Girls in the Game, a Chicago-based nonprofit organization that provides sports and leadeship programs for girls, celebrates a decade of helping girls live healthier lives one of the country's most successful grassroots programs for girls' fitness and health

Celebrating successfully reaching more than 10,000 Chicago-area girls in the past 10 years, Girls in the Game, is planning a gala event on March 2 from 6-9 p.m., at the Hilton Chicago, 720 S. Michigan Ave.

The "The Power of 10" Gala, with honorary co-chairs Maggie Daley, Donna La Pietra and Christy Webber, celebrates the group's 10th anniversary. Event sponsors include AthletiCo, Boeing Company, LaSalle Bank and McCarthy, McSherry and Associates.

The extravaganza will honor 10 local and national champions who have helped get girls in the game. The honorees are:

* Diann Burns, veteran Chicago broadcaster and co-anchor of CBS 2 Chicago's 5 p.m., 6 p.m. and 10 p.m. newscasts.

* Megan Hull, an Illinois native, who successfully sued Brown University in Rhode Island over Title IX noncompliance.

* Nancy Lieberman, a pioneer in women's basketball, a Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame inductee and Olympian.

* Linda Mastandrea, a paralympic athlete, attorney and author.

* Jean Lenti Ponsetto, the DePaul University athletic director and a four-sport athlete at DePaul.

* Annabelle S. Volgman, M.D., FACC, Medical Director of the Heart Center for Women at the Rush University Medical Center

* Virginia McCaskey, owner of the Chicago Bears

* Debbie Witter, the mother of one of Girls in the Game's participants who has gone above and beyond to support her daughter and all girls and families that the organization serves

GIG will also pay tribute to the Chicago Park District and the Women's Sports Foundation for supporting GIG's efforts with resources including facilities, funding, materials and advocacy.

"With national youth obesity rates reaching alarming levels, and the fact that girls in Chicago are even more likely to be overweight or obese, communities need the kinds of programs Girls in the Game provides," said Amy Skeen, Girls in the Game executive director. "Compared to girls who seldom exercise, active girls are less likely to be overweight, start smoking and develop serious physical and mental health problems."

Girls in the Game (GIG) has a successful track record in Chicago of promoting sports and fitness opportunities, health education and leadership development to enhance the overall health and well being of all girls.

All funds raised at this event enable Girls in the Game to achieve its mission.

For ticket information, contact Kathi Seiden-Thomas, 1501 W. Randolph, Chicago, IL, 60607, kathi@girlsinthegame.org or www.girlsinthegame.org.