License to Thrive

These Girls Are Going Places

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) announced the launch of the 2008 Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Award Program that recognizes and rewards girls ages 12 to 18 who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurship.

Guardian will kick-off the eighth annual program with three one-day Girls Going Places®  Entrepreneurship Conferences in conjunction with local agencies around the country. The conferences are designed to encourage financial literacy and educate young women about entrepreneurship and financial independence. Successful local businesswomen will share their ideas and experiences as conference mentors.

"These conferences give us an opportunity to educate young women on the range of entrepreneurial opportunities that are available to them," said Emily Viner, Field Vice President, Individual Markets, Guardian, New York. "Today, more than 40 percent of businesses are women-owned — Girls Going Places inspires young women to be financially independent and cultivates the ideas behind the successful businesses of the future."

Those in attendance will have an opportunity to learn more about the 2008 program. Since launching the Girls Going Places" Entrepreneur Award Program in 2000, Guardian has awarded more than $230,000 to young entrepreneurs across the nation to be used toward their college education or their businesses.

Adults are asked to nominate girls - such as their daughter, niece, neighbor or  student -by submitting a 750- to 1,000-word essay on why the nominee deserves a Girls Going Places® award. Fifteen girls will be awarded a total of $30,000.

The national first place winner of the 2007 competition was Stephanie Brown, 18, who was nominated for successfully establishing Ohio's first student-run credit union, Oakwood Universal 1 Credit Union. Jasmine Lawrence, 15, of Williamstown, NJ, was named the national second place award winner for founding Eden BodyWorks, a line of all-natural hair care products for the multicultural market.

"The number of women-owned businesses has grown exponentially in recent years thanks to the support of programs and organizations dedicated to the education and mentorship of these budding entrepreneurs," said Diana Acevedo, National Manager, Girls Going Places® Program, Guardian, New York. "Since launching Girls Going Places, we've seen thousands of inspiring young entrepreneurs, and this program underscores our commitment to the advancement of women in business and their strides towards financial literacy."

Prizes of $10,000, $5,000, and $3,000 are awarded to the top three teene ntrepreneurs with prizes of $1,000 presented to each of the remaining 12 finalists. Nominations are being accepted now and entries will be considered through February 15, 2008.

For more information, go to www.guardianlife.com.