Girls Inc. of Lynn 25th Celebration Luncheon

For Immediate Release:

March 12, 2013

For More information:

Contact: Pat Tobin781-592-9744 ext. 262 or ptobin@girlsinclynn.org.

Girls Inc. of Lynn to hold 25th Annual Celebration Luncheon

Girls Inc. of Lynn is celebrating two milestones this spring: the organization’s 70th year anniversary and its 25th Annual Celebration Luncheon.  The luncheon will be held on April 11, 2013 from 11:30-2:00 p.m. at the Danversport Yacht Club.  According to Board President, Annalisa Di Palma of Swampscott, “This is an especially exciting year for Girls Inc. of Lynn.  Celebrating 70 years of serving girls in our community is a testament to the fact that we have evolved and grown as an organization to continue to meet the changing needs of our community.   We are thrilled to have Latoya Edwards, NECN evening anchor joining us as Mistress of Ceremonies.  She will present the Girl Hero Award recipients with their scholarships – always a highlight of the afternoon. In honor of our 25th Celebration Luncheon, the President and CEO of Girls Inc. National, Judy Vredenburgh will also be joining us.  The Girls Inc. of Lynn Chorus will be performing a special anniversary concert.”

Each day at Girls. Inc. of Lynn, hundreds of young girls and teens arrive at the center to spend the afternoon with their friends in a safe, nurturing environment.  Girls Inc. of Lynn is committed to helping girls grow strong, smart and bold and provides innovative, educational programs at our center, in schools and at other youth agencies.   “The majority of the young people we serve are from low-income households and nearly 75% live on or below the poverty line. Despite these odds we are extremely proud that through the combination of our dedicated staff and researched-based programs, an astounding 95% of our seniors attend college!” said Ms. Di Palma.

The effort to create a safe place for the girls of Lynn began in 1940 when a group of representatives from Greater Lynn women’s organizations met to discuss the lack of supervised activities during the summer months.  Philanthropists Mr. and Mrs. Eli Cohen of Swampscott donated the use of their camp in Pembroke, and the venture was supported by every organization in Lynn.  The camp was so hugely successful that the community worked tirelessly to raise money for year round programs for girls.  In 1942, the Lynn Women’s Club was formally organized as the “Girls Service League.” Programs were offered in two rented rooms at 88 Broad Street in Lynn.

In 1945 the organization officially became the Girls Club of Lynn and was affiliated with the Girls Club of America.  In 1989, the National organization changed the name to Girls Incorporated, and the Girls Club of Lynn became Girls Incorporated of Lynn.  The organization moved into its new facility on 50 High Street in 2009.

Deb Ansourlian, Executive Director, added “We are extremely proud of our history and grateful for the generosity of the community that has enabled our organization to meet our goals of inspiring girls to be strong, smart and bold. For 25 years the Luncheon has been the signature event of Girls Inc. of Lynn.   Each year over 500 members of the community have come together to celebrate the accomplishments of the amazing young women who have overcome numerous challenges to achieve success and win the scholarships that enable them to attend college.  It is the unwavering commitment to our mission that enables us to continue to provide the quality programs that are life-changing to the girls who attend Girls Inc. of Lynn.  I encourage everyone to join us for what promises to be a very exciting and uplifting afternoon.”

For more information regarding sponsorships or tickets, please contact Pat Tobin at 781-592-9744 ext. 262 or ptobin@girlsinclynn.org.