Quarterly Message from the Executive Director April 2026

Dr. Rochel Marie Lawson
Executive Director, 1MillionGirls

There are moments in life when you pause…
Not because the work is done…

But because you feel the magnitude of what is unfolding.

This is one of those moments.

As I sit and reflect on this season, my heart is filled with both gratitude and purpose.

Gratitude for every person who has said yes to this mission.
Gratitude for every conversation, every share, every contribution.
Gratitude for the growing awareness that this work—this calling—is touching lives.

And purpose… because we are just getting started.

You see, 1MillionGirls was never just an idea.

It was born from a promise.

A promise I made years ago, when I was a young girl navigating college at just 16, with a scholarship in hand but no financial support to sustain my daily living.

I remember the struggle.
The uncertainty.
The moments when I questioned if I could continue.

And I also remember the decision… to not give up.

That decision shaped my life.

And it planted a vision that has now become 1MillionGirls.

Today, that vision is growing.

Every day, more people are learning about the reality that so many brilliant young women face:

They have the intelligence.
They have the drive.
They have the dream.

But they do not have the resources.

And that gap… is what we are here to close.

This quarter, we have continued to lay the foundation for something extraordinary.

We have expanded awareness of our mission.
We have begun building a community of supporters, partners, and advocates.
We have started conversations that will lead to opportunities for young women who are ready to rise.

And while these may seem like early steps…

They are powerful ones.

Because every movement begins with momentum.

But let me share something from my heart with you…

This mission is not about numbers.

It is about lives.

It is about the girl sitting quietly, wondering if she will have to walk away from her dream.

It is about the young woman who has done everything right… But it still lacks the financial support to move forward.

It is about creating a future where no girl has to choose between her circumstances and her calling.

And this is where you come in.

Because we do not reach one million girls on our own.

We reach one million girls through a collective yes.

A yes to believing in her potential.
A yes to investing in her future.
A yes to being part of something that will impact generations.

As we move into the next quarter, our focus is clear:

To continue building awareness.
To deepen our partnerships.
To expand our reach.
And to begin creating tangible opportunities for the girls we are called to serve.

I invite you to continue this journey with us.

If you have already supported this mission, thank you. Your presence matters more than you know.

If you are just learning about 1MillionGirls—welcome. You are here for a reason.

And if you are feeling called to do more… I encourage you to lean into that.

Because together…

We are not just supporting education.

We are shaping futures.
We are building leaders.
We are creating a legacy.

From my heart to yours…

Thank you for believing.
Thank you for supporting.
Thank you for being part of this movement.

The work we are doing today…

Will echo for generations to come.

With gratitude and purpose,

Dr. Rochel Marie Lawson
Executive Director, 1MillionGirls