Girls Inc. of Pinellas wins national award from foundation
Article published on Thursday, July 3, 2008 |
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| Front row, from left, are Kaylauna Navel, 7, of Seminole, and Haley Folce, 7, of St. Petersburg; back row, Mark Thielmann, Girls Inc. of Pinellas program director; Carrie Rowe, national program director, and Renee McInnis, executive director. |
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PINELLAS PARK – Girls Inc. of Pinellas has received the 2008 Family Strengthening Award sponsored by the Annie E. Casey Foundation.
The award includes a $10,000 check that is presented annually to Girls Inc. affiliates throughout the country in recognition of their exemplary work that strengthens families in ways that build the confidence and skills of their girls.
“The mission of Girls Inc. of Pinellas is to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” said Renee McInnis, executive director. “We know that girls do well when their families do well.”
Girls Inc. received the award for their Favoring Our Families program which provides advocacy for families and opportunities for them to increase their knowledge about economic self-sufficiency and community resources. The program also provides many family-friendly activities such as barbecues, communally building of a holiday float and workshops for parents and daughters.
“We know that families in our community can face many challenges, and Girls Inc. serves as a caring link connecting girls and their families with other resources,” McInnis said. “Community partners play an important part in strengthening support for families.”
Girls Inc. last year partnered with the local Kiwanis Club and First Unity Church to provide fully loaded backpacks for 100 youngsters. This year the group is broadening that with sponsorship from ITT Technical Institute and other community partners for a Back to School Bash & Resource Fair.
The Kiwanis Club has led the renovation of the Girls Inc. library. The Pinellas Park Rotary sponsored a Fun & Fitness Day.
“We also are a community site for Florida’s KidCare insurance,” McInnis said. “We are very grateful to the United Way of Tampa Bay for their generous support in providing scholarships for summer camp, financial literacy classes and tuition subsidies. Their help makes the difference for many families, helping them move from getting by to getting ahead.”
Girls Inc. hopes to expand Favoring Our Families by adding a year-long series of “We Made That!” artistic workshops for parents and their daughters. The series will include pottery, scrap-booking, ceramics, mosaics, jewelry-making, and quilting, culminating in displays throughout the community.
Call 544-6230 for more information.
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Article published on Thursday, July 3, 2008
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