Last week was a really great week here at Girls Inc of Worcester.
On Monday, I went to the Statehouse in Boston with Sandy Mayrand from UMass' Regional Science Resource Center for the announcement of the Summer of Innovation grants from NASA. We are partnered with UMass for 2 great weeks of STEM programming in late July and early August. Planning for these programs starts this week, so check back for details!
On Tuesday evening, Girls Inc participated in the Jean Kilbourne event as part of the Investing In Girls Alliance and Women's Initiative. Jean's presentation on the portrayal of girls in the media was excellent - and a bit unsettling, as it should be.
On Wednesday, the 8 Girls Inc affiliates from across Massachusetts gathered with legislators and their staff for a great presentation and discussion about the needs of girls for gender specific programming.
On Thursday we hosted our annual Girls Celebration Event, our signature fundraiser, at the Blais Pavilion in the Aaron Lazare Research Building on the UMass Medical School Campus. Kay Bassett and Dr. Mariann Manno were the 2010 Advocates for Girls. Dr. Jean King, last year's honoree and this year's honorary chair hosted a pre-reception for the past and new honorees, the Girls Inc Board Directors and our major sponsors.
Over 200 people gathered between 4:30 and 5:00 PM for the event that included great food, drinks and a vast array of Silent Auction Items. The program began about 6:15 when Board Chair Victoria Waterman welcomed everyone and thanked them and the larger Worcester Community for their 94 years of support! Dr. Jean King presented this year's Advocates for Girls awards to Kay Bassett and Dr. Mariann Manno.
Then I had the absolute pleasure to introduce and honor six remarkable young women -
- Yaa Poku, the 2010 Valerie S. Loring Girl of the Year;
- Veronica Yanes, the Ann J. Prouty Community Leader;
- Tara Shea, the Middle School STONG Awardee;
- Justine O'Day, the High School STRONG Awardee;
- Mai Ly, the Middle School SMART Awardee (sponsored by Fidelity Investments); and
- Abby Ellis, the High School SMART Awardee.
We were all awed by their accomplishments at such a young age... Let me tell you: these young ladies ROCK!!!
I would like to say a BIG Thanks to:
- our SMART Sponsors: DCU for Kids, Emerson Investment Management and Fidelity Investments,
- our Media Sponsors: Telegram & Gazette, Charter Communications and WXLO 104.5 FM,
- to the Girls Celebration Committee co-chaired by Directors Lila Weihs and Diane Meystre,
- to the many volunteers under the leadership of Girls Inc's Anne Sadick and Anne McCarthy
... and a special shout out to our alum Beth Callahan for her help on the ad book!
It was a day - I mean a week - we will long remember!!!
Cathi