Unbought and Unbossed: Girls Inc. honors Chattanooga area leaders

Jestiny Desmond hugs her mentor, Dorothy Grisham, Thursday, April 23, 2015, at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the UnBought and UnBossed Awards.
Jestiny Desmond hugs her mentor, Dorothy Grisham, Thursday, April 23, 2015, at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the UnBought and UnBossed Awards.
photo Jestiny Desmond hugs her mentor, Dorothy Grisham, Thursday at the Chattanooga Convention Center during the UnBought and UnBossed Awards.

Unbought and Unbossed honorees

Darlene Boyd, loan originator, Regions Bank Jo Coke, retired business professional and community volunteer Amanda Dunn, partner, Luther-Anderson, PLLP Dorothy Grisham, exclusive agent, Allstate Insurance Dr. Everlena Holmes, retired educator; former dean of health sciences at several institutions of higher education Stacy Lightfoot, vice president of college and career success, Public Education Foundation Kelly McCarthy, partner at Easy Designs and program manager of Tech Goes Home Chattanooga Dr. Molly Seal, M.D., PC, practitioner at Seal, Lawrence and Duke, M.D.; associate professor, UT College of Medicine Judge Christie Sell, Division I, Hamilton County General Sessions Court Amy Walker, CEO, Buy It Local BY THE NUMBERS Girls face many challenges, national studies show: 1 in 4 won't graduate high school 78 percent of girls under 17 are unhappy with their bodies 3 in 10 will be come pregnant before age 20 1 in 5 will be victims of childhood sexual abuse Source: Girls Inc.

A'Keia Colley asked: How do you honor an inspiring woman who positively changes lives every day?

Then she called her mentor, Stacy Lightfoot, to the stage.

"She is the perfect role model for girls my age because she is brave, strong, confident, intelligent," Colley, a junior at Chattanooga Girls Leadership Academy, said Thursday to the 700 or so audience members at Girls Inc.'s 11th annual UnBought and UnBossed luncheon Thursday.

Lightfoot, vice president of college and career success at the Public Education Foundation, was among 10 women that Girls Inc. participants selected for the UnBought and UnBossed recognition this year.

Other honorees include Dr. Molly Seal, the first female ophthalmologist in operation in Chattanooga; Dorothy Grisham, the first black female hired by Allstate in Tennessee, and Amy Walker, the CEO of Buy it Local, who created jobs for people through the creation of Enterprise South industrial park.

Walker became a successful businesswoman after coming to the United States alone as a teenager.

"The world can be a very dangerous place and it can be very hard for a single teenage girl in the world," she said. "When I look back at it, I am amazed I am even here."

The UnBought and UnBossed luncheon raises funds for Girls Inc. programs that equip girls to get an education and pursue career goals despite obstacles they may need to overcome. Under President and CEO Bea Lurie's leadership, 100 percent of Girls Inc.'s high school girls have gone on to higher education, officials said.

Luncheon organizers recognized high school senior Jasmine Pulliam, who was awarded a $20,000 Girls Inc. National Scholars Program scholarship.

Several honorees encouraged luncheon attendees to invest in Girls Inc.

"I am totally amazed at what Girls Inc. does for the community and for these girls," said honoree Darlene Boyd. "If you can do anything for Girls Inc. with your time, please donate to them. It changes lives."

Contact staff writer Yolanda Putman at yputman@timesfreepress.com or 757-6431.

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