True Friendship

The Girl Friends Incorporated is one of the oldest and most highly respected social organizations of African American women in the United States.  

Founded in 1927 in New York City during the Harlem Renaissance, there are currently 49 Girl Friend Chapters across the United States. Girl Friends serve their communities in many capacities—as authors, professors, doctors, lawyers, business owners, U.S. Congress members, wives and mothers.

The organization’s main purpose is to:

• To Promote Friendship
• To Provide Social Activities
• To Perform Civic Services in local communities
• To Support National Projects

Our community service includes charitable and cultural activities.  Nationally, contributions have been made to major organizations such as the NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the Children’s Defense Fund, The Martin Luther King Memorial Foundation, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, and Flint Water Crisis. In 1989, the Girl Friends Fund was founded as a separate 501(c)3 nonprofit organization to provide financial assistance to students nationwide. 

Beth Espy

National President
The Girl Friends®, Incorporated

Greetings from Our National President

Welcome to The Girl Friends®, Inc. Website!

As we enter our 99^th year, we bear witness that our bonds of friendship have only grown stronger. Our values of dignity, service, graciousness, and conviviality have continued to be reimagined as our circle of friendship has flourished to more than 2,000 members in 49 chapters representing 26 states and the District of Columbia.

We continue to celebrate our founder, Girl Friend Eunice Shreeves. A product of the Harlem Renaissance, she assembled her college-bound friends to start an extraordinary organization built on friendship in 1927. Girl Friend Eunice understood over the next few years she and her friends would grow through their new experiences, but they would remain close through the bond of friendship.

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49 Chapters Nationwide  2,000+ Members