Nationwide — The Girl Friends®, Incorporated, awarded its National Project funds to Innocence Project in the amount of $30,000 in support of landmark and groundbreaking work exonerating wrongly convicted people through DNA testing and reforming the criminal justice system.
The Girl Friends®, Inc. National Advisory Board Chair, Courtney Moore, presented the check at the Saturday Luncheon of The Girl Friends®, Inc. 90th Conclave at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza. “As an organization, The Girl Friends, Inc.’s continued support of the Innocence Project stands as a testament to the enduring journey toward justice and fairness. We deeply admire the transformative work of the Innocence Project and its profound impact on humanity.”
Funds for the philanthropic gift were contributed by members of the organization and awarded by a vote of delegates representing chapters in the organization. In accepting the check, Olivia Barnes, Policy Administrator of the Innocence Project, said, “The funds will support the Innocence Project’s work to free the innocent, transform the systems responsible for their wrongful incarceration, and advance the innocence movement.”
“As Girl Friends, we believe in justice, dignity, and the power of second chances. “said Beth Espy, 39th National President of The Girl Friends, Inc. “Supporting efforts that help free the wrongfully convicted is not just a moral imperative — it’s a reflection of our commitment to equity and compassion. We applaud the Innocence Project for their tireless advocacy, and we are honored to stand beside them in this crucial fight.”
Founded in 1927 in New York during the Harlem Renaissance, Girl Friends serve their communities in many capacities — as authors, professors, doctors, lawyers, business owners, U.S. Congress members, wives, and mothers.
Although the original concept was social, The Girl Friends®, Incorporated has expanded its purpose to include charitable and cultural activities. Nationally, approximately one quarter million in contributions have been made to major organizations like NAACP, the United Negro College Fund, the Children’s Defense Fund, the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture, The Flint Water Crisis, and The Girl Friends Fund Scholarship Program. In 1989, the Girl Friends Fund was founded as a separate 501 (c) (3) organization to provide financial assistance to students countrywide. Locally, Girl Friends chapters have supported a broad spectrum of causes from educational projects, as well as the arts, health and wellness initiatives, and community assistance programs.
Corporate supporters for The Girl Friends®, Incorporated Conclave at the Hilton Boston Park Plaza include Signature Partner Meet Boston (Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau), Lead Partners Morgan Stanley, AARP, and Encore Boston Harbor, a Wynn Resort. Additional Supporting Partners include: The City of Boston, Eastern Bank, J.P. Morgan, Hearst Television, and The Partnership Inc.
About The Girl Friends®, Inc.
Established in 1927, the organization was incorporated in 1938 under the legal guidance of Thurgood Marshall, husband of Baltimore Girl Friend Vivian Marshall. The Girl Friends® Inc. represents over two thousand members in forty-nine chapters representing twenty-six states and the District of Columbia. Learn more at TheGirlFriendsInc.org
About Innocence Project
Founded in 1992 by visionary attorneys Peter Neufeld and Barry Scheck, the Innocence Project has been at the forefront of criminal justice reform, using DNA and other scientific advancements to prove wrongful convictions. Learn more at InnocenceProject.org/our-work/
For press inquiries, contact Karen Holmes Ward or Gail Jackson Blount at GFBostonPress@gmail.com or 774-225-0999.