22nd Annual Strong Smart and Bold Celebration
Girls Inc. of Meriden, serving central Connecticut, is pleased to announce that we will be celebrating our 22nd Annual Strong, Smart, and Bold Celebration on Wednesday, May 17, 2023 at 5:00 P.M. at Il Monticello in Meriden, CT.
Each year, Girls Inc. honors a member of the community who embodies our mission to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. This year, we are pleased to announce that Rhudean Raye will receive the 2023 Strong, Smart, and Bold Award.
Ms. Raye is a longtime resident of Meriden, known for her endless support of Meriden youth and serving as an advocate for those needing their voice amplified in the community. She was one of Meriden's first black teachers, teaching first and second grade at Nathan Hale School for thirty-two years. In the 1980s, she organized Meriden’s first Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr./Albert Owens Scholarship Breakfast. Since then, over $150,000 has been raised for scholarships to help local students achieve their goal of earning a college degree. Her commitment and dedication to the well-being of the greater Meriden community are among the many reasons she was selected as the 2023 Strong, Smart and Bold award recipient.
As girls continue to navigate through these challenging times, one thing is for certain, this community has always rallied to support Girls Inc. and our mission to inspire all girls to be Strong, Smart, and Bold. We hope you will join us on May 17th to both honor Rhudean Raye and show your financial support for our girls as we endeavor to achieve our $30,000 fundraising goal for the evening.
Girls Inc. of Meriden has been serving girls in our community for 104 years. The premier all-girls organization in the area ensures that each girl has access to three things: a pro-girl, affirming environment, mentoring relationships with staff who are trained in positive youth development, and access to our evidence-based programming. For more information on Girls Inc. of Meriden & Central Connecticut, and the Strong, Smart and Bold Dinner, contact Laura Tiedge, Executive Director, at ltiedge@girlsinccentralct.org.
