Comcast awards Girls Inc. with $75G grant

LYNN – Girls Incorporated of Lynn has been awarded $75,000 in grant money from Comcast this month for use in expanding its Teen Health Ambassador Program, which empowers local teenagers to encourage their peers to make positive life decisions.Comcast officials presented the award to the organization Tuesday afternoon at the Girls Inc. Market Street offices.The Teen Health Ambassador initiative trains teens to become leaders in Lynn by researching issues of importance to teens, hosting workshops to promote healthy decision making and setting the agenda on teen health issues from violence to drug abuse by giving teens a voice in the community. One of the many unique attributes of the group is that the diverse population of members allows for girls to communicate and provide information in several of their native languages, including Spanish, Haitian-Creole and Khmer.The grant money will aid in expanding the program, increase peer counseling and allow organizers to do more research into issues of importance for local teens.As part of that expansion, the research will touch on new risks for local teens and topics that may not have been touched on in the past, along with violence and drugs, considered to be the biggest obstacles to the success of girls.The current ambassadors will also use the new, expanded program to train younger Girls Inc. members in leadership roles and in making the right decisions that will help them pursue their dreams and inspire their peers.”Comcast’s generous support will allow us to significantly improve the Teen Health Ambassador’s project,” said Girls Inc. Executive Director Patricia Driscoll. “After all, the best way to reach and empower young women is through other girls who have been trained as leaders. Comcast’s help comes at a crucial time for our community in Lynn.”The Comcast foundation, established in 1999 by the cable mogul, provides charitable support to nonprofits throughout Massachusetts and beyond, primarily investing in programs that are intended to have a positive, sustainable impact in areas of volunteerism, literacy and and youth leadership development.To date the organization has donated over $43 million in communities served by Comcast nationwide.”We are excited about this opportunity to make this investment in the long-term future of young women in Lynn,” said Sue Wante, area vice president of Comcast in Lynn. “Girls Inc. of Lynn is making a real difference in the lives of local families and we’re happy to partner with them and to help the teen ambassadors pursue their dreams and inspire their peers through their actions.”