Girls Inc. to open new headquarters today

LYNN – Girls Incorporated of Lynn will officially open its new organization headquarters this morning with a ribbon-cutting ceremony featuring local delegates and Girls Inc. members.The new building, housed in the renovated and expanded former Shoe School at 50 High Street, is a larger, more modern upgrade from the organization’s former Broad Street home.Guest speakers at the event include Congressman John F. Tierney, State Rep. Steven Walsh, CEO of the Massachusetts Housing Investment Corporation Joseph Flatley and CEO of Wainright Bank and Trust Jan Miller. The ceremony will be followed by a luncheon and tours of the new facility.”Our Ribbon Cutting will represent an exciting new chapter in the history of Girls Inc. of Lynn which has been successfully meeting the growing needs of the Lynn community since 1942,” said Executive Director Patricia Driscoll. “We look forward to the many new program opportunities available in our new facility both for our current members, prospective new members and for the Lynn community as well.”Girls Inc. has expanded the 50 High St. property to create a 28,000 square foot modern facility which will have the capacity to serve even more girls in need and at risk while ensuring a safe, nurturing, accessible place for girls to participate in innovative programming focused on the development needs of girls ages 6 to 18.The project was largely funded through private donors and grants, but officials say they are still looking for funds to complete payments.”We have reached out to our Board of Directors, staff, alumnae, families, the business community and charitable foundations as well as the state, federal and city resources to help fund this project and we are most grateful for those who have made a gift to support this important undertaking,” said Jansi Chandler, Chair of the Capital Campaign Committee. “The Capital Campaign Committee has worked diligently to help make our dream a reality and has reached $9.5 million of our $11 million goal to complete our ?It’s All About The Girls n The Campaign for the Future’ building campaign. We are most appreciative but we still need to ask for the community at large to help us raise an additional $650,000 by July 15, 2009 to meet the $850,000 Kresge challenge grant.”The ribbon cutting will begin at 11 a.m. outside of 50 High St.