Third annual event organized by GE Women's Network aims to inspire middle school girls
IRVING, TX --- The seven Dallas-Fort Worth-area offices of General Electric --- the global provider of solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance --- are hosting their third annual career day on July 15. Forty middle school-aged girls from Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas will participate in the event, titled "Putting Your Best Foot Forward."
Organized by the GE Women's Network, the event aims to inspire girls to succeed by presenting the experiences of professional women. This year's program includes sessions that provide advice such as office-appropriate fashion, managing social media, leveraging technology, meeting etiquette and presentation skills. The July 15th Career Day will be the second one hosted by the Women's Network this summer. The first one on June 24 attracted 18 participants.
"We're pleased that Career Day has become our signature event with Girls Inc.," said Kristin Larimore, the strategic engagement leader with GE Capital's Equipment Finance business. "The strong support and dedicated volunteers from all of GE's local businesses help us create a successful event that we hope will have a long-lasting impact on the participants."
Girls Inc.'s mission is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart and bold. It assists those ages six to 18 with developing interpersonal skills, enriching their academic competencies and discovering who they are through career exploration.
"We see our relationship with GE as a prime example of a corporate-community partnership," said Lori Palmer, chief executive officer of Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas. "The support of GE's Women's Network helps us enrich the experience for all of the girls who participate in our summer programs."
GE's relationship with Girls Inc. extends back to 2005 in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. Its philosophy on corporate citizenship includes volunteer support and knowledge sharing as well as charitable giving. GE businesses in the DFW area provide over 3000 hours of community support each year to key non-profit partners. "It's a great way to network with other GE colleagues and give back in a significant way in places where we live and work," Larimore added.
"We realized it was important to offer an on-campus experience to help these young women cultivate their leadership potential and showcase some of the professional paths that are available to them," said Michelle Bracken, risk analytics manager with GE Capital, Equipment Finance who acts as the liaison with Girls Inc. "The GE Women's Network is a valuable asset to me and the 1,000 other local members."
The GE Women's Network was created in 1997 to help the women working at GE advance their careers. It helps the more than 100,000 women working at GE to cultivate their leadership skills, business practices, personal contacts and career opportunities. Today the rapidly growing group has evolved into a worldwide organization of more than 150 hubs in 43 countries.
About Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas
Girls Inc. of Metropolitan Dallas focuses on the balanced development of the "whole girl" by ensuring that its comprehensive programming covers all aspects of development --- social, emotional, academic and physical. With generous support from companies like GE, it continues to empower more than 800 girls, every year, in the Dallas area, to achieve their full potential, graduate high school, go to college and become economically independent.
Its track record shows its impact:
- For 13 years, its participants have had a 100% senior graduation rate.
- Over the last year, 65% of girls have increased their grade point average by 25%.
- Over 59% of its graduates have received bachelor's degrees, 28% masters' degrees and 3% J.D.s.
- Since 1999, Girls Inc. has awarded nearly $1 million in scholarships.
Its alumnae continue to strengthen the Dallas community by making a significant impact in the fields of business, engineering, criminal justice, education, health and social work.
For more information, please visit http://www.girlsincdallas.org.
Participating GE Businesses
GE employs 1,600 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. The largest portion, 40%, is part of GE Capital's Equipment Finance business. The following DFW-area GE businesses provide volunteer support for this event:
- GE Capital, Equipment Finance
- GE Capital, Real Estate
- GE Capital, Transportation --- Rail Services
- GE Capital, Retail Financial Services
- GE Energy (including the former Dresser Inc.)
- GE Aviation
- GE Healthcare
To keep in touch with GE's activities in DFW, follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/1GEDallas.
About GE Capital
GE Capital offers consumers and businesses around the globe an array of financial products and services. For more information, visit www.gecapital.com or follow company news via Twitter (www.twitter.com/GECapital).
GE (NYSE: GE) works on things that matter. The best people and the best technologies taking on the toughest challenges. Finding solutions in energy, health and home, transportation and finance. Building, powering, moving and curing the world. Not just imagining. Doing. GE works. For more information, visit the company's website at www.ge.com.
Lisa Tibbitts
GE Capital
[email protected]
+1 203 956 4582
+1 203-803-6142