(New York) TZONE Foundation, the national grant-making organization founded by television producer and host, Tyra Banks, is pleased to announce it has awarded a $10,000 grant to Girls in the Game (GIG) of Chicago, a nonprofit organization founded by a group of young professional women that integrates physical activity, education and leadership development to enhance the health and well-being of at-risk girls. This grant was awarded and serves as the TZONE Foundation’s second grant given in the city of Chicago. Founded in 1995, GIG runs 5 core programs, incorporating life skills in every aspect of their age-specific programming.

“The core mission of GIG closely mirrors the primary objectives of the TZONE Foundation,” said Tyra Banks. “I am thankful for the opportunity to support and contribute to an organization that has demonstrated the ability to provide women with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to become successful.

GIG reaches over 2,000 girls a year, and has provided services to over 15,000 girls thus far. Eighty-five percent of the girls they work with live in families that are at or below the poverty level. GIG provides comprehensive programs that incorporate 4 key tenets – sports, health, leadership, and life skills. According to research findings of the past three years, the girls served by GIG are exercising more, eating healthier, acting as leaders, and have higher self-esteem.

“Through generous funds, such as the TZONE Foundation, we are given the opportunity and the means to expand our reach and ideally make our services accessible to all the girls of Chicago who are less fortunate and would benefit from our programming,” said Amy Skeen, Executive Director of GIG. “We are committed to ensuring our programs make a difference for the girls we serve, and TZONE’s support will help foster our current programs, and enable GIG to grow and progress even further.”

“The ideals GIG aims to promote in their programs – empowering young women to make healthy choices and apply life lessons in leadership positions - are among those TZONE strives to encourage as well,” said Mary Genis, Executive Director of TZONE.

TZONE FOUNDATION
TZONE Foundation provides grants to small and mid-sized nonprofit organizations that address the needs of under-served women and girls in Los Angeles, Chicago and New York City, with a particular emphasis on building supportive female relationships.

Donations to TZONE may be made by sending a check to the TZONE Foundation at:
2029 Century Park East Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA. 90067
or online at www.tzonefoundation.org.

For more information about the foundation, visit their website at www.TZONEFoundation.org.

Contact:
Lisa Israel
Coburn Communication
212.536.9825
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TZONE Foundation
8391 Beverly Blvd. Suite 313
Los Angeles, CA 90048
For more information about the TZONE grant-making program: (323) 860-6500
Website: www.tzonefoundation.org