This week, the New York state Senate will present Penny Jennings with the 2008 New York State Woman of Distinction award. The award was created in 1998 to honor New York women whose personal achievements and/or acts of service were an example to others.

"Jennings, a single mom for many years, started A.C.T. Inc. - Adults Caring for Teens - in 2006 to provide mentoring to youth who had had a brush with the law, were in troubled at school or were at loose ends and needed a mentor and a role model."

A.C.T. currently provides mentoring to 26 boys and girls, and beginning July 1 it will provide services to 15 additional students. Jennings earned a master's degree in social policy, and is now pursuing a doctorate in law and policy. Source: The Journal News

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Labels: delinquents, mentoring, parental_involvement