Nashua, NH (June 1, 2019) – The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Girls Inc. of New Hampshire was recently honored with a Granite State Award from the University of New Hampshire (UNH) for her contributions to the state. Cathy Duffy-Cullity, of Manchester, received the award during UNH Commencement at its Manchester campus on May 16, 2019.
“Cathy is a tremendous leader and has helped the organization grow exponentially over the past 20 years,” said Nicole Jambard, Board of Directors Chair, Girls Inc. of New Hampshire. “The UNH Granite State Award is well-deserved recognition for her hard work and dedication to transforming Girls Inc.”
Duffy-Cullity has served as the CEO of Girls Inc. of New Hampshire for more than 20 years. Under her leadership, the organization has grown from one small center in Nashua serving 350 girls annually to serving more than 2,000 girls at centers in Nashua and Manchester and in more than 40 schools across New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont.
Offering research-based, informal education programs that encourage girls to master physical, intellectual and emotional challenges, its programs include math and science education, pregnancy and drug abuse prevention, media and economic literacy, adolescent health, violence prevention, careers and leadership, and sports participation. In addition to the core curriculum, Girls Inc. provides a dinner club to children in both centers feeding 125 girls daily, a Young Women’s Leadership program for 30 girls and a mentoring program which has matched 180 girls with professional women.
Previously, Duffy-Cullity was involved with programs serving women and children in Lawrence, Mass., as the executive director of the Plains Community Center and the program director at the Lawrence YWCA, where she secured federal funding for a women’s shelter that continues to operate today.