Support the Growth and Sustainability of the makeHERspace Program
She can see herself in
your future.
MakeHerSpace pairs 40 young women in Central Illinois with female professionals for six months of 1:1 mentoring, hands-on career workshops, and real conversations about what's possible. Cohort 1 launched in May and runs through November — your gift helps us finish this cohort strong and open the door for Cohort 2.
Last year, we set out to build something Central Illinois has never had before: a dedicated, relationship-driven program that gives young women real access to the women they could become.
The need is urgent, and it's local. Girls' confidence drops sharply between ages 8 and 14 — exactly the window this program reaches. And 67% of girls 13–18 in our own community say they don't know enough women in STEM and other high-wage fields to picture themselves there.
That's the entire design of MakeHerSpace. Forty girls. Forty anchor mentors, matched 1:1. Six months of real relationship, twice a month, plus hands-on career workshops led by industry partners — from healthcare and manufacturing to construction, business, and the creative arts.
Cohort 1 launched May 20 at Kick-Off Night, and it's been in motion ever since: 189+ hours of mentoring logged, 32 workshops scheduled across 115 careers, and 40 girls showing up. What we need now from community partners like you is the financial foundation to carry this cohort through Celebration Night in November — and to make sure Cohort 2 isn't a question mark.
Every dollar you give goes directly to program delivery — workshops, mentor screening and training, and the events that make this program feel like what it is: a real investment in a real girl's future.
Forty girls said yes to Cohort 1. We're asking you to help us say yes to Cohort 2.
than you think.
The data on girls and STEM is consistent nationally — and even sharper close to home, in the high-wage fields Greater Peoria depends on.
of girls 13–18 in our region say they don't know enough women in STEM to picture themselves there.
Distillery Labs · MakeHerSpace Sponsor Prospectus, 2026drop in girls' confidence between ages 8 and 14 — exactly the window MakeHerSpace reaches.
Distillery Labs · MakeHerSpace Sponsor Prospectus, 2026more likely to enroll in college when a girl has a mentor. Mentorship is the lever.
Distillery Labs · MakeHerSpace Sponsor Prospectus, 2026high-wage occupations open right here in Greater Peoria, averaging $87K in annual pay.
Greater Peoria EDC + Lightcastof those high-wage regional fields remain under 30% women — real, open ground for the next generation.
Greater Peoria EDC + Lightcastof female engineering students with a female mentor completed an internship, vs. 61% of those without one.
Nature Communications / UMass Amherst, 2025In high-wage Peoria fields, women are fewer than 1 in 5
| Occupation | Share Who Are Women | Avg. Pay |
|---|---|---|
| Carpenters | 1.8% | $72K |
| Operating Engineers | 1.8% | $84K |
| CNC Machinists | 6.8% | $55K |
| Civil Engineers | 14.0% | $97K |
| Electrical Engineers | 17.6% | $87K |
| Software Developers | 18.5% | $104K |
Source: Greater Peoria EDC + Lightcast
Girls don't leave high-wage fields because they can't do the work.
They leave because they can't see themselves in it.
the evidence says works.
Six months. One mentor per girl. No curriculum to teach. Just real relationship — sustained long enough to matter.
1:1 Mentoring
Every participant gets her own dedicated mentor — not a group leader, not a rotating volunteer. Her mentor. Meeting twice a month for six months.
Hands-On Career Workshops
32 workshops across a dozen career tracks — agriculture, construction, healthcare, manufacturing, business, and the creative arts among them — plus a multi-day Entrepreneurship Bootcamp, all led by community and industry partners.
Fully Scholarshipped
Every seat is fully funded. No cost to families. No application fee. No income threshold. If she's in, she's in — completely.
Celebration Night & Career Fair
The program wraps in November with Celebration Night, where participants present what they learned — followed by a career fair open first to the cohort, then to high schoolers across the region.
144 student applications and 77 mentor applications received. 40 girls selected and 40 mentors onboarded and background-checked, across 12 schools and 11 counties.
Mentors and mentees met for the first time. Cohort 1 officially began.
Twice-monthly mentor sessions and hands-on career workshops. 189+ mentoring hours and 128 workshop hours logged so far, with more ahead.
Participants present to the community. Mentors leave as advocates. We begin planning Cohort 2.
100% of community partner gifts go directly to program delivery. No administrative overhead. No padding.
Workshop Materials & Supplies
Hands-on STEM kits, robotics components, science lab consumables, and arts & design materials for all four workshop tracks.
Background Checks
Provided at no cost to mentors. Every mentor is screened before connecting with a participant.
Program Events
Kick-Off Night in May, the November Celebration Night and Career Fair, and community gatherings like GlowUp Night and the Generational Trivia Night throughout the cohort.
Mentor Onboarding
Conversation guides, notecard kits, Slack workspace setup, and the onboarding session that prepares mentors for success.
Meals & Hospitality
Pizza nights, workshops snacks, and event catering — because real conversations happen around real food.
Outreach & Enrollment
School coordination, family communication, and participant recruitment that reached 12 schools across 11 counties in Central Illinois.
that's right for you.
Every gift — of any size — directly funds a girl's experience in MakeHerSpace. Here's what different levels make possible.
Join as a Friend of MakeHerSpace — our individual-donor tier, open to anyone who believes in the mission.
Covers the materials and kits for one full hands-on workshop of girls, from supplies to take-home materials.
Underwrites one hands-on career workshop end to end — space, materials, facilitator, and every girl in the room.
Fully funds one girl's entire six-month journey — mentoring, workshops, events, and every material she touches.
Sponsors a full career track across the cohort — our Gold-tier partnership, with workshop naming rights and cohort access.
Presents the entire program — all 40 girls, all six months. Our Platinum tier: program co-naming, executive speaking slots, and first access to the graduating cohort.
Give at any amount
Not sure where you fit? Any gift makes a real difference. Contact us and we'll find the right fit together.
MakeHerSpace.
We make it easy to contribute in the way that works best for you or your organization.
Check by Mail
Make checks payable to Distillery Labs and mail to:
201 SW Adams Street
Peoria, IL 61602
Please note "MakeHerSpace" in the memo line.
Contact Us Directly
To discuss a partnership, in-kind donation, multi-year commitment, or sponsorship naming, reach Jeffrey directly.
jeffrey@distillerylabs.orgCorporate Partnership
Looking to engage your organization's employees, brand, or CSR budget? We have tailored sponsorship packages for corporate partners of all sizes.
Discuss Corporate GivingSend a Mentor
The women on your team are the role models in this data gap. Lend one of them twice a month for six months as an anchor mentor for Cohort 2.
Nominate a MentorIn-Kind Gifts
Can you donate equipment, workshop supplies, event venue space, or professional services? In-kind contributions are deeply valued and fully credited.
Discuss In-Kind OptionsCohort 1 is already changing lives.
Help us finish it — and build Cohort 2.
The girls in MakeHerSpace's first cohort will remember 2026 for the rest of their careers. The organizations who invest now — while the story is still being written — will be part of it forever.
Make a Gift or Partner With Us →Questions? Contact Jeffrey at jeffrey@distillerylabs.org