NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian) today announced the winners of its 2009 Girls Going Places^® Entrepreneurship Award Program, a national competition that recognizes and rewards enterprising teen girls ages 12 to 18 who demonstrate exceptional entrepreneurship and community service.

The top winner this year is Jessica Cervantes, an 18 year old Cuban-American from Miami, Fl. Jessica founded Popsy Cakes, a unique popsicle/cupcake treat with an edible cookie stick and earth-friendly, recyclable packaging. Jessica donates five percent of her annual net profit to the Breast Cancer Foundation. She hopes to attend the University of Miami next year.

The national second place went to Christina Johnson,18, from Bronx, NY. Christina founded Homestyle Caterers, which provides feel-good fare for private affairs and parties. Christina's other ventures include the Hamilton Art Gallery, which produces Afro-America ceramics, and Bring-it-On, a non-profit youth-run organization that promotes youth leadership and community involvement.

Fifteen-year-old Carly Houlahan from Devon, Pa., won the third place for founding Hives for Lives, a non-profit that produces honey and hive-derived products to help raise money for cancer research. In the last five years, her organization has raised $150,000 in donations to cancer hospitals and research centers.

"As we are approaching the Girls Going Places' 10^th year anniversary this fall, we are proud to award these young entrepreneurs," said Kathy Readinger, national manager, Girls Going Places Program, Guardian. "Coming from different cultural and socio-economic backgrounds, these girls share the common goal of achieving financial independence, and Guardian is committed to helping the next generation of women business owners."

Guardian granted the fifteen girls a total of $30,000 which they can use to reinvest in their entrepreneurial projects or to save for college. The first, second and third place winners receive prizes of $10,000, $5,000 and $3,000, respectively, and the 12 finalists are granted prizes of $1,000 each.


"Guardian is committed to ensuring that young women are aware of the benefits of business ownership and Girls Going Places is one of the many programs we have in place to help empower women in business," added Readinger. "We congratulate this year's winners on their extraordinary business accomplishments and are looking forward to celebrating the decade long success of the program."

To read a complete list of the 2009 finalists, visit www.GirlsGoingPlaces.com.

About Guardian

The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America (Guardian), one of the largest and oldest mutual life insurance companies in the United States, is known for its stability and strength. A Fortune 300 company, Guardian is the only major life insurer to earn upgrades from two major rating agencies in 2008: A++ (Superior) by A.M. Best and AA+ (Very Strong) by Standard & Poor's. Guardian also has retained ratings of Aa2 (Excellent) by Moody's and AA+ (Very Strong) by Fitch (ratings current as of April, 2009).

Founded nearly 150 years ago, Guardian and its subsidiaries are committed to protecting individuals, business owners and their employees with life, long term care insurance, disability income and dental insurance products, and offer 401(k), annuities and other financial products and trust services.

Guardian operates one of the largest dental networks in the United States, and protects more than six million employees and their families at 120,000 companies. The company has more than 5,400 employees in the United States and a network of over 3,000 financial representatives in more than 80 agencies nationwide.

For more information about Guardian, please visit: www.GuardianLife.com.





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Source: Guardian Life Insurance Company of America