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January 30, 2004
Guardian Life Insurance Presents Fourth Annual Girls Going Places College Scholarship Program
GUARDIAN LIFE INSURANCE PRESENTS FOURTH ANNUAL
GIRLS GOING PLACES COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM
NEW YORK, January 30, 2004 -The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America announced that today marks the final four weeks of the 2004 Girls Going Places College Scholarship nomination period. Guardian began accepting nominations in September for its national competition, which recognizes and rewards teen-aged girls who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurship. Guardian designed the annual program to help women create, invest and protect wealth by honoring girls between the ages of 12 and 16 who are taking the first steps toward financial independence.
Entries will be accepted through February 27, 2004. Scholarships will be presented to each winner within their respective communities, among their peers.
Guardian and Girls Going Places will award 15 girls a total of $30,000 to be used toward their college education. Three top scholarship prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000 and 12 finalist prizes of $1,000 each will be granted. Adults are asked to nominate girls - who could be their daughter, niece, neighbor or student - by submitting a 1,000-word essay on why the nominee deserves a Girls Going Places award. A panel of judges will review the essays and pick finalists that:
— Demonstrate budding entrepreneurship and/or financial acumen
— Have taken the first steps toward financial independence
— Make a difference in their school, community or in other people's lives
— Show potential for future success by initiating a new business
"One in eleven women in the United States today is a business owner," says Emily Viner, Director of Agency Distribution & Development, Individual Markets, Guardian, New York. "Guardian created Girls Going Places to educate young women about the financial and entrepreneurial opportunities available. We want to recognize their accomplishments and help prepare them for the future."
During the 2003 Program, Guardian received more than 3,000 nominations. Last year's first prizewinner, Kelly Drinkwater, founded and manages the Splash store, a student-run organization that she established during her first year of middle school. Kelly wrote a thorough business plan that included financial projections, pricing, distribution, advertising strategies, and proposed marketing programs.
The Girls Going Places college scholarship program anchors Guardian's Women's Initiative, which was established to help Guardian capture opportunities in the women's marketplace by positioning Guardian as a company that promotes financial literacy, financial independence, and career choices for women. Guardian is also a National Patron Level sponsor of the National Association of Women Business Owners (NAWBO) as well as a corporate partner of Women in Insurance and Financial Services (WIFS), a national organization that supports the advancement of women in financial services.
About Guardian
The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, New York, NY (Guardian) is the fourth largest mutual life insurance company in the United States. As of December 31, 2002, Guardian and its subsidiaries had $34.1 billion in assets. Founded in 1860, Guardian is listed among Fortune magazine's top 300 businesses---and in 2003 was ranked once again as one of the top 10 most admired life and health companies in Fortune's "America's Most Admired Companies" list. With 5,500 employees, over 2,700 financial representatives and 100 agencies nationwide, Guardian and its subsidiaries protect individuals, businesses and their employees with life, disability, health and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), mutual fund and annuity investment products, and trust services. More information on Guardian can be obtained at: www.guardianlife.com
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