Girls Inc. honors Producer of Disney-Pixar's Oscar® award-winning film "Brave," Katherine Sarafian; gamechanger journalist, Belva Davis; and philanthropist, Lois De Domenico at sold-out Strong, Smart and Bold Event

Thursday, April 18, 2013 -- 11:30 AM - 1:30 PM -- 4700 Lincoln Avenue, Oakland CA

OAKLAND, Calif., April 18, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Thursday, April 18th, over 500 guests from across the San Francisco Bay Area will gather for the 25^th Annual Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon, benefitting Girls Inc.'s nationally acclaimed programs for girls from underserved communities. The Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon honors prominent women leaders who work every day to empower women and girls worldwide to be strong, smart, and bold. This year's sold-out event Award Honorees include:

• Katherine Sarafian, Producer of Disney-Pixar's Oscar® award-winning film "Brave," whose film has inspired a generation of young girls to be STRONG, smart, bold and brave..
• Belva Davis, Award-Winning Journalist, whose SMART approach to change the face of media, opened the door for not only women of color, but for all women who aspired to follow their dreams.
• Lois De Domenico, Community Philanthropist and BOLD advocate, whose commitment to making an impact in her community is only matched by her endless energy and tenacity.

The featured guest emcee will be KRON 4 News Anchor Pam Moore, who will also be on-hand as attending guests honor the strong, smart and bold women in their own lives and hear the inspirational stories of three Girls Inc. teenage scholars who are creating bold futures and changing the world, one girl at a time.

The Strong, Smart and Bold Luncheon raises critical funding and awareness for Girls Inc. which provides year-round academic achievement and skills-building programs, as well as community behavioral health counseling services to over 7,500 girls and families, particularly those in high-risk, underserved areas of Alameda County. No other youth agency in the Bay Area offers such comprehensive programming designed specifically for the unique needs of girls. This summer, with the agency's move to Oakland's downtown, it will become Alameda County's first and only resource center for girls, allowing even more girls to have strong, smart and bold futures.

Girls Incorporated of Alameda County is one of 83 affiliates of the national Girls Inc., the country's leading voice for girls. Since 1958, Girls Inc. has responded to the unique needs of girls in underserved communities of San Francisco's East Bay through a continuum of academic achievement programs and counseling services. Programs challenge girls to explore their potential, develop life skills, ensure college and career success, and expand their sense of what is possible. With an innovative educational approach incorporating local needs into research-based curricula, Girls Inc. has established itself as one of the Bay Area's leading providers of supplemental education. Recent awards include: Youth Radio's Community Excellence Award, United Nations Global Equity Award, Nonprofit of the Year, NCCLF Community Impact Award, 5th in the Nation for Top Youth Serving Organizations, and Charity Navigator's highest rating for fiscal effectiveness (4 Years Standing). For more information, visit www.girlsinc-alameda.org.

SOURCE Girls Incorporated of Alameda County