100 Local Teen Women Gain Hands-on Experience as Entrepreneurs.

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1998--Make a job! You don't have to take a job. That's one of the important messages local teen women heard today at the An Income of Her Own Conference, sponsored by the Prudential Foundation and presented by Independent Means Inc. The teens were introduced to the concepts of business ownership and met with local women entrepreneurs during a day of hands-on activities held at the Golden Gate Club, Presideo of San Francisco.

Joline Godfrey, president of Independent Means Inc. and founder of An Income of Her Own programs, focused on teaching the teen women how to take control of their own futures. "We recognize that teen women are economically at risk if they don't take steps to secure their own financial futures, and we're excited to make this opportunity available to the young women of San Francisco," said Godfrey. "We hope to encourage young women to become self-sufficient as adults by tapping into the vast possibilities presented by entrepreneurship."

The teen women came from local schools throughout the San Francisco region, including Hill Top High School, Gallileo High School, and Marina Middle School, to explore the opportunities and challenges of business ownership by talking with local entrepreneurs; developing new businesses and product ideas based on bits of "scraps;" and playing a board game which involves using the vocabulary, history and ethics of business ownership. They were guided through the day by 30 successful women business owners from the San Francisco region.

"We are continually impressed by the innovative ideas the teens generate during the conference," said George Dredden, a Program Officer for the Prudential Foundation. "They have an amazing entrepreneurial spirit that we want to encourage."

"We want teens to come away with three things: awareness that business ownership is an option, familiarity with the basic concepts and language of business and exposure to business women as role models. If teen girls know the options, they can make better choices," added Godfrey.

Some of the San Francisco-area women business owners who participated in the event included: Caroline Phillipi, Cut Loose; Lynn Gordon, Spark; Lucy Rodriguez, DIA Incorporated; Tyler Sack, Levi; Syndi Seid, Advanced Etiquette; Sandra Sohcot, Sohcot Consulting; Sheila Lewis, Just Business; Gayle Orr-Smith, Heiress Consulting; Mary Danford, Montana Peaks, Inc.; Jacquie Phelan, Wombots; Helynna Brooks, First Moon; Mary Lea Balsley, Too Hot To Handle; Jenai Lane, Respect, Inc.; Linda Pei, The Women's Equity Mutual Fund; Judi Clark, WomensWork; and Carol Malnick, Nelson Capital.

Independent Means Inc. (IMI) is the leading provider of economic empowerment programs and products for teen women. The company offers a full complement of games, books, activity kits and videos to foster economic education, as well as programs such as, An Income of Her Own Teen Entrepreneurship Conferences, Camp $tart-up, Trainings and the annual National Business Plan Competition. For further information or a copy of the 1998-1999 National Business Plan Competition, contact IMI at 126 Powers Ave., Santa Barbara, CA 93103 or call 1-800-350-1816. Visit the web site at www.IndependentMeans.com.

The Prudential Foundation, the philanthropic arm of The Prudential Insurance Company of America, makes grants to non-profit organizations focusing on three important categories of need - Ready to Learn, Ready to Work and Ready to Live, to help individuals and communities build the skills they need to be more productive and self-sufficient.