Entrepreneur and Secret Millionaire star Kavita Oberoi is appointed Chair of the Global Girls’ Fund and US$2million is donated by the UPS Foundation

(3BLMedia/theCSRfeed) London, - 8 April 2010 - International Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting today celebrates its centenary with the appointment of entrepreneur and Secret Millionaire star Kavita Oberoi as Chair of the Global Girls’ Fund Board.

The UPS Foundation has donated US$2million to the Global Girls Fund and comes on board as a Global Founding Partner. This support enables initiatives in leadership, environmental sustainability and educational programmes to be implemented across the 145 countries Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting operates in.

Eduardo Martinez, Director of Philanthropy and Corporate Relations for The UPS Foundation, takes on the role of Chair of the Corporate Panel for the Global Girls Fund and HRH Princess Benedikte of Denmark will act as Patron of the Fund, leading its Council of Ambassadors.

“As a founding partner of the Global Girls Fund, UPS is excited to expand our partnership and support the too often underrepresented voices of girls and young women around the world,” said Martinez. “Through our financial support and local community connections, UPS hopes to encourage the development of women by expanding their opportunities - a crucial part of building more sustainable communities around the world.”

“Girls and young women deserve our support and investment. If we help them grow their self-esteem, develop their leadership skills and participate in their communities as equal citizens we will witness a ripple effect that will benefit girls, their families and their nations. The Global Girls Fund will help continue the 100 year tradition of transforming lives by empowering girls and young women,” said Kavita Oberoi.

The World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts will continue to develop the Global Girls Fund as its centenary appeal, appointing further high profile supporters to the Fund’s Board and Councils from the world of business, politics, academia, sport and entertainment.

About Kavita Oberoi 

Kavita Oberoi is one of the UK's most successful female entrepreneurs. She is the founder and Managing Director of a successful IT and Business Healthcare Consultancy which she started in 2001.

In August 2008 she appeared on Britain’s Channel 4 hit T.V. show, The Secret Millionaire. She is now a Director of one of the charities she supported on the show, focused on developing self-esteem programmes for girls in the UK.

Raised in a traditional Indian family, Kavita credits her mother with giving her the determination to seek out an education for herself, and her father for giving her the entrepreneurial spirit which has made her such a success in business.

In 2005, Kavita was awarded the prestigious NRI Pride of India Gold Award in recognition of her achievements and received a special commendation in the Entrepreneur of the Year Section in the Asian Woman of Achievement Awards.

In 2007 the NRI presented Kavita with the NRI Achiever Pinnacle Award in the category of Business Empress which recognises single minded dedication and hard work in pursuit of ones goals.

In 2009 Kavita was named in the HBOS report as one of ‘Britain’s 100 Most Entrepreneurial Women’. She was also short-listed for the business and commerce award in the Lloyds Bank Jewel Awards and was a judge and mentor for the HBOS Social Entrepreneur Awards.

In 2010 Kavita become part owner of Octavian, a security and facilities services company that employees 700 employees.

About the Global Girls Fund

The Global Girls Fund seeks to raise £10million to support international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting, is dedicated to empowering all girls and young women to reach their full potential and take action to change the world for the better.

 The Global Girls Fund will:

• Equip girls and young women with leadership skills;

• Grow the global voice of girls and young women and support them in making a difference;

• Invest in girls and their communities and enable the development and delivery of global education, training and support.

For more information on the Global Girls Fund, visit www.wagggsworld.org/en/support_us/globalgirlsfund

 About the UPS Foundation

Founded in 1951 and based in Atlanta, Ga., The UPS Foundation’s major initiatives include programs that support community safety, non-profit effectiveness, economic and global literacy, environmental sustainability and diversity. The UPS Foundation pursues these initiatives by identifying specific projects where its support can help produce a measurable social impact. In 2009, The UPS Foundation donated more than $43 million US to charitable organizations worldwide. Visit community.ups.com for more information about UPS's community involvement.

About the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts

With ten million Girl Guides and Girl Scouts in 145 countries, the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) is the largest voluntary movement dedicated to girls and young women in the world. It supports girls and young women to develop their full potential as responsible citizens of the world through a well-established, unique, values-based approach to non-formal learning, innovative global programmes and advocacy on issues such as youth participation, HIV and AIDS, environmental sustainability, health, empowerment and equality. 2010 -2012 is the centenary celebrations for international Girl Guiding and Girl Scouting.

For more information, visit www.wagggsworld.org or contact Laura McVeigh, Global Girls Fund Director, laura@wagggsworld.org or +44 7779 617055

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