Girls Inc. AND THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION EMPOWER GIRLS TO BECOME LEADERS

GIRLS INCORPORATED AND THE NEW YORK LIFE FOUNDATION EMPOWER GIRLS TO BECOME LEADERS
Foundation Awards $358,000 National Program Development Grant

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 25, 2003

NEW YORK, NY ' Girls Incorporated, a national nonprofit that inspires all girls to be strong, smart and bold, announced today that it is being awarded a three-year $358,000 grant from the New York Life Foundation to develop a new component for its Discovery Leadership mentoring program. Currently available to girls ages 9-11, the New York Life Foundation grant will extend the reach of Discovery Leadership to girls ages 12-14, so they can benefit from the guidance and inspiration of women role models.

'We are grateful for the New York Life Foundation's investment in our work with girls,' says Joyce M. Roch', president and chief executive officer of Girls Inc. 'The Foundation's support for projects that empower girls to learn and develop to their full potential is admirable.'

'We are proud to partner with Girls Inc., an organization focused on developing today's young girls into tomorrow's leaders,' said Sy Sternberg, chairman and chief executive officer of New York Life and chairman of the New York Life Foundation. 'We are delighted to build upon the successful Discovery Leadership mentoring program and help girls in their early teens understand there are no limits to what they can achieve.'

Discovery Leadership partners girls with women to take part in community action projects that the girls have selected, such as removing graffiti or working with the mayor to increase community safety. The new initiative targets older girls (ages 12-14), and will continue to expand the concept of leadership, explore leadership styles, and empower girls to take leadership roles at school and in their neighborhoods. The New York Life Foundation grant will enable Girls Inc. to develop and pilot this new program in several cities nationally.

About Girls Inc. With roots dating to 1864 and national status since 1945, Girls Inc. has responded to the changing needs of girls through research-based programs and public education efforts that empower girls to understand, value, and assert their rights. The organization's programs focus on science, math, and technology, health and sexuality, economic and financial literacy, sports skills, leadership and advocacy, and media literacy for girls ages 6 to 18.

About New York Life Foundation Established in 1979 by the New York Life Insurance Company, the New York Life Foundation is the major vehicle through which the company channels contributions to national and local non-profit organizations. Through its Nurturing the Children initiative, the Foundation supports organizations, programs and services that target young people, particularly in the areas of mentoring, safe places to learn and grow, and educational enhancement opportunities. Through Volunteers for LIFE, its company-wide community involvement initiative, New York Life also encourages volunteer participation by its employees, agents, and retirees.