For nearly 20 years, Girls Incorporated of Monroe County has been celebrating an outstanding woman and man of our community. It is the members of Girls Inc. who determined the qualities deserving of these awards. Each recipient should be “kind, nice, and helpful; be an advocate for girls; and stand up for what he or she believes in.” This year, Girls Inc. has two recipients who exemplify these qualities: Lee Ann Jourdan and Mark Kruzan.

Lee Ann Jourdan is a graduate of Indiana University and a very active member of the community. She was the Director of Program Services at Girls Inc. for nearly four years and is now the Assistant Development Director at Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is in charge of a $200,000 campaign in the form of Bowl for Kids Sake, which Girls Inc. proudly participates in every year. She volunteers her time to participate in the Girls Inc. Program Committee of the Board and also volunteers as a “Big Sister” for Big Brothers Big Sisters. She is the IU Bloomington Journey Coordinator, which means she “mentors” undergraduate college students interested in making a career in youth work.
Lee Ann is a very positive role model for girls through her volunteer spirit and all-around passion for youth issues in the community. She is very committed to, and the embodiment of, the Girls Inc. mission of inspiring all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. She is a strong community advocate who is great with kids.

Mark Kruzan is truly a strong advocate for girls and women in this community. He makes himself available to youth-serving organizations such as Rhino's Youth Center and All-Ages Music Club and Girls Inc. He makes a point to attend many of our events - Outback, annual meeting, and this is what makes him a “rock star” to many of the members of Girls Inc.
Mark seems to put great effort into making the city a kid-friendly place. He has made City Hall accessible to our members, making this particular field trip a favorite. Interested in what they are thinking, he takes the time to stop and talk with the girls.
Five years ago, when he was first running for Mayor, he attended Girls Inc.'s Outback Luncheon and talked about our girls and how bright they were and how they had some truly great ideas. Mark really listened to the girls back then, and continues to listen to youth today.