Local Nonprofits Celebrate Girls’ Rights Week

Girls Inc. and Let Us Play! hold Girls’ Rights Week Reception in April

              Jacksonville, Fla. (April 5, 2010) --- Local nonprofits, Girls Inc. and Let Us Play! will hold a reception on April 28, 2010 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm to celebrate Girls Rights Week. The reception will take place at the University Club located at 1301 Riverplace Blvd, 27^th floor, in Jacksonville, FL 32207. Tickets for the event are $25 each and can be purchased by calling 904-731-9933 or by visiting www.girlsincjax.org .  All proceeds from the event help support the continuation of Girls Inc. and Let Us Play’s high quality programs for girls.

The reception honors three of the young women who brave enough to bring a Title IX lawsuit against the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA) in Cook v. FHSAA in 2009.  The federal lawsuit effectively reversed the Association’s April 27th decision to cut 20% of varsity competition schedules and 40% of sub-varsity competitions to all sports except football and competitive cheerleading.  The discriminatory cuts would have exempted over 29% of boys’ competitions from the cuts, but just 5% of girls’.  As a result of the lawsuit, all competitions – including boys and girls – were restored for high school athletes throughout the state of Florida. 

            The evening will be hosted by sports caster Dan Hicken and will feature guest speaker, Olympic Champion, and one of the attorneys in the case, Professor Nancy Hogshead-Makar.  Wayne Hogan, Leslie Goller, and the law firm of Terrell Hogan were essential partners in bringing the lawsuit, and they   will also be in attendance.

              Girls Incorporated of Jacksonville inspires girls to be strong, smart and bold through educational and enrichment programs for girls in our after-school, in-school and summer programs. To learn more visit www.girlsincjax.org .

              Let Us Play! was formed to fill the void in athletic opportunities for the young women of Jacksonville. It strives to motivate girls to take advantage of the life-long benefits associated with both sports and education. To learn more visit www.letusplay.org .

Contact:

Beth Clark, 904/731-9933, clarkb@girlsincjax.org

Sarah Roman, 904/354-5918 Sroman@cisjax.org

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