROX day. On this day, community members lead the girls through career sessions as well as self-care. Older girls are paired with younger girls as mentors, and ROX alumni speak about what it means to be a ROX Girl beyond high school.

We have completed community outreach projects focused on beauty, invited role models in to share in self-defense, and extended our district's goal for place-based learning. We have established a reciprocal relationship with our community in which we value our resources, and they value our girls.

The way my ROX Girls bonded and opened up within the group was something I never imagined was going to happen! They were girls who ran with different social groups, but within ROX they were their own. They respected each other, lifted each other up, complimented each other outside of those specific activities.

My teachers saw such a positive impact within those 10 girls, the impact even started to spread throughout the grade. My girls gained confidence in the way they thought about themselves and spoke up for themselves. I had a couple parents reach out at the end of the school year to tell me that they loved the positive change/impact they saw in their daughter.

We had 27 girls, along with their caregivers. The vision behind this event was twofold: I wanted to empower our girls to speak up about the challenges they encounter, while also ensuring their parents didn't leave empty-handed. By providing a specific session for guardians on how to talk to their girls, we’ve helped bridge the communication gap between school and home.

We had incredible professional presenters who led breakout sessions for the girls and their guardians. The topics included: social media/online safety, the benefits of yoga, body positivity, building social and emotional confidence, stress management and self-care, entrepreneurship, positive communication and positive parenting.

“On behalf of a grieving family, we honor the legacy of my daughter Amber Marie (Acheson) Anderson by supporting ROX. Amber was a smart, personable, kind and loving person who succumbed to health afflictions she just could not conquer.

Amber’s challenges were rooted in self-doubt, low self-esteem and self-confidence. Using the energy of our grief, we are determined to help Amber realize her purpose by promoting her mantra that “kindness matters” by supporting ROX’s efforts to help girls be better prepared for what their future holds.”

-Jeff Acheson, Founder of Amber’s ACES and ROX Board Member

"I was fortunate to receive a scholarship from ROX via Bread Financial to get ROX started at my school.

ROX has given me a new outlook on women and the strength we hold. ROX has inspired my students and helped me find a stronger voice in all aspects of my life. My first ROX group showed me what resilience truly looks like. Seeing my students grow in confidence and self-belief is proof of how powerful this program is."

-Kate Manovill, LSC, ROX Facilitator

“I took my ROX girls to a mental health conference at Gillette Stadium. Their biggest lessons learned? You are not alone. It’s okay to not be okay, and mental health is just as important as physical health.

The girls emphasized the importance of talking openly, seeking help without shame and showing empathy because mental health affects everyone differently. I’m so proud of this incredible group of young women.”

-Lisa Tenreiro, LSC, ROX Facilitator

“My ROX Girls developed the skills to communicate more effectively, stand up for themselves and work through disagreements with respect. Conflicts became opportunities for problem-solving and understanding. Their ability to listen to one another and seek solutions grew exponentially.

Perhaps the most powerful outcome was the bond they formed. They shared experiences in ROX and created a space where they felt safe to be authentic and vulnerable, which laid the foundation for genuine friendships.”

-Olivia Carter, LSC

ROX Facilitator

“We invite the moms/important females in our girls’ lives to participate in the ROX self-defense lessons. Our school is primarily Hispanic, and we are able to offer ROX in both Spanish and English. It's amazing to hear the female family members share messages of confidence with their girls.

Our families feel more connected to our school and are more willing to reach out when they need support. ROX has helped to uplift their voices.”

-Melanie Hartle, LSP

ROX Facilitator

“Zipporah (Zip) has cerebral palsy and a visual impairment. At the start of ROX, Zip shared experiences feeling devalued, doubted, and in her words, ‘like she was a burden to others.’ Throughout ROX, I witnessed Zip not only find her voice, but learn that it is an incredible force.

Zip began to advocate for herself in a new way and found her passion advocating for the mental health needs of her friends in the disability community.”

“Brittany is soft spoken and fairly shy. When being interviewed for a speaking role at a ROX event, she didn’t speak up and wasn’t selected for the role. She was devastated.

The night of the event, however, she was asked if she wanted to speak. She lit up and was so excited. She nailed it! She showed such bravery and confidence that night. She said ROX helped her to speak up and use her voice.”

-Lavonne King, LSC, ROX Facilitator

“ROX helped me see beauty in a whole new way. It’s not about looking a certain way — it’s about being strong, kind, and confident. I used to care way too much about what other people thought of me, but ROX taught me to care more about what I think of me.”

- Jacey

Our ROX Leadership Team hosted a leadership summit for girls across the county. It was the ROX mission in action. Students witnessed how ROX transforms school culture by fostering authentic leadership and positive peer connections.

Staff from visiting schools left energized and inspired, sharing how impactful it was to see students lead with such clarity, courage, and conviction.

It was a shining example of what happens when we believe in girls and give them the tools to lead.

“I saw one of my previous ROX girls, Tori, during a high school visit. I hugged her - she was glowing! She said, ‘I just wanted to say hi and thank you. [Because of the confidence ROX gave me], I’m on the dance team now, and I actually like school. It’s all because of you and ROX.’” - Samantha Noonan, ROX Facilitator, Licensed School Counselor