LYNN — Girls Inc. will host its 33rd annual Girl Hero Scholars event virtually on April 8 at noon.
The celebration will honor the senior girls involved in the program as well as the honoree, Marcy L. Reed, president of National Grid Massachusetts and vice president of US Policy & Social Impact.
Former honoree Latoyia Edwards, NBC-10 Boston and NECN news anchor, will serve as the mistress of ceremonies. She has been involved with Girls Inc. for years and is considered to be supportive by the girls and staff in the program.
“This year we have honed the art of the virtual experience to offer you an up-close-and-personal look at how we are staying connected with our members in this unprecedented era, helping them become stronger, smarter, and bolder than before,” said Deb Ansourlian, Girls Inc. of Lynn executive director.
Reed joined National Grid in 1988 and has since worked in finance, merger integration, corporate affairs and business operations. She also holds the position as global executive sponsor for National Grid’s Women in Networks employee resource group.
“Marcy is a leader who has consistently shown her commitment to the promotion of women in the workforce and inspired our girls at Girls Inc. by advancing their exposure to and learning about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) programs and careers,” Ansourlian said.
Reed has championed a male-dominated industry and implemented more education around STEM-related fields for girls. National Grid hosted a summer program called the “sustainability hub,” giving online lessons on non-renewable energy for the girls.
“They just really engage with the girls and a lot of that has been led by Marcy and her leadership at National Grid,’ said Ansourlian.
Girls Inc., like much of the world, was forced to implement virtual learning and interaction into its programming since its closure last March. The organization has since resumed its full curriculum, hosting the girls at the Girls Inc. building at 50 High St. during the day, where they Zoom with their school teachers, before partaking in Girls Inc. activities during the afternoon. Using virtual learning has allowed them to adjust to new resources and connect with people outside of the building. This Girl Hero celebration will do the same.
The event highlights the accomplishments of the high school senior girls and honors them with scholarships for their next step.
Usually this celebration would include a luncheon that would be attended by approximately 600 people. This year’s celebration, however, will be fully virtual and accessible online, allowing anyone to watch. The schedule will be similar, featuring video presentations, words from the organization’s board members, a song from some of the girls in the chorus and speeches from the senior girls, which Girls Inc. refers to as strong, smart and bold women.
Director of Development and Communications Donna Crotty said this year’s celebration is all about the girls who applied for the scholarship.
“They basically epitomize what it means to be a strong, smart and bold girl,” she said. “They’ve gone through a series of our programs and are engaged in the organization and have gone through a rigorous application process to apply for the scholarship.”
The girls must submit a transcript, recommendations and have to write a series of essays in order to apply for the scholarship.
The decisions are then made by an independent panel that does not know the senior girls, so none of the staff is involved in that aspect.
Crotty said the energy for this year’s celebration is already great.
“Our supporters have been absolutely amazing this year,” she said. “From the start of the pandemic, we had supporters coming and delivering gift cards and food to be distributed to the families in Lynn that needed them.”
The event will be live-streamed on the organization’s Facebook page and through its website. Girls Inc. invites families and friends to tune in and watch. If you cannot watch it live, it will be available to watch after on the Girls Inc. Facebook page and Vimeo account.
“In celebrating the girls, we want more people to be able to see our girls give their celebratory speeches,” Crotty said.
Crotty advises viewers to bring their tissues, because the event is known for being heartfelt, real and emotional. The stories from the senior girls include the struggles and hardships they faced to get to where they are today. While celebrating their achievements, the event also acknowledges how far they have come.
The Annual Girl Hero Scholars Celebration is sponsored by Annual Partners, United Way of Mass Bay and Merrimack Valley, National Grid, Someone Else’s Child, Stronger
Sponsors Lorant Charitable Foundation and Old Neighborhood Foods. It is also sponsored by Eastern Bank Smarter Sponsors: Comcast, HP Hood, Nick and Chris Meninno, and Bolder Sponsor D&R Paving.
For further sponsorship information or interest, please contact Donna Crotty at [email protected] or (781) 592-9744, ext. 243, or visit girlsincbostonlynncelebration.org to register.