Keisha Nash Whitaker has been named the Ambassador of Girls Incorporated of Lynn. The mother of three girls (Autumn, 17, Sonnet, 12, and True, 10) Keisha is the wife of Oscar-winning actor/ director/ producer, Forest Whitaker. Keisha is a shining example of dreaming big and bold with confidence and style. Formerly a model with the prestigious Ford NY and Elite agencies, Keisha’s flair for fashion and eye for style have made her a must-see in Vogue, In Style, WWD, Essence, Entertainment Weekly, and Harpers Bazaar. Even though Keisha relocated to the west coast, she never lost touch with her North Shore roots and desire to give back to her hometown of Lynn, Massachusetts and Girls Inc.
“Keisha is such a great role model for our girls and a true symbol of what Girls. Inc. represents. She loves spending time with the girls and inspires them to dream big and believe in themselves. We are thrilled that she will serve as the 2009 Strong, Smart and Bold Honoree and the official Ambassador of Girls Inc. of Lynn,” says Patricia A. Driscoll, Executive Director.
Along with appearing in a public service announcement and speaking with the media about the positive impact of Girls Inc. of Lynn, Whitaker will join the organization at various events and continue to trumpet the mission and message of the organization in the region and throughout the nation. Her favorite part of her role is hanging out with the girls and talking to them about their dreams. “I remember being a young girl growing up on the North Shore and how wonderful it was to find support at Girls Inc. I am grateful to have the opportunity to give back to Girls Inc. and hope that my involvement will inspire others to get involved,” says Whitaker.
She shares her magic touch with other charitable causes as well. In addition to Girls Inc. of Lynn, she is a member of the Cedar Sinai’s Brain Trust. Both Keisha and her husband Forest are on the Honorary Committee of Artists for a New South Africa and also support Hope North, an orphanage based in Northern Uganda that cares for misplaced child soldiers from the war. “We are proud of Keisha Nash Whitaker and grateful to her contribution to Girls Inc. Lynn and the lives of our girls,” says Driscoll.
The mission of Girls, Inc. of Lynn is to inspire girls to be strong, smart and bold by meeting the needs of girls in the community, developing girls’ capacity to overcome the effects of discrimination and be self-sufficient, responsible members of the community, and to serve as a vigorous advocate for all girls. For more information, visit www.girlsinclynn.org.