Women Business Leaders to Mentor Local Girls During Entrepreneurship Conference in D.C.

WASHINGTON, June 3 /PRNewswire/ -- For the first time, 50 teen girls from middle and high schools throughout the Washington, D.C. area will have an opportunity to attend the Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Conference presented by The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), New York, NY. Girls Going Places will be held on June 11 from noon to 5:00 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan Building (International Trade Center).  

"We are proud to present this nationally recognized program to D.C. area teenagers," said Kathy Readinger, who heads the program for Guardian. "While our government is working on financial reform, we are partnering with the Washington based women business owners to provide girls a unique platform that teaches financial responsibility."

During the event, girls from various school district(s) ages 12 through 18 will learn about entrepreneurship and financial independence.  During the interactive conference, the girls will engage in activities such as "Hot Company®," an entrepreneurial board game that introduces girls to the advantages and challenges of owning one's business. They will also team up for an exercise called "Product-in-a-Box®," in which they will have the opportunity to design a product and present a marketing plan.

"Girls Going Places is designed to mentor budding entrepreneurs and groom tomorrow's generation of business leaders," said Readinger.  "Teaching financial independence in a business capacity through activities and interactive games is a creative way to show real-world challenges.  We hope the attendants will walk away from this event inspired to one day start a business of their own."  

Hosted in conjunction with National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) annual Women's Business Conference, the conference offers a unique opportunity for young girls who aspire to become business owners to meet with highly successful business women from across the nation. Sharing the passion for supporting women, this is the second year Guardian partners with NAWBO to hold Girls Going Places®.

In 2010, Guardian is hosting nine Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Conferences across the country.  In addition to the conferences, Guardian's Girls Going Places® Entrepreneurship Program annually awards $30,000 in cash prizes to 15 teen girls who demonstrate outstanding entrepreneurial abilities and service in the community. A unique highlight of the event in D.C. will be an award presentation to Zoe Albert, a 15 year old Texan who claimed second place in Guardian's National Girls Going Places® 2010 Award.  

For more information about the program, its awards and conferences, please visit www.GirlsGoingPlaces.com.  Information is also available on MySpace, Facebook and YouTube; keyword Girls Going Places.

About Guardian

A mutual insurer founded in 1860, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries are committed to protecting individuals, business owners and their employees with life, long term care insurance, disability income, group medical and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), annuities and other financial products. Guardian operates one of the largest dental networks in the United States, and protects more than six million employees and their families at 120,000 companies. The company has more than 5,400 employees in the United States and a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more than 80 agencies nationwide.

For more information about Guardian, please visit: www.GuardianLife.com.

SOURCE The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America