PINELLAS PARK: In November, the Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park was awarded the Volunteer Group of the Year Award at the Girls Incorporated Regional Conference in Tennessee. Community groups from throughout the southeastern United States who have provided exceptional volunteer service to Girls Inc affiliates vied for the award. A special commendation from President George W. Bush was also included in the award.

The Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park received their award for providing outstanding leadership in establishing the Girls Empowerment Library at the Girls Incorporated Activities Center in Pinellas Park. Kiwanis adopted the “extreme makeover-type” project to renovate a dilapidated room and transform it into a welcoming library for Girls Inc. The Kiwanis Club of Pinellas Park enlisted help from other Kiwanis Clubs including the Gulf Beaches and Seminole clubs and Girls Inc enlisted community support from the Glazer Family Foundation, The Community Foundation of Greater St. Petersburg, Sam’s Club, Home Depot, and individual donors.   

Renovations included all new furnishings, painting and carpeting, all setting the stage for the special collection at the library which features girls’ empowerment books. These books feature positive female characters who rely on their own ingenuity to solve problems. Books also include biographies of famous women, and books on non-traditional career choices for girls. “The mission of Girls Incorporated of Pinellas is to inspire girls to be strong, smart, and bold,” said Executive Director Renee McInnis, “and we know it is important for girls to be exposed to positive messages about who they are and what they can aspire to.  The Girls Empowerment Library now hosts the Kiwanis Reading Room in honor of all of their hard work.”  

The Girls Empowerment Library currently has a charter collection of approximately 400 books and has a goal to grow to include 4,000 empowerment books and to eventually become a lending library both for Girls Inc members and the wider community.  Girls Inc. provides girls empowerment programs during summer day camp and in innovative school year programs.  For more information call (727) 544-6230 or go online at www.girlsinc-pinellas.org.                            

Girls Incorporated of Pinellas
7700 61st St, Pinellas Park, FL
Inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and boldsm

NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: December 2, 2008
Contact: Renee McInnis: 727-544-6230 x117