Empowering Girls for the Future: Thank You to the Peter Gilgan Foundation
We’re thrilled to announce that the Peter Gilgan Foundation has awarded Beat the Streets a grant to deliver three Work It Girl programs this school year (2025/2026), reaching up to 60 high school girls in Toronto with a bold, empowering approach to job readiness and personal development.
This investment is more than just a program boost; it’s a step toward a future where every girl has the tools, confidence, and community to thrive.
What Is Work It Girl?
Work It Girl is an after-school development program for girls aged 13–18 that fuses employment skills training with the power of combat sports. Over 16 dynamic sessions, girls develop real-world skills such as creating resumes, LinkedIn profiles, elevator pitches, and honing interview skills, while also discovering their physical strength through boxing and sport-based confidence-building activities.
Delivered in trusted Toronto District School Board high schools in Neighbourhood Improvement Areas, the program is 100% free, accessible, and designed to break down barriers to participation for low-income girls.
Impact to Date: Girls Loved It , and So Did Educators
Work It Girl has already reached 110 girls across West Humber CI and Weston CI, and the feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.
100% of participants said they would recommend the program to a friend, and the average rating was 7/10, with many girls highlighting new skills and increased confidence.
“Now I believe in myself — I can do anything if I work hard.”
“The mock interview gave me confidence — I didn’t know I could speak like that.”
“Boxing helped me release stress — every punch felt like something was leaving my body.”
Educators are seeing the value, too:
“The content of this program is great, and the girls found the skill-building very useful. It covers a good deal of some of the things we aim to address in student leadership. ”
From learning how to build resumes and do mock interviews, to practicing public speaking and unlocking their physical power through boxing, girls consistently described Work It Girl as a turning point, a place to grow, be challenged, and feel seen.
Why This Matters Right Now
In Toronto, 1 in 4 children live in low-income households, and girls in these communities face compounding barriers to long-term economic security, limited career exposure, lack of mentorship, and underrepresentation in sport.
At the same time, 62% of teen girls in Canada don’t participate in sports, missing out on a proven tool for confidence, leadership, and mental health. Meanwhile, employers are increasingly seeking soft skills such as communication, self-leadership, and adaptability, skills not typically taught in classrooms.
Work It Girl bridges this gap. It’s more than a youth program in Toronto, it’s a launchpad for success.
A Huge Thank You to the Peter Gilgan Foundation
We’re proud to be partnering with the Peter Gilgan Foundation, whose commitment to empowering children and families aligns perfectly with our mission. Their support is helping us deliver employment programs for girls that are impactful, inclusive, and grounded in long-term change.
Learn more about their values and vision for a more equitable future at petergilganfoundation.org.
About Beat the Streets:
At Beat the Streets, our mission is to advance the education of low-income children and youth in the Greater Toronto Area through fun and unique wrestling, life skills, and employment-based development programs. Since 2015, we have served over 28,000 young individuals through our Wrestle 4 Fun, Level Up, You Grow Girl, Work it Girl, After-School and Open Mat Sessions programs, providing them with opportunities to develop their physical, mental, and social well-being. We believe in empowering the next generation by breaking down barriers and creating pathways to success.
Join us in our mission to impact youth:
Join us in making a difference by supporting our cause and learning more about how you can contribute to the education and growth of children and youth in need. Together, we can shape a brighter future for all.
