"Too often government fails the people it represents when it puts more money in the budgets of programs that don't work instead of those that do," said Mayor Bloomberg. "Over the last five years we have tried to change that, and the creation of NYC BoysREACH is a great example of putting money towards what is working. The success of the NYC GirlsREACH program in its first year proves that the public and private sectors can work together to prepare young women and men for the increasingly competitive labor market in the years to come."

"The Commission on Women's Issues has a unique role as advisors to the Mayor on the dynamics of issues affecting New York City families," said CWI  Chair Anne Sutherland Fuchs. "With DYCD's expertise in workforce development and our strong collaboration with the NYC GirlsREACH partners, it is a natural evolution to expand our City's gender-specific youth programming to focus on both the young women and the young men of our City."

NYC GirlsREACH was created last year by the NYC Commission on Women's Issues and the NYC Department of Youth and Community Development. The program pairs high school students with professional women in the private and public sectors and offers weekly workshops on issues including health, financial literacy, college admissions, and public policy. The initiative broadens perceptions of roles of women in the workforce and enables high school students to work directly with New York City professional women. Interns who have participated in NYC GirlsREACH report a new understanding of pathways to success, particularly regarding their aspirations to go to college.

"Through essential programs like NYC GirlsREACH, New York's young people are connected to invaluable role models and opportunities that can help them realize their potential and prepare them for lifelong success," said Speaker Quinn.

"The success of NYC GirlsREACH vividly demonstrates the benefits of gender-specific programming," said Commissioner Mullgrav. "I look forward to expanding our collaboration with CWI and the private sector to address the issues surrounding young male unemployment in our City."

The expansion of NYC GirlsREACH underscores the City's commitment to providing young New Yorkers with educational opportunities that prepare them for college and future careers. The Mayor's /ceo discovered that low-income students are less likely to complete a post-secondary education placing them at higher risk of living in poverty. The Commission recommended the implementation of an innovative approach to engage young men and women and increase their attendance in college. The successful NYC GirlsREACH model provides one-on-one interaction with women role models, creates access to career pathways, develops skills in the classroom, bolsters self-confidence, and prepares students for the workplace. In addition to mentoring, the initiative will also provide work readiness, college orientation, and leadership development workshops focusing on women's and men's issues throughout a six-week publicly-funded internship in the summer of 2007.

"The team at Macy's is thrilled to have been a part of the NYC GirlsREACH program in its first year," said Federated Chairman Lundgren. "Women are an integral part of our company's success from suppliers and vendors to our store managers and sales associates, and ultimately our customers, so it's also my personal pleasure as a member of the Commission on Women's Issues to host Mayor Bloomberg's annual Women's History Month event in Macy's flagship store."

Sponsors of the program include Bear Stearns Companies Inc, Ernst & Young LLP, Macy's, The Estee Lauder Companies Inc., Lifetime Television, Goldman Sachs, Lehman Brothers, The Moody's Foundation, HarperCollins Publishers, JPMorganChase, and Bloomberg LP. Kaplan is providing a comprehensive SAT prep course tailored specifically to address the needs of the students selected for the NYC GirlsREACH program. The City University of New York will provide a variety of services related to post-secondary education, including admissions and financial aid workshops. The Mayor's Fund to Advance New York City is responsible for administering the allocation of private funds raised for this program.