|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
First Lady And Dr. Jill Biden Focus On
Military Families Matters
First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden met at the White
House today with Leadership 18, a coalition of national non-profit
chief executive officers, to discuss military family matters.
They were joined by Admiral Mike Mullen, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs
of Staff, his wife Deborah Mullen, Dr. Cliff Stanley, Undersecretary of
Defense for Personnel and Readiness, and other White House officials.
The First Lady and Dr. Biden have issued a national call to action to
address the unique challenges facing military families, build stronger
civilian-military community ties, and engages and highlights the service
and sacrifice of military families.
The meeting today provided an opportunity to discuss ways to build a
lasting national commitment to support and engage military families.
Leadership 18 is a coalition of the some of the country’s largest and
most well respected human development non-profit CEOs. Altogether, the
22 member organization serves more than 87 million people annually and
has more than 5.5 million staff and volunteers.
The coalition represents long established charities, faith-based
organizations, and nonprofits focusing on social and health issues
supporting and promoting the safety, health, well-being, social and
economic development of individuals and families.
 First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden
meet with Leadership 18 members in the State Dining Room of the White
House, May 25, 2010. (Official White House Photo by Samantha Appleton)
Leadership 18 attendees included: Peter Goldberg, Alliance for
Children and Families; Gail Mc Govern, American Red Cross; Roxanne
Spillett, Boys and Girls Club of America; Father Larry Snyder, Catholic
Charities USA; Kathy Cloninger, Girl Scouts of the USA; Judy
Vredenburgh, Girls Incorporated; Jim Gibbons, Goodwill Industries
International; Jill Schumann, Lutheran Services in America; Dr. David
Shern, Mental Health America; Stephen Bennett, United Cerebral Palsy;
Brian Gallagher, United Way Worldwide; Charles Gould, Volunteers of
America; Neil Nicoll, YMCA of the USA; and Lorraine Cole, YWCA USA.
Earlier this month during a speech at a summit hosted by the National
Military Family Association, the First Lady challenged every sector of
American society to mobilize and take action to support and engage
military families today and for decades to come.
During the May 12 speech the First Lady said, “One percent of
Americans may be fighting our wars, but we need 100 percent of Americans
to support them and their families. This has to be all hands on
deck.” The hope is that events like this one build a coalition to make
this a reality.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 Looks like there is a
Girl Scout Finalist in the Doodle 4 Google Contest! Her name is Indira and she is eight years old. Vote
for her here! She is Grade K-3, Region 4. Make sure you
Vote!!
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Marshall Girl Scouts make Nick news
Sarah Lambert • The Enquirer
• May 20, 2010
MARSHALL -- Local middle school students
will make their Nickelodeon channel debut this fall, thanks to the
efforts of two seventh-grade Girl Scouts.
About 100 kids were involved in shooting a
Nick News special on Wednesday at Marshall Middle School, said school
counselor Sally Nelson. Nelson coordinated the filming for students and
staff.
"We're very excited to have Nickelodeon come
here and we're proud of our students who were involved in this and made
this happen." Nelson said.
Best friends Maddie Rayner and Alena
Buczynski organized an anti-bullying week at their school last month as a
way to earn their Silver Award for the Girl Scouts. The week focused on
Massachusetts bullying victim Phoebe Prince, who killed herself after
weeks of being targeted at her school.
Rayner and Buczynski spent more than 50 hours
planning school announcements and events, which culminated in a
candlelight vigil for Prince on April 22.
The week and its message attracted local
politicians and media outlets. But the girls' work didn't end when the
week wound down.
Rayner and Buczynski were featured in the May
issue of People Magazine, said Maddie's mother, Beth Rayner. This may
be what drew the attention of the New York-based Lucky Duck Productions.
"Lucky Duck, which produces Nick News with
Linda Ellerbee, does research on topics to cover," said Nick
spokesperson Maria Poulos. "Right now, since they are just shooting,
they're in the very early stages of putting together the special."
Nick News producer Marty Toub and a small
crew arrived at the school library Wednesday morning to begin filming.
"We're kind of re-creating, but keeping it
real," Toub told Rayner and Buczynski, who were silent but composed as
they prepared for their first scene.
Children from the school re-enacted parts of
the anti-bullying week, including morning announcements, classroom
lessons and interpersonal interactions.
Rayner and Buczynski were at the center of
the day's activities, which ended in an interview at Rayner's house. The
girls' mothers, Beth Rayner and Laura Buczynski, watched nearby,
confessing that they hadn't slept the night before.
"I just am tremendously proud of both of
them," Beth Rayner said. "I've never seen anything to this extent with a
Girl Scout project or a school project or anything. I just am really
proud to be a part of it."
There is no planned premier date for the
special yet, Poulos said, but it should appear on the channel this fall.
 
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Ten Girl Scouts Honored as
2009 National Young Women of Distinction
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 13, 2010
CONTACT:
Shonda Prince
GSUSA
(212) 852-8534, sprince@girlscouts.org
Michelle Tompkins
GSUSA
(212) 852-5074, mtompkins@girlscouts.org
NEW YORK, N.Y.—Girl Scouts of the USA is
proud to announce its 2009 National Young Women of Distinction honorees.
Each of the ten young women has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award—the
highest award in Girl Scouting—and has been selected as a National
Young Woman of Distinction for demonstrating extraordinary leadership
in the completion of her community action project. The Girl Scout Gold
Award is earned by fewer than six percent of all Girl Scouts.
Each honoree spent one to two years on a community action
project that has had far-reaching effects in her community and beyond.
Among the honorees this year are authors, advocates, and
environmentalists with projects based in a wide range of locations—from
India, Africa, and China to neighborhoods in Louisiana and California.
The young women will be honored at a special awards ceremony
on February 27 during the Girl Scout National Corporate Leadership
Meeting in St. Louis.
"Earning the Young Women of Distinction designation is truly a
remarkable achievement, and these young women exemplify leadership in
all its forms," said Kathy
Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. "They
saw a need in their communities and around the world and took action.
Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership, is making
the world a better place."
We would like to thank the Ford Motor Company Fund and the
Kappa Delta Foundation for supporting the 2009 Young Women of
Distinction and helping us build girls of courage, confidence, and
character, who make the world a better place.
The 2009 National Young Women of
Distinction are:
 |
Hosanna, 17
Silver Sage Girl Scout Council
Twin Falls, Idaho
Originally from Fiji, Hosanna moved to the United
States following a coup d' état in her homeland. She founded 2-Way
Street to empower, enable and encourage refugee and at-risk immigrant
youth to develop a sense of community identity in the United
States. With the support of adult and student mentors, community
organizations, schools, and various agencies, youth participate in
service, educational and mentorship programs to foster civic
responsibility. 2-Way Street's motto is, "It takes all of us to do what
we are called to do." Hosanna and 2-Way Street motivate youth to reach
their full potential, providing a valuable asset to both youth and
their respective communities.
|
 |
Malia, 16
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
La Cañada, Calif.
After researching a high-traffic area where trucks were
repeatedly involved in collisions, Malia discovered that the California
Department of Transportation had erroneously noted that trucks were
not allowed on the route. Malia also learned that GPS devices were
directing trucks to the hazardous area and there were no road signs to
warn drivers of the impending steep mountain area. She advocated for a
law to ban trucks from the route by letter-writing, petition-signing,
public speaking, and testifying before the state legislature's
transportation committee. After her research, another truck accident
occurred—killing two people and injuring a dozen others. In August
2009, a law to ban trucks on Angeles Crest Highway was passed because
of her efforts.
|
 |
Angeles, 16
Caribe Girl Scout Council
Guaynabo, P.R.
An avid soccer player, Angeles created Clinicas de Soccer en
Juan Domingo, a sports program for children with limited resources in
an underserved community in Guaynabo, Puerto Rico. "My goal was to make
a difference in the lives of young people," she said. The program
involved the participation of parents, physical education teachers from
the local public schools, and donations from the private sector.
Students not only learned how to play soccer, but also Yoga and the
benefits of good nutrition. She has indeed made a difference in their
lives. Three talented students have been able to continue soccer
lessons in a private league and the soccer clinics are continuing to
provide services in the same place where Angeles first began her work.
|
 |
Shannon, 16
Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey
Basking Ridge, N.J.
SHARE—SHannon's After-school
Reading Exchange—was founded out of a desire
to empower girls in East Africa to reach their highest potential
through reading. Shannon noted that "collecting book donations and
renovating the SHARE classroom was relatively easy; the challenge was
convincing the mothers to allow their daughters to stay and read
afterschool—and not being immediately available to do the household
chores of collecting water, farming, and caring for siblings." So she
partnered with Community Solutions for Africa's Development (COSAD), an
international nonprofit, and in 2008, Shannon created the first SHARE
room in the Kiteyagwa Primary School in Bukoba, a rural village in
Tanzania. To date, SHARE, whose slogan is, "Today a reader, tomorrow a
leader," has expanded to three Tanzanian schools, helping approximately
150 girls improve their reading and English language skills.
|
 |
Maris, 17
Girl Scouts of Louisiana East
New Orleans, La.
Touched by the devastating effects of Hurricane Katrina,
Maris decided to contribute to the continuing revitalization efforts in
her hometown. Her project addressed the lost tree canopy in New
Orleans. She organized and led efforts to plant 26 caliper trees in New
Orleans East, a section of town north of the Intercoastal Waterway. It
was the first tree-planting mission of its kind in the area. Maris
partnered with Parkway Partners, a New Orleans-based group dedicated to
urban forestation. Her work not only beautified the area, but also
fostered awareness of the increasing need to replace trees in
post-Katrina New Orleans.
|
 |
Leah, 17
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest
Indiana
Chicago, Ill.
Project Laughter is a multimedia art form using theater,
video and reading to bring humor to hospitals and school programs in
and around Chicago. As creator of Project Laughter, Leah wrote an
original play—The Wonderful and Amazing Adventures of Princess
Clementine—and staged it with members of her school's theater
troupe. "The play is about the journey a young girl took to learn to
love herself and discover her place in the world," Leah said. She
created a DVD of her performances and then wrote, illustrated and
hand-bound the story of Princess Clementine. The DVD and book can be
used for educational purposes, lifting the spirits and opening the
minds of children throughout Chicago.
|
 |
Monisha, 17
Girl Scouts of Northern California
Cupertino, Calif.
Monisha's compassion for children with disabilities was the
motivation for the Indian Disability Center. "People who are visually
impaired in poor countries like India are often the most persecuted
and have the least chance of climbing out of poverty," she said. "The
odds are stacked against them from birth, as there is nothing to help
them gain an education, continuing the vicious cycle of poverty."
Monisha discovered that less than five percent of reading materials are
in an accessible format such as Braille or talking books. She
established a free learning center in the region of Chennai, India,
exclusively for people who are visually-impaired. At the center, they
can use assistive technologies to browse the Internet, access important
educational and informational materials, or simply check e-mails and
keep in touch with friends and family.
|
 |
Morgan, 17
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta
Atlanta, Ga.
Morgan wanted to help victims of abuse so she started both
the Victim Support Initiative, which provides 500 brochures filled with
helpful information for victims of abuse and are distributed by the
DeKalb Police Department's Special Victims Unit, and Change in a Bag,
which provides abuse victims a fresh change of clothing. Morgan also
founded Stronghold Atlanta to help women and children who are victims
of domestic violence. When people enter a hospital or shelter after
reporting abuse, their clothing is taken for evidence and they are given
a hospital gown to wear or offered clothing from a rummage closet.
Stronghold Atlanta provides new or gently used outfits for use by the
victims.
|
 |
Vivian, 16
Girl Scouts of Central Texas
Austin, Texas
Following a devastating earthquake in Sichuan, China, on
May 22, 2008, Vivian focused on the children affected by the disaster.
She created Adopt-a-Pal, with a goal of fostering fellowship between
American teens and Chinese children who lost their parents or were
disabled during the earthquake. She recruited American teenagers fluent
in Chinese to serve as pen pals with the Chinese children. She
prepared the volunteers to write letters to address the specific needs
of the children, and she sent them a 71-pound care package that
included high-quality backpacks, MP3 players, journals and school
supplies. The pen-pals continue to write to each other.
|
 |
Hanna, 18
Girl Scouts North-Central Alabama
Birmingham, Ala.
Hanna's personal struggle with dyslexia inspired
her to help others. She wrote an online book, Help for Hanna,
which chronicles Hanna's early experiences with the disability. "I hope
that my book helps many children receive the early intervention needed
to be successful in life." Hanna also wanted to provide parents with
the top signs and symptoms of dyslexia. "Dyslexia is often viewed as an
'invisible disability.' What's more, many school systems fail to
recognize dyslexia as a disability, preventing children from receiving
the help they need." Hanna's online book is a universal educational
tool for people of all ages.
|
Learn more about the highest awards in Girl Scouting.
About Girl Scouts
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the
USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls
with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the
leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of
courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States
and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls
and their classmates attending American or international schools
overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join,
volunteer, reconnect, or donate to Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U
(800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|