Three dedicated Girl Scout Cadettes from Troop 608 have earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award—the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can achieve—for creating and delivering sensory kits to children experiencing medical emergencies across Charlotte and South Sarasota Counties.
Addison B., Emma V., and Brinley E. identified a critical gap in care: while sensory kits were available in shelters, EMS units, and hospital emergency rooms through the Southwest Florida Healthcare Coalition, they were not available in local free-standing emergency departments or walk-in clinics—facilities where many families first seek care.
Their Take Action project, “Sensory Kits for Kids in Distress,” provided nine fully stocked sensory kits to three free-standing emergency departments and six walk-in clinics serving their community.
A Solution That Meets Kids Where They Are
Medical settings can be overwhelming, especially for children with special needs. Through research and partnership with the Healthcare Coalition, the Girl Scouts developed kits filled with calming, tactile, and comfort-focused items designed to reduce anxiety and help children regulate during stressful medical events.
Each kit included an inventory list and refill guide to ensure long-term sustainability. When delivering the kits, the Cadettes educated facility leadership on how to use and restock them—ensuring their impact continues far beyond the award project.
Two facilities surveyed the program and rated its usefulness 10 out of 10, affirming the immediate value of the girls’ work.
The project was powered by girl-led community partnerships.
To fund the project, each Girl Scout secured business sponsorships and worked within a detailed budget they created themselves. The team partnered with the Southwest Florida Healthcare Coalition for supply guidance and assembly support and received space sponsorship from HCA Florida Fawcett Hospital to host their packing event.
Throughout the project, the girls strengthened skills in public speaking, budgeting, collaboration, sponsorship outreach, and community education—hallmarks of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
“Public speaking is difficult for me,” shared Addison, “but working with my team made it easier. I also loved doing something kind for others.”
Emma reflected, “Now when I see a child in a scary medical setting—especially a child with extra needs—I understand better and feel more helpful.”
Brinley added, “We built relationships with local businesses that want to work with us again. That made me proud.”
A Model for Broader Impact
Healthcare Coalitions operate in every state, and the team plans to share their project model so other communities can replicate it. By addressing the root cause—lack of child-focused sensory support in smaller medical facilities—their solution creates a lasting, scalable impact.
The Girl Scout Silver Award requires approximately 50 hours of leadership, planning, and Take Action work per girl. These Cadettes exceeded expectations, demonstrating courage, confidence, and character while making their community stronger.
Because when Girl Scouts see a problem, they don’t just help—they lead.
About the Girl Scout Silver Award The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8) can earn. It recognizes girls who identify a community issue, investigate its root cause, and create a sustainable Take Action solution that delivers measurable impact.
Local Girl Scout Julianne Arthur has sold 50,000 boxes of Cookies over 13 years.
Julianne (center) sold 50,000 Cookies over 13 years. From left to right: Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) Board President Juliana Meek, mom Christianne Payne Arthur, GSGCF Product Program Manager Jodi Miller, and GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Ambassador Julianne Arthur achieved a new council record officially selling her 50,000th box of Girl Scout Cookies on Saturday, Feb. 28th in Naples.
To total 50,000 boxes in 13 years, Julianne has sold an astonishing average of 3,846 boxes per year! For reference, the 2025 national per-girl average was 245 boxes.
Hitting a goal like this takes entrepreneurial grit and the consistent application of the five skills cultivated through the Cookie Program—goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics—all honed year after year through perseverance, confidence, and connection to community.
The 50,000th sale occurred at approximately 2:45 PM in front of the Publix Super Market at Pelican Bay in Naples.
In attendance were Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s Board President Juliana Meek, CEO Mary Anne Servian, Product Program Manager Jodi Miller, Service Unit Manager Kim White, and Julianne’s family — her mom Christianne Payne Arthur, her dad Doug Arthur, brother Samuel, and her grandparents Dianne and Griff Payne — who came out to support the milestone moment.
“Julianne’s dedication and leadership over the past 13 years are truly remarkable,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “When you support local girls, they not only grow personally but also strengthen their communities, just as Julianne has. Through the Cookie Program, girls learn to set goals, manage money, build relationships, and run a business with integrity. Julianne has mastered these skills and used them to create learning opportunities and make a meaningful impact right here in our community. That is why this accomplishment is so significant—for our local council and for Girl Scouting as a whole.”
In the same week, Julianne completed her Girl Scout Gold Award project, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. Her project, Enrichment Matters, addressed the lack of varied enrichment opportunities for small mammals and shorebirds undergoing rehabilitation at the Conservancy of Southwest Florida in Naples.
Julianne funded her project through proceeds earned during the Girl Scout Cookie Sale. Every dollar raised stays local, and Girl Scouts set individual goals for how they will use their earnings.
In previous years, Julianne’s Cookie proceeds helped her fund her Bronze Award and Silver Award projects, and even took her halfway across the world last summer when she embarked on a Girl Scouts Destinations trip to Japan!
In 2025, Julianne (second from left) and 10 other Girl Scouts embarked on a Girl Scout Destinations Trip to Japan, visiting the Arashiyama Bamboo Grove. For Julianne, the trip was funded entirelyby her Girl Scout Cookie sales.
Every year, her troop has donated hundreds of cases of Cookies to local veterans and to the Shelter for Abused Women and Children. Through the Gift of Caring and Hometown Heroes donation programs, customers can also contribute boxes that are distributed to organizations such as Soldiers’ Angels, military members overseas, and local hometown heroes including teachers, nurses, firefighters, pharmacists, doctors, and sheriff’s deputies.
Whether participating in educational programs, exploring new experiences and travel opportunities, or, like Julianne, funding impactful Take Action projects that benefit the community at large, every box sold directly supports the ambitions of local Girl Scouts.
Julianne in her Girl Scout Daisy uniform during her first cookie sale 13 years ago.Today, Julianne is a Girl Scout Ambassador. She has sold over 50,000 Cookies over the last 13 years to support local community service, educational experiences, and international travel.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is excited to celebrate Girl Scout Week 2026!
Beginning March 8 and continuing through March 14. This special week honors the birthday of our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, and celebrates 114 years of Girl Scouts making the world a better place.
Throughout the week, Girl Scouts across the country will come together to live the Girl Scout Promise and Law in meaningful ways. Here’s how we’re celebrating each day:
💚 Spirit Sunday – March 8
Do something kind in the spirit of Girl Scouts. Spread joy with a simple act of kindness—compliment a stranger or lend a hand to a neighbor.
💛 Affirmation Monday – March 9
Share a positive message with a friend. Start the week with good vibes by posting an uplifting quote, sending an encouraging text, or giving a compliment in person to brighten someone’s day.
💙 Troop Tuesday – March 10
Appreciate your awesome troop besties. Check in with a fellow Girl Scout and see how you can support each other this week. If you’re in cookie season, consider sending a “cheer” through Digital Cookie!
🌟 Wisdom Wednesday – March 11
Share a Girl Scout pro tip or life hack. From building new skills to life-changing discoveries, pass along something useful or meaningful you’ve learned through Girl Scouts.
🎉 National Girl Scout Day – March 12
Rock your favorite Girl Scout gear and celebrate proudly! Post a photo and tag @girlscouts, using #NationalGirlScoutDay and #BecauseOfGirlScouts to join the nationwide celebration.
🚀 Flash Forward Friday – March 13
Make your plans for a brighter future. Dream big and share a goal you’re excited about with a friend.
🤝 Service Saturday – March 14
Serve your community as a sisterhood. Volunteer locally or lend a helping hand to those in need.
Share Your Girl Scout Week
We encourage our GSGCF girls, volunteers, families, and alumnae to celebrate all week long! Share your Girl Scout Week experiences on social media by using #BecauseOfGirlScouts and #NationalGirlScoutDay, and tag @girlscouts so we can amplify your impact.
Don’t forget to snag your commemorative patch to celebrate Girl Scout Week 2026!
Here’s to 114 years of courage, confidence, and character—and to the bright future ahead for every Girl Scout in Gulfcoast Florida. 💚
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is marking the 100th anniversary of World Thinking Day, a global Girl Scout tradition that celebrates international friendship, cultural understanding, and girls’ leadership, with immersive events across Southwest Florida.
On Feb. 1, Girl Scouts will gather at Camp Caloosa in North Fort Myers for a vibrant international celebration featuring 139 registered participants, including girls and adult volunteers, representing 20 countries. The event will showcase cultural and educational displays, traditional foods, live performances, and a colorful parade of flags, providing strong visual storytelling and interview opportunities.
Founded in 1926, World Thinking Day is celebrated annually on Feb. 22 by Girl Scouts and Girl Guides in more than 150 countries around the world. The milestone anniversary marks a century of girls learning about global issues, building cross-cultural understanding, and recognizing their shared responsibility to make the world a better place.
“World Thinking Day reminds girls that they are part of something much bigger than themselves,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “For 100 years, this day has helped girls develop empathy, global awareness, and the confidence to lead — values that are just as important today as they were a century ago.”
The celebration at Camp Caloosa builds on an earlier World Thinking Day event held on Jan. 17 at GSGCF’s Camp Honi Hanta in Bradenton, where more than 50 Girl Scouts participated, representing five countries through hands-on cultural activities and educational exhibits.
The global celebrations coincide with Girl Scout Cookie Season, when girls put leadership and entrepreneurship skills into action. Cookie booths open Feb. 6 at 4 p.m., with proceeds supporting local Girl Scout programming, leadership development, and experiential learning opportunities like World Thinking Day.
Community members can find Girl Scout Cookies by texting “Cookies” to 59618 or visiting www.gsgcf.org.
Event Highlights Include:
Cultural and educational country displays
International food tastings
Live performances and traditional attire
Parade of flags representing participating nations
For more than twelve years, Zoe L. has lived the Girl Scout Promise through service, leadership, and a deep commitment to her community. That dedication has now been recognized beyond the Girl Scout Movement, as Zoe has been selected as the 2026 Spirit of Manatee – Young Spirit Award winner by the Manatee Community Foundation.
Girl Scout Zoe L. and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian wrap up filming at the Manatee Community Foundation for the 2026 Spirit of Manatee award video.
A resident of Lakewood Ranch, Zoe exemplifies what it means to lead with courage, compassion, and purpose. Her Girl Scout journey is marked not only by time and dedication, but by meaningful, lasting impact.
Leadership Through Girl Scouting
Zoe earned the Girl Scout Silver Award in 2022 by creating a Little Free Library at Summerfield Park, using materials donated by her and a fellow Girl Scout—funded through their own Cookie earnings. The project expanded access to books and encouraged literacy within the community.
In 2025, Zoe achieved the highest honor in Girl Scouting—the Girl Scout Gold Award—by designing and implementing a Beach Toy Borrow Bin on Holmes Beach. The sustainable project was created to reduce plastic waste and prevent beach debris from harming marine life, including sea turtles. Zoe personally funded the project and partnered with local organizations including Islanders 4 Clean Water, the City of Holmes Beach, the InWater Research Group, and Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
Zoe describes her Gold Award as her most life-changing work, requiring more than 80 hours of research, planning, and collaboration. Through the process, she developed leadership, organization, and problem-solving skills—and discovered a deeper passion for conservation that has inspired her to explore a future career in aquatic animal medicine.
Service Beyond the Troop
Zoe’s commitment to service extends well beyond Girl Scouts. She volunteers with South Florida Blood Cancer United and participates in her school’s Blood Drive Club. She has supported the Humane Society of Manatee County through kennel care, laundry assistance, and shelter improvements, and has volunteered with organizations including Manasota BUDS, Manatee Foster and Adoptive Services, All Faiths Food Bank, Magic of Mittens, TOP Soccer, and the American Cancer Society’s Making Strides Against Breast Cancer Walk.
At Lakewood Ranch High School, Zoe serves as a member of the National Honor Society and as President of the Junior Advisory Board, continuing to demonstrate leadership among her peers.
A Spirit of Service Recognized
The Spirit of Manatee Awards honor individuals who go above and beyond to strengthen Manatee County. Zoe’s selection as the 2026 Young Spirit Award winner reflects her extraordinary dedication to service, environmental stewardship, and community leadership.
From building access to books, to protecting beaches and marine life, to supporting vulnerable populations, Zoe’s work reflects the very best of Girl Scouting in action.
We are incredibly proud of Zoe Lander and look forward to celebrating her at the 20th Annual Spirit of Manatee event on March 25, 2026. Her story is a powerful reminder of what girls can accomplish when they are given the opportunity to lead—and when they choose to serve with heart and purpose.
Emily S., a member of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award by creating a project focused on supporting youth mental health through crochet.
Recognizing the challenges that young people face with anxiety, ADHD, and other mental health concerns, Emily designed a website offering free, accessible resources to help teens cope in a healthy, creative way. Drawing from her own experiences managing anxiety, ADHD, and OCD, she used her skills as a crocheter to develop tutorials for projects such as anxiety “blobs” and scrunchies, as well as short instructional videos on common crochet stitches. The site also provides information about the positive effects of crocheting on mental health, links to additional patterns, and encourages youth to create scrunchies to share within their schools and communities.
“My goal was to provide a fun and affordable outlet for young people to manage stress and anxiety,” said Emily. “Crochet gave me a way to feel calm and focused, and I wanted to share that with others who might be struggling but don’t have access to therapy or other resources.”
Emily shared her website with Girl Scout leaders, mental health professionals, theater instructors, and friends, using social media, emails, and in-person outreach. She also created videos and distributed scrunchies with tags linking to the site, allowing more youth to benefit from her project.
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the second-highest honor in Girl Scouting and recognizes girls in grades 6–12 who demonstrate leadership, initiative, and a commitment to making a lasting impact in their communities. Emily’s project exemplifies the Silver Award’s mission by addressing a critical need in her community and providing practical, meaningful solutions for youth mental health.
Alexis E., a Girl Scout Cadette from Troop 499, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. For her project, Alexis organized a team of volunteers to create recycled enrichment toys to help shelter dogs reduce stress, stay mentally engaged, and increase their chances of adoption.
The Silver Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, challenges scouts to take meaningful action in their communities.
Alexis was inspired by her own experience rescuing two shelter dogs. “I learned that dogs in animal shelters can suffer from stress, boredom, anxiety and destructive behaviors. Some dogs can be housed at shelters for a very long time before being adopted. These animals need enrichment activities like the ones that my team and I created to stimulate their minds and improve their mental health, which will make them happier, and therefore more likely to be adopted.”
Alexis identified a need for mental stimulation for dogs living in shelters, understanding that boredom and anxiety can impact their behavior and adoption potential. She partnered with Animal Welfare League of Port Charlotte and Fairytale Endings Rescue to research best practices for dog enrichment and design toys using recycled toilet paper and paper towel rolls stuffed with treats.
Through her leadership, Alexis organized volunteer workshops, purchased and collected supplies, and supervised the creation of 90 enrichment toys for the two shelters. She also provided step-by-step instructional flyers so community members can continue making toys, ensuring the project’s sustainability.
Reflecting on the experience, Alexis shared, “I discovered not to be discouraged by setbacks and to persevere… I had to be very persistent and try again.” She also emphasized the leadership and organizational skills she gained: “Another useful skill I learned was how to use leadership to delegate tasks… One of the most important skills I learned was to be persistent when problems came up. All of these skills will help me in the future in many ways.”
Alexis’s project demonstrates the Silver Award’s mission: empowering young women to take meaningful action in their communities while developing skills that will serve them throughout life. By combining creativity, persistence, and leadership, Alexis has created a sustainable project that will continue to benefit shelter dogs and inspire others to get involved.
Two dedicated Girl Scouts from Troop 224 have earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Adelyanna M. and Aubrie D. led a meaningful community service project titled “Girl Scouts Helping Foster Families,” demonstrating leadership, empathy, and initiative as members of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
The project began in October 2024, when the girls recognized a critical need in their community: foster children often enter care suddenly, with few personal items. Wanting to help kids their own age, Adelyanna and Aubrie met with the Safe Children Coalition in Sarasota to learn directly about the foster system, the challenges children face during emergency removals, and the gaps in available support.
Motivated by what they learned, the Girl Scouts took action. Over the course of the next 12 months, they assembled 20 toiletry bags for children entering foster care, thoughtfully stocked with essentials meant to offer comfort, dignity, and a sense of stability. To make an even greater impact, the girls used part of their Girl Scout cookie earnings to purchase additional supplies for the Safe Children Coalition’s Family Closet, ensuring families and children have practical items when they need them most.
Throughout the project, Adelyanna and Aubrie practiced key Bronze Award skills—project planning, teamwork, problem-solving, budgeting, and communication. They produced a video to raise awareness and share their message with families and peers, helping expand community understanding of the needs of foster youth. Their work created a tangible, direct impact for children experiencing one of the most difficult moments of their lives.
The girls also experienced personal growth. Their troop leader, Liz Mercado, shared, “I loved seeing them grow through this project and seeing them realize their blessings. My own daughter now wants to be a foster parent.” One of the greatest challenges the girls faced was learning to scale their project—they felt deeply moved to help even more children than their resources allowed.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award encourages Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4–5) to work together to address a community need, take action, and develop lasting leadership skills. Projects must demonstrate research, planning, measurable impact, and community connection—key steps toward becoming confident, compassionate leaders.
Adelyanna and Aubrie hope their project inspires others. Their advice to younger Girl Scouts preparing for their Bronze Award: “Find something that can help the community. Look for organizations in need of help and awareness.”
Their awareness video and message encourage others to support foster families and the organizations that serve them—helping ensure every child feels seen, supported, and cared for.
We’re excited to share some great news! Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida has received a generous grant from the Collier Community Foundation, making it possible for even more girls in Collier County to experience all that Girl Scouts has to offer.
This funding is especially important because it tackles some big challenges girls face today. The State of the Florida Girl Report shows that girls across the state are dealing with growing pressures related to their mental, emotional, academic, and physical wellbeing. Programs like Girl Scouts provide a safe, supportive space where girls can build confidence, explore their strengths, and try new things—helping them grow in all areas of life.
With this grant, local troops in Collier County will have the resources they need to participate fully in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE). That means uniforms, badges, troop supplies, program fees, and transportation to activities—everything that makes it possible for girls to be part of the fun, hands-on learning that Girl Scouts is known for.
Girl Scouts is about more than badges and outings. It’s about helping girls develop courage, resilience, and leadership skills while supporting their overall wellbeing. Whether they’re learning a new skill, working together on a team project, or discovering a passion they never knew they had, girls in Girl Scouts are growing academically, emotionally, mentally, and physically.
Thanks to the Collier Community Foundation, even more girls can experience the confidence-building, life-changing programs that Girl Scouts provides. We can’t wait to see the amazing things these girls will accomplish!
Want to learn more about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida? Visit www.gsgcf.org.
The Juniors of Girl Scout Troop 178 are showing the world what compassion in action looks like!
These amazing young leaders recently earned their Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior can achieve. Their project willenable the Animal Welfare League in Port Charlotte to kick off a new “Reading with Cats” program.
The Bronze Award challenges Girl Scouts to identify a meaningful community need, plan a thoughtful project, and take action—while developing leadership, teamwork, and problem-solving skills along the way. Troop 178’s project, “Pawfect Project,” did all of that and more.
The girls started their mission by raising awareness for homeless pets and collecting essential donations—including food, cat litter, towels, detergent, and more—during their trunk-or-treat event.
But Troop 178 didn’t stop there. They took their project to the next level by building bookshelves to support the shelter’s upcoming “Reading with Cats” program, a creative initiative designed to encourage young readers to practice literacy while spending time with adoptable cats. In doing so, the girls learned hands-on construction skills like measuring, sawing, assembling, and painting—practicing safety, precision, and teamwork every step of the way.
Through this project, the girls honed valuable life skills such as planning, communication, leadership, and project management, all while making a tangible difference in the lives of animals and children. Their efforts not only provided immediate support to the shelter, but they also created a lasting resource that will enrich the community for years to come.
A huge congratulations to the girls of Troop 178 for their creativity, generosity, and dedication! Their Bronze Award project is a shining example of how Girl Scouts put courage, confidence, and character into action, and we can’t wait to see how they continue to make the world a brighter place—one paw at a time
Service is at the heart of the Girl Scout experience — and this fall, Girl Scouts across Gulfcoast Florida have been busy making a difference for furry friends in need! From spreading hay to stocking donation shelves, these girls are showing how courage, confidence, and character can make a real impact in their communities.
Troop 499 Lends a Hand at Suncoast Humane Society
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Troop 499 rolled up their sleeves at the Suncoast Humane Society in Englewood, spending the day spreading hay along the shelter’s trails to help the animals and their visitors. After their hard work, the girls got a special treat — a “Happy Cappy” experience where they met the shelter’s resident capybaras! The girls learned about the care of these gentle animals while enjoying a fun, hands-on encounter that brought their day of service full circle.
Troop 178 Earns Bronze Award with “Pawfect Project”
In Charlotte County, Troop 178 of Englewood earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award, the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout (grades 4–5) can achieve, for their outstanding community service initiative called the “Pawfect Project.”
The troop identified a need at the Animal Welfare League of Charlotte County (AWL) and took action — collecting essential supplies such as pet food, cat litter, towels, and detergent to help the shelter care for animals awaiting their forever homes. They also added a creative twist by building a bookshelf for AWL’s “Reading with Cats” program, which encourages literacy by pairing young readers with feline friends in a cozy, confidence-boosting environment.
Girl Scout Donates Girl Scout BarkBoxes to Local Shelter
Meanwhile, Troop 678 in Port Charlotte contributed over 20 containers of dog food to the AWL, making the effort a true team achievement.
A special shout-out goes to Isabella O., who donated over a dozen limited-edition Girl Scout BarkBoxes during the Fall Product Program, Mags & Munchies. “It was the perfect way to help two causes with one purchase, and she was proud,” said troop leader and Isabella’s mom, Chrystal Ortiz. Fun fact: the Ortiz family recently adopted a shelter dog named Brownie, in honor of the Girl Scout level for grades 2–3!
The Mags & Munchies Fall Product Program helps Girl Scouts raise funds for troop service projects, adventures, and experiences while developing leadership skills such as goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. For the second year in a row, Girl Scouts partnered with BarkBox, offering themed boxes with custom dog toys, treats, and liners that can be purchased to support troops or donated to local animal shelters.
At Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we know that girls grow strong when they have great role models—and our friends at the Florida Gulf Coast University Kappa Delta Sorority are helping make that happen! 💚💛
Every semester, Girl Scouts and Kappa Delta members come together for a series of fun, hands-on events designed to build confidence, foster friendships, and inspire the next generation of strong female leaders. This fall, the sisters of Kappa Delta hosted three unforgettable events with our Girl Scouts—each one packed with creativity, laughter, and leadership in action.
👑 Royalty with Kappa Delta – September 6
The semester kicked off in royal fashion with Royalty with Kappa Delta, where girls arrived ready to embrace their inner queens. Scouts and sorority sisters spent the day crafting crowns, playing games, and learning that confidence isn’t about wearing a tiara—it’s about believing in yourself and lifting others up. Through this fun, empowering theme, girls practiced courage and kindness, discovering that every Girl Scout has the power to lead with heart.
⏱️ Minute to Win It – September 13
Next came Minute to Win It, a lively morning filled with fast-paced challenges and team spirit! Girl Scouts worked together—and with their college mentors—to complete silly and skillful games against the clock. From balancing acts to creative problem-solving, the event encouraged teamwork, perseverance, and positive risk-taking. Laughter filled the room as girls learned that success comes not just from winning, but from trying their best and cheering others on.
🍂 Giving Thanks with Kappa Delta and the Girl Scouts – October 18
The fall semester wrapped up with Giving Thanks with Kappa Delta and the Girl Scouts, a celebration of gratitude and community. Together, participants made thank-you crafts, reflected on what they were thankful for, and shared ways to give back to others. The event was a perfect reminder that leadership starts with kindness, empathy, and appreciation—values shared by both Kappa Delta and Girl Scouts.
A Partnership Rooted in Leadership and Sisterhood
The connection between Kappa Delta Sorority and Girl Scouts of the USA spans more than 25 years. Since 1998, Kappa Delta members nationwide have volunteered their time and talents to mentor Girl Scouts, lead confidence-building programs, and inspire girls to reach their full potential.
Locally, our collaboration with the FGCU Kappa Delta chapter brings this national mission to life, providing Girl Scouts with relatable college role models who exemplify leadership, service, and sisterhood. Each event reminds girls that confidence grows through connection—and that together, women of all ages can make the world a better place.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is proud to announce that Anna Sherman, a recent graduate at Florida Southwestern Collegiate High School, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
For her project, Athletic Zen: Building Mindfulness in Sports, Anna devoted 80 hours to creating resources that address the stress and pressure faced by student-athletes. Through a website, guidebook, and workshops, she provided mindfulness practices, journaling prompts, coloring pages, and videos to help athletes, coaches, and parents manage anxiety, strengthen focus, and build resilience. Her work ensures that student-athletes at her school and beyond have sustainable tools to support their mental well-being, including physical guidebooks now available in the school counselor’s office and a digital Canvas page for ongoing access.
The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes fewer than 6% of Girl Scouts annually and challenges young women to identify a community need, develop a sustainable solution, and demonstrate leadership while dedicating at least 80 hours to their project. Gold Award Girl Scouts stand out in college applications, earn scholarships, and gain recognition from institutions and organizations nationwide.
“Anna’s project shows how important it is to support mental health in athletics,” said Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Girl Scouts encourages girls to be friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, and to make the world a better place: it’s right in our Girl Scout Law. Anna’s Gold Award project exemplifies these values, and the resources she created will support students for years to come.”
According to the State of the Florida Girl Report, over half of Florida girls felt sad or hopeless for 2+ weeks in a row, and 1 in 4 seriously considered attempting suicide.
The report also found that in Girl Scouts, adult volunteers like troop leaders are proven to support overall positive mental health in girls. In fact, in a 2020 study focused on mental health support, girls cited their troop leader as the #1 source of positive mental health – above friends, family, and school.
With her Gold Award project, Anna has joined generations of Girl Scouts who have made sustainable change in their communities while exemplifying courage, confidence, and character.##
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida proudly welcomed home our nation’s heroes during Southwest Florida Honor Flight’s Mission XXIII at SRQ Airport on October 14 at 7 p.m. 💚✈️
Girls from across the council came together to line the terminal with American flags, handmade signs, and heartfelt smiles as they greeted returning veterans with cheers and gratitude. The girls eagerly shouted “Welcome home!” and “Thank you for your service!” as the veterans disembarked from their Honor Flight—a free, day-long trip to Washington, D.C. that allows them to visit the memorials dedicated to their service and sacrifice.
The Southwest Florida Honor Flight, part of the national Honor Flight Network, organizes these missions to honor veterans by giving them an unforgettable opportunity to reflect, remember, and be celebrated. Each flight is completely free for participants, covering all expenses including airfare, meals, and transportation. The program prioritizes terminally ill veterans and those who served in World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
For the Girl Scouts, participating in this homecoming wasn’t just about waving flags—it was about living the Girl Scout Promise and Law, showing respect, gratitude, and community spirit. Through experiences like this, girls learn the importance of patriotism, service, and connection across generations.
Events like the Honor Flight welcome-home celebration give girls a meaningful way to honor those who have served while reinforcing the values of citizenship, compassion, and leadership that Girl Scouts are known for.
Club leader Ava Williams earned the prestigious Girl Scout Gold Award
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida proudly celebrates Ava Williams, a senior at Gulf Coast High School in Naples, for earning the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting. Ava devoted over 80 hours to her project, Threads of Comfort, which focused on supporting children in need while fostering intergenerational community connections.
Through her project, Ava created a crochet and craft club that brought together Youth Haven teens and local older adults to make handmade blankets, stuffed animals, and other comfort items for children experiencing illness, trauma, or other challenging circumstances. The intergenerational club provided opportunities for participants to learn new skills, share experiences, and collaborate to create meaningful, lasting support for children in the community.
The intergenerational craft club crocheted blankets, hats, and stuffies for residents at Youth Haven SWFL.
Youth Heaven is Southwest Florida’s only emergency shelter for neglected, abused, and homeless children and teens. The stuffed comfort items the club created were donated to the shelter.
Ava also developed resources to ensure her project’s sustainability, including a guide for future club leaders on organizing crafts, sourcing materials, and facilitating meetings. She donated supplies and educational materials to Youth Haven, enabling the residents to continue the club’s activities and benefit from her program.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest and more honorable achievement in Girl Scouting, requiring leadership, planning, and a commitment to making a measurable difference in the community. Less than 6% of eligible Girl Scouts ever earn this prestigious award. Projects like Ava’s demonstrate the core mission of Girl Scouting: building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Ava’s accomplishment is an inspiring example of how the Girl Scout Gold Award empowers girls to address real-world issues, lead community projects, and leave a lasting legacy.
Stuffed animals, blankets, and hats crocheted by club members were donated to Youth Haven SWFL.
Thanks to the generosity of donors during the 2024 Giving Challenge, which was presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, Mackenzie was able to Be the One to show us how Girl Scouts transforms girls’ lives and supports mental health.
The One to Struggle Quietly
Mackenzie joined Girl Scouts when she was in the first grade, to make new friends.
The first time we met Mackenzie, she was just seven years old. A bright and imaginative first grader, she was always eager to try new things, but prone to nerves when asked to speak up during a troop meeting.
She also carried struggles that weren’t always visible: the restless grip of social anxiety, and the heaviness of depression that sometimes kept her at home weighed heavily on her at times.
Mackenzie shared that her struggles with mental health began when she was in the eighth grade. “I was constantly sad and anxious,” she said. “It was affecting my grades at school and my friendships.”
Her mental health struggles made it difficult for her to feel like she fit in.
“Being diagnosed with anxiety was hard,” Mackenzie shares. “There were days where I missed school and had trouble explaining to my friends why I was absent. It made me feel lonely at times.”
And sadly, the research shows that Mackenzie is not alone.
With the support of funds raised during the 2024 Giving Challenge, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) joined forces with other Florida councils to commission a groundbreaking study on the state of Florida girls’ emotional, mental, physical, and academic wellness.
The State of the Florida Girl Report shows that girls face worse outcomes in academics, health, safety, and especially mental health compared to boys. According to the report, nearly 50% of Florida girls report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and more than 1 in 4 experience poor mental health most of the time.
But thankfully, it also shows a way forward: youth programs designed specifically for girls, like Girl Scouts, dramatically improve outcomes across every area studied.
The One to Ask for Help
At Girl Scouts, our mission has always been to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. What we didn’t fully recognize was that while we were asking girls to change the world, the world wasn’t quite returning the favor. We knew we had to be the one to help girls thrive.
Many might ask: How did we get here? But at Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we ask: Where do we go from here?
We knew right away that we couldn’t make lasting change without help from others.
So, as part of our goal to better serve our members’ mental health needs, we joined forces with HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital to deliver relevant mental wellness programming.
We also partnered with NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) Sarasota and Manatee Counties and Children’s World for the 2024 Giving Challenge. Our main goal was to empower girls like Mackenzie with tools for mental health awareness, self-care, and resilience.
“Seeing organizations like NAMI and Girl Scouts come together during the Giving Challenge really made me realize how far we’ve come in support of mental health awareness. It gave me confidence that girls were going to be able to grow up having these organizations easily accessible to learn about mental health diseases and how to manage everyday life,” Mackenzie said.
The data shows why these programs matter, too. TheState of the Florida Girl Report revealed that structured mentalhealth programs significantly improve girls’ coping skills, reduce risk behaviors, and increase academic performance.
Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, put it this way: “Girls already have incredible strength and potential within them. Girl Scout programs simply give them the chance to discover it—by trying new things, building skills, and being surrounded by safe, supportive adults who believe in them. With the help of our community, we can continue providing these opportunities, tools, and resources so that girls like Mackenzie realize their power and use it to shape a brighter future.”
The One to Find Her Voice
Through Girl Scouts, Mackenzie participated in numerous troop and individual projects that made a positive impact on her community, learning the value of caring for others.
On March 28, 2024 Girl Scouts earned their Mental Wellness and First Aid badges at HCA.NAMI educators helped Girl Scouts discuss their feelings and learn positive coping skills. They also learned first aid with nurses, bandaged teddy bears, and toured the ER.
In March 2024, she discovered something even more personal: the importance of being the one to care for herself. During a Girl Scout badge workshop at HCA Florida Sarasota Doctors Hospital, she chose to work on the Finding My Voice badge.
At first, she was anxious to attend an event with so many unfamiliar faces. But the activities—breathing exercises, roleplays, naming emotions out loud—felt different from the usual school day. They gave her space and language for expressing feelings she was used to carrying in silence.
Later that spring, she laughed with friends while painting mandalas at the 2024 Giving Challenge Self-Care Fair event at Camp Honi Hanta. Girl Scouts hosted this workshop in collaboration with NAMI. Sunshine filtered through the cypress trees as a yoga instructor guided them in gentle stretches. Mackenzie didn’t realize it then, but she was one of the 78% of girls who walked away with greater emotional awareness after that day.
Girl Scouts attended our Self Care Fair on April 4, 2024.GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian with Girl Scouts at the fair.NAMI made presentations and even brought an emotional support dog, helping girls and their families learn all about mental wellness.
Mackenzie said that these activities really made her feel “understood and cared for.”
“Having a safe space to not only talk about my challenges but listen to other people’s challenges helped me to connect with girls I never thought I would. These were opportunities I would have never gotten if it hadn’t been for Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.”
By June, she was watching her troop leaders bring back skills from the Volunteer Celebration Wellness Training. At this event, we continued to partner with NAMI Sarasota and Manatee Counties to equip over 100 leaders with wellness tools to share directly with girls.
The One to Find Belonging
For Mackenzie, Girl Scout programs were more than dates on a calendar; they were living proof that adults cared enough to create spaces just for girls like her, where she was never “too much” or “not enough.”
Mackenzie (right side, white shirt) hiking with her Girl Scout troop as a child.
In Girl Scouts, she found a place where she truly belonged.
Even when her mental health struggles set her apart during summer camp, she said the troop never treated her differently: “I was worried about what other people were going to think, but they welcomed me with open arms.”
She said attending Girl Scout camp in high school was “the best time of my life.” Meeting new friends, working with supportive leaders, and enjoying low-ropes challenges and campfire songs, she said, “brought back my happy self.”
“Girl Scouts is the one place where I could go and feel free and uplifted,” she added. “Not only did I have my leaders to help me, but my fellow sisters in Girl Scouting were also a big part too. They listened and helped me through all my struggles.”
The One to Conquer the World
With the confidence skills she learned in Girl Scouts, Mackenzie traveled to New York City to represent Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida at the United Nations’ 67th Commission on the Status of Women. She stood among global changemakers, voicing the needs of girls who are too often left unheard.
Mackenzie (left) stands with fellow GSGCF Girl Scouts at the United Nations, representing Girl Scouts as a youth delegate.
“Representing Girl Scouts at the UN ‘s 67th Commission on the Status of Women is an experience I’ll never forget. Getting to meet and see world leaders come together to talk and make changes about issues directly affecting me was incredible.
And I got to be a part of that change too by writing statements to be sent over and giving a speech in front of a few hundred people. It gave me confidence that I was capable of doing anything I set my mind to,” she said. She also confessed, “A year prior I was having a panic attack about giving a presentation in front of my class and now I felt I could conquer the world.”
The One to Speak Up
When we unveiled The State of the Florida Girl report, Mackenzie stepped up to the podium inspired to raise her voice once again—this time not on an international stage, but in her own community. Before a crowd of leaders, politicians, reporters, and nonprofit directors, she spoke about her journey in Girl Scouts.
Mackenzie shares her story publicly at the unveiling of The State of the Florida Girl Report in July 2024.
She explained how the Mental Health Badge Workshop at HCA Sarasota Doctors Hospital, the 2024 Giving Challenge Self Care Fair, and other Girl Scout programs and supportive mentors helped her grow past the obstacles she faced with her mental health diagnosis.
Mackenzie said that being asked to stand beside Mary Anne Servian, Chief Girl Champion and CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, and tell her story made her feel exceptionally confident and proud. “I was so anxious about messing up… But I pushed through it and went on stage in front of all those people and spoke about my story.”
Afterwards, she said it was encouraging to hear from attendees that they were inspired by her story. “I had never been prouder of myself because I knew what I was doing was going to be the one to help change girls’ lives.”
Her words truly strengthened those who heard her story with resolve to Be the One to do better for our girls.
You Can Be the One to Help Girls Thrive
Our work advocating for girls’ wellbeing isn’t done.
Currently, our calendar includes increased programming for girls, with new, inclusive opportunities added every day. These programs help girls build mental health skills, boost confidence through self-defense and empowerment workshops, explore STEM subjects, express themselves through art and performance, and strengthen their confidence through physical activity.
The State of the Florida Girl Report is a deep dive into the challenges and successes confronted by the girls in our state and serves as a call to action to reinforce the critical need for safe, nurturing environments designed to support girls’ growth.
In 2026, we hope to release an updated version of TheState of the Florida Girl Report to track progress and continue refining our programs based on the evolving needs of girls across the state.
Our membership is steadily growing, and so is the need. As more girls join, the demand for uniforms, financial aid, and support for life-changing programs grows with them.
Mackenzie knows firsthand what it means to be supported. Her story shows that when girls are given chances to explore, earn badges, live their values, and be guided by mentors in a place where they truly belong, amazing things happen. They grow. They lead. They find their voice.
Today, Mackenzie serves on the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors. She’s no longer the girl quietly battling anxiety and loneliness—she’s a leader shaping programs for thousands of girls across the Gulf Coast.
Mackenzie wants her community to understand the impact Girl Scout programs have on helping girls thrive:
“It’s hard to go through these kinds of challenges on your own,” she said. “No kid should have to. I don’t know where I would be right now if it weren’t for Girl Scouts being the light in my life through one of my toughest times.”
This year, you can be part of that light. Be the one to support the upcoming 2026 Giving Challenge taking place April 15-16.
This year, you can #BeTheOne to help girls thrive.
The 2026 Giving Challenge is presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida took to the outdoors during the annual Girl Scouts Love State Parks weekend, hiking trails, exploring shorelines, and connecting with nature at local parks across the region.
From guided nature walks to hands-on conservation projects and self-guided adventures, girls met park rangers, discovered local wildlife, and earned the Girl Scouts Love State Parks patch by completing a series of activities. The weekend offered every Girl Scout a chance to learn about Florida’s natural treasures while making memories that will last a lifetime.
Participating parks included Collier-Seminole, Delnor-Wiggins Pass, Highlands Hammock, Koreshan, Myakka River, and Oscar Scherer State Parks. Activities ranged from mangrove talks and Junior Ranger programs to museum scavenger hunts and shoreline clean-ups.
See the photos below:
Local Troop 446 participated in a beach clean-up at Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park and earned the Junior Ranger patch.
Troop 420 took a nature walk with Ranger Rives at Koreshan State Park, also earning their Junior Ranger patch.
Annabelle from Troop 1001 visited Myakka River State Park, where she explored nature and dared to walk across the big rope bridge!
Girl Scout Cadette Olivia G. has earned the Girl Scout Silver Award—one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting—by designing a sustainable, measurable community awareness campaign on the urgent need for more foster homes in Florida.
Inspired by her own experience as an adoptee raised by her grandparents, Olivia felt a deep connection to the struggles faced by children in foster care.
Through research, she discovered that licensed foster homes in Sarasota, Manatee, and DeSoto counties have declined by 35% since COVID-19, leaving more than 1,400 children in need of foster placement without available homes. Determined to create lasting change, she developed an informative, visually engaging infographic to educate the public and inspire families to consider fostering—choosing a format that could be shared and reused for years to come.
Olivia partnered with the Venice Community Center, Laurel Park Community Center, and local information ambassadors at her church, including real estate agent Cherie Belcher, who committed to distributing the infographic to clients and community members. She also placed a copy in her Little Free Library outside her home—providing ongoing access to passersby—and launched a dedicated social media page and video series. Her videos have already gained hundreds of views, and community partners continue to share her infographic to keep the message circulating.
Olivia is monitoring foster care statistics in the tri-county area to see whether her efforts inspire new families to become licensed foster homes, giving her project measurable long-term impact.
To cover her expenses—including a Canva graphic design membership, copy paper, and ink—Olivia fundraised independently, proving that impactful advocacy can be self-funded and community-supported.
Her work not only spread vital information, but also strengthened her leadership skills. “I learned that when speaking about something you have passion for, people start to listen,” she said. “I learned that I can advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves.”
Olivia’s project leaves a lasting legacy of resources for her community and has prepared her to take on new leadership opportunities in high school, including joining the Debate Club and Democratic Club to continue advocating for children in need.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council has a membership of nearly 3,800 girls in grades K-12, and 1,900 adult members. GSGCF is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. The council is governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent the geographic, ethnic, and social demographics of the council’s jurisdiction. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.
At just 16 years old, Maddie Canty is making a life-saving impact in her community—and earning the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve.
The Englewood teen, a member of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award for her extraordinary leadership project, A Hope for Kittens. Her project focused on reducing kitten euthanasia in Sarasota County by combining public education, direct care, and local policy change.
“I realized too many kittens never get a chance,” said Maddie, a Girl Scout from Troop 138. “They’re euthanized simply for being too young, too sick, or not socialized. I wanted to help change that.”
Over 16 months, Maddie dedicated 219 leadership hours to designing and executing a comprehensive, life-saving initiative to protect vulnerable kittens and prevent unwanted litters. With support from Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, she partnered with the Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS), trained in Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) methods, and organized hands-on opportunities for the public to get involved.
Her results speak volumes:
She fostered and socialized abandoned kittens, helping prepare them for adoption.
She led 21 educational presentations at churches, civic clubs, summer camps, and Girl Scout troop meetings.
Successfully advocated for a City of Venice proclamation recognizing February 2025 as Spay/Neuter Awareness Month and designating a local World Spay Day. Her advocacy led to a collaboration with The Cat Depot, who sponsored a free Spay/Neuter Day on Tuesday, February 25, 2025 for personally-owned pets residing in Sarasota and Manatee Counties.
She produced and published 12 educational videos tied to national pet awareness days across YouTube and community platforms.
She mobilized 346 volunteers to visit EARS and help socialize adoptable kittens.
She earned her Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) certification so she can trap, neuter, and release feral cats in her own community.
Maddie also addressed financial and logistical barriers to adoption. She organized bake sales to fund adoption starter kits, which included food, litter, toys, a tote bag, and a $10 EARS gift card. She distributed over 40 kits to new pet parents who adopted cats from EARS during the duration of her project. Feedback Maddie collected from recipients showed that the kits made it easier for families to welcome new pets into their homes.
To ensure the project’s sustainability, Maddie recruited volunteers and identified a local supporter who now collects recyclables to fund future adoption kits.
“There are so many reasons kittens are euthanized—illness, being too young, or not being socialized enough to adopt,” said Maddie. “I wanted to give these animals a better chance by educating people and getting them involved.”
The Girl Scout Gold Award, earned by fewer than 6% of eligible Girl Scouts, challenges girls to identify a community issue, take the lead on a sustainable solution, and create measurable, lasting impact. The award challenges Girl Scouts to identify a meaningful issue, design a sustainable solution, and lead a team through an 80-hour project with measurable impact. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is currently supporting over 65 girls across the region as they pursue this prestigious achievement.
Maddie’s project embodies the values of Girl Scouts: courage, confidence, and character in service of a better world.
“This project taught me that I can reach big goals,” Maddie reflected. “And that people are willing to help once they understand how they can make a difference.”
[Fort Myers, FL] — Morgan S., a local Girl Scout Cadette, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award for creating and implementing a brain wellness program for seniors—an initiative that’s already making a lasting difference in her community.
The Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette, in grades 6–8, can earn. To achieve it, girls must identify a community issue, research potential solutions, build a team, plan and carry out a project that addresses the root cause, and ensure their work has sustainable impact. Each project must total a minimum of 50 hours of individual effort.
For Morgan, the issue was deeply personal.
Inspired by time spent with her grandfather at The Palms senior center, Morgan launched a wellness initiative to help residents strengthen their memory, cognition, and mental resilience.
“I planned activities and games that were fun, hands-on, targeted the 5 senses, and designed to keep the brain active,” she said. “By sharing tips, engaging the seniors, and encouraging healthy mental habits, I helped raise awareness about how daily choices can lower dementia risks.”
In addition to presenting information about nutrition, sleep, hydration, and social engagement, she created an easy-to-use “brain health box” that included all the materials and instructions seniors or staff would need to continue the activities well after the program ended.
Morgan also designed an educational poster display on brain health to remain on-site at the center, and shared highlights of her project online through her mother’s Facebook page—where it quickly garnered support from friends, family, and community members.
Morgan completed the entire project independently—from research and planning to outreach, supply shopping, workshop facilitation, and final reporting. The experience, she says, gave her invaluable real-world skills.
“I discovered that I truly can do what I want if I put my mind to it,” she reflected. “Whether it’s consistent planning or speaking up in front of people, getting over constant fears and reaching my goals was extremely satisfying in the end.”
Now part of a proud tradition of Silver Award Girl Scouts, Morgan hopes her project will continue to spark awareness about brain health while encouraging others to take action in their own communities.
To learn more about the Girl Scout Silver Award and how girls can create sustainable change in their own communities, visit www.gsgcf.org.
Girl Scout Gold Award recipient Zoe Lander stands beside the beach toy borrow bin she constructed to reduce beach pollution. The bin is located at Holmes Beach 68th Street Beach Access. (Aug. 5, 2025, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida).
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve. This prestigious award is earned through the creation and completion of a sustainable, measurable Take Action project that addresses an issue the Girl Scout is passionate about. Each project requires a minimum of 80 hours of work, typically completed over the course of three months to a year. To earn the award, the Girl Scout identifies a community issue, conducts research, develops and implements a solution, and measures the project’s impact. Finally, she shares her project with the broader community to educate and inspire others to take action.
Girl Scout Zoe Lander of Manatee County identified beach pollution as a pressing issue in her community and set out to make a difference.
“For my Gold Award I created a Beach Toy Borrow Bin, where anyone can leave or take toys. The bin is located on Holmes Beach at 68th street beach access. The main idea for this was so that travelers wouldn’t leave plastics on the beach when they can’t fly home with toys as well as allowing for toys to be played with again rather than thrown away.”
Girl Scout Ambassador Zoe Lander worked with the City of Holmes Beach to place a beach toy borrow bin at the 68th Street Beach Access, which she constructed by hand, to help fight beach pollution(Aug. 5, 2025, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida).
“This not only reduces pollution, but it prevents sea turtles from getting stuck when going to the water after hatching, or any animals from eating plastics.”
According to the Sea Turtle Preservation Society, beach toys can block nesting turtles, hinder hatchlings from reaching the ocean, become entangled or ingested by sea turtles, leading to injury or death.
According to the Environment Florida Research & Policy Center, 58% of Florida beaches tested last year had at least one day when bacteria levels exceeded the EPA’s safe swimming standard. Florida’s most contaminated beach was in Manatee County.
One possible contributor to bacterial contamination on beaches is plastic toys. Studies have shown that these toys can actually become breeding grounds for bacteria when left behind in the sand or water. Not only can that pose a risk to people enjoying the beach — it can also affect marine life like sea turtles.
“In order to create my bin, I had many people help me research locations, materials, and building plans. This research was very essential to finding locations that are heavily used so the bin could be successful. Researching also led me to use wood and flex seal paint to create the box, allowing it to be weatherproof.”
Zoe’s Beach Toy Borrow Bin is a shining example of how one Girl Scout’s vision and dedication can lead to meaningful environmental change. By addressing a local issue with global implications, Zoe not only helped reduce plastic waste and protect vulnerable sea turtle populations, but also educated her community about sustainable practices. Her Gold Award project demonstrates the power of youth-led solutions and serves as an inspiration for others to take small, impactful steps toward a cleaner, safer planet—for beachgoers, marine life, and future generations alike.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Zoe Lander constructed a beach toy borrow bin by hand in order to reduce beach pollution and save sea turtles (Aug. 5, 2025, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida).
Girls Scouts Mary, Juliana, Lizzy and Alisa from Troop 328 earned the Girl Scout Bronze Award by advocating for animal welfare and creating a garden space at Shy Wolf Sanctuary.
A group of young Girl Scouts in Naples is taking a stand for misunderstood wildlife—and earning one of the organization’s highest honors in the process.
Girl Scout Juniors from Troop 328, who call themselves the “Wolf Pack,” are working toward their Bronze Award by partnering with Shy Wolf Sanctuary, a local nonprofit that rescues and rehabilitates wolves, wolfdogs, and other exotic animals. The Bronze Award is the highest award a Girl Scout Junior (grades 4–5) can earn, and it requires a minimum of 20 hours spent planning and executing a project that addresses a root cause of a community issue.
For their project, the girls are focused on dispelling common myths about wolves and raising awareness about the challenges they face due to habitat loss, pet abandonment, and illegal breeding. Their efforts included creating a community education display board titled “Wolves are Vital, Not Villains,” which is currently on view at the Naples Regional Library on Central Avenue. The display is expected to rotate through additional Collier County library branches in the coming months.
“I learned that wild animals need our help,” said sixth-grader Juliana G. “I also discovered the underlying reasons behind these issues, like the illegal wildlife trade.”
“My favorite part was when we made mosaic stepping stones. I learned cement skills! That’s so cool,” Lizzy said. “I learned how to collaborate better with others, and I learned how to use Google apps to stay organized.”
“This project means a lot to me,” said Alisa J. “I loved seeing the animals at Shy Wolf and I really hope that our Bronze Award Project can help them.” She also added that she learned a lot about teamwork and how to collaborate with others, and is excited to lead more projects in the future.
Mary said her favorite part was painting the flower boxes and planting the seeds. “I learned how to take notes at our meetings, as the secretary.”
In addition to the awareness campaign, the troop is volunteering on-site at Shy Wolf Sanctuary. They organized a stuffed animal drive to provide comfort items to the animals. Additionally, they are improving a garden area, designing mosaic stepping stones, and planting flowers.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award is designed to help girls develop leadership skills, explore community issues, and create sustainable solutions. More than a service project, it asks girls to identify root causes of a problem, build a team, connect with community partners, and make a lasting impact. Earning the Bronze Award empowers girls to see themselves as capable leaders and changemakers—even at a young age.
Girl Scout Juniors Alisa, Juliana, Lizzy, and Mary—will cap off their efforts with an educational session for the wider Girl Scout community later this summer, further expanding the project’s reach and sustainability.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council has a membership of over 3,800 girls in grades K-12, and more than 1,500 adult members. GSGCF is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. The council is governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent the geographic, ethnic, and social demographics of the council’s jurisdiction. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.
Girl Scout Daisies and Brownies learn about civics and voting. (Girl Scouts of the USA)
[Sarasota, FL]—Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is preparing incoming Daisies (rising kindergarteners and first graders in fall 2025) for the upcoming school year with the new, exclusive Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program. The Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program, open now until June 30, will help current pre-K and kindergarten girls who are new to Girl Scouting kick off their summer with fun and adventures while gaining new friendships. Girls will grow their confidence, use their imagination and build skills they can take into the next school year. Through this special program, girls will receive three skill-building activity books, shipped directly to them from June through August 2025, unlocking a world of possibilities.
These school-readiness activity books, available in English and Spanish, will help prepare girls for kindergarten and first grade through fun, character-building Girl Scout activities. The Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program emphasizes important skills such as motor skills, communication, critical thinking, emotional regulation and more through imaginative play, puzzles and teamwork activities.
“At Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we believe confidence starts early—and that strong partnerships with local schools are key to the success of our Movement” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of GSGCF. “The Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program offers a joyful, hands-on introduction to learning that helps our youngest girls feel prepared for school and excited for what’s ahead. It lays the foundation for a lifelong love of discovery, friendship, and courage that continues throughout their Girl Scout journey.”
By signing up for the Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program, girls will receive a Girl Scout membership through September 30, 2026; 18 months of membership for what you’d normally pay for just one year, at no additional cost. As Girl Scouts, girls can choose from a variety of activities, surround themselves with supportive peers, and engage with mentoring adults. For more information on the Get Ready with Girl Scouts™ program, visit girlscouts.org/getready. To learn more, join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) honored 413 Girl Scouts with 576 awards during the 2025 Young Women of Distinction Ceremony on May 18 at the Charlotte Harbor Event and Conference Center in Punta Gorda. Awards recognized achievements in leadership, service, faith, academics, and entrepreneurship.
Gold Award alum and World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts Board Director Laura Robert-Rivera delivered the keynote, encouraging girls to stay involved and recognize the pivotal moments that shape them.
This year, GSGCF honored six Girl Scouts who earned the prestigious Gold Award—the highest achievement in Girl Scouting—recognizing extraordinary leadership and sustainable community impact. “The Gold Award is truly the mark of the remarkable,” said GSGCF CEO Mary Anne Servian. “We are here today to celebrate young women who have turned their passions into purpose through this prestigious achievement.”
Krysta Fowler (North Port): Built 26 bat habitats and launched a multi-county conservation campaign.
Olivia Trader (Cape Coral): Created a campus safety guide and led self-defense classes.
Victoria Morton (Port Charlotte): Established a pet food pantry and published resource guides.
Reagan Graham (Sarasota): Distributed 2,000+ pairs of socks and founded a permanent sock closet.
Harley Cross: Launched a 24/7 anonymous food pantry to combat hunger with dignity.
Dakota Partelow: Renovated a room at Valerie’s House and provided sustainable resources for youth mental health and bereavement support.
The event also celebrated 11 Silver Awards, the highest award a Girl Scout Cadette can earn, and 74 Bronze Awards, the highest award a Girl Scout Junior can earn
65 Journey Summit Awards, and 77 Religious Recognitions. 31 girls received 10-Year Membership Pins, and 29 graduating seniors earned Bridge to Adult certificates.
244 Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneurs were recognized for selling more than 1,000 boxes of cookies. Among them, 47 sold 1,500+ boxes, 29 sold over 2,000, seven exceeded 3,000, three surpassed 4,000, seven hit 5,000, and one exceptional Girl Scout, Grace Pabalan, reached a new council record of 8,060 boxes sold in a single season.
In total, GSGCF Girl Scouts sold over one million boxes of cookies this year and donated more than 41,000 boxes through the Gift of Caring program. A special Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented to Olivia Trader, who has sold over 50,000 boxes of Cookies during her 13-year Girl Scout journey.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on new challenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council has a membership of nearly 3,500 girls in grades K-12, and more than 1,500 adult members. GSGCF is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. The council is governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent the geographic, ethnic, and social demographics of the council’s jurisdiction. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.
The girls wanted to help NICU families by donating Girl Scout Cookies to the hospital.What’s more special than NICU babies? Two Girl Scouts who were once NICU babies themselves, returning with arms full of cookies and hearts full of gratitude.
Isabella and Cheyenne, members of Girl Scout Troop 670 from Punta Gorda and students at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic School in Port Charlotte, recently delivered boxes of Girl Scout cookies to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Sarasota Memorial Hospital. The donation was part of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s Gift of Caring program, which allows community members to purchase Girl Scout Cookies for donation to local heroes and those in need.
Isabella was born at Sarasota Memorial in 2018, weighing just 1 lb. 10 oz. at 27 weeks. Cheyenne was born at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers in 2017, at 35 weeks and weighing 3 lbs. 13 oz. Now sisters in scouting—a Daisy and a Brownie—the two girls are giving back to the same kind of medical staff and families who once cared for them.
“After much thought and consideration, we couldn’t think of a better donation for these two girls to make, than to a NICU,” said troop volunteer Chrystal Ortiz. “What a way to give back to those who continue to care and nurture these babies, like they were both cared for.”
“The life of NICU parents and their families, can be a long and rough journey filled with heartbreak and setbacks,” she added. “Maybe these cookies will bring comfort to parents sitting there day after day, hour after hour, listening to the beeps of machines.”
In 2025, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida donated 41,587 packages of cookies through Gift of Caring, bringing smiles and encouragement to frontline workers and deployed military members alike. Girl Scouts are hand-delivering donations across the council footprint in Sarasota, Manatee, and Lee counties, and beyond.
Before leaving Sarasota Memorial, Isabella and Cheyenne visited the hospital chapel to pray for the babies, families, and staff in the NICU. Their gesture served as a heartfelt thank-you to the medical professionals who provide critical care to the tiniest patients and hope to their families.
Troop 670 donated their Gift of Caring Cookies to Sarasota Memorial Hospital’s NICU.
Isabella was born at Sarasota Memorial in 2018, weighing just 1 lb. 10 oz. at 27 weeks. Cheyenne was born at Golisano Children’s Hospital in Fort Myers in 2017, at 35 weeks and weighing 3 lbs. 13 oz.
Kaylee Jones, a 17-year-old Girl Scout from the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, is on the verge of making history. As she works toward earning her prestigious Gold Award, the bill she has spent nearly two years advocating for—Florida Senate Bill 1690—is set to be signed into law by Governor Ron DeSantis.
The bill expands the use of Safe Haven Baby Boxes across Florida. These secure, temperature-controlled boxes are installed at designated fire stations and hospitals, providing a safe, anonymous way for parents in crisis to surrender their newborns without fear, shame, or legal repercussions.
For Kaylee, this mission is rooted in her own life story as a child who was adopted.
“I know first-hand that not all moms, and especially teenage moms, always have a plan for after the birth of their child. “I was inspired to work on this project due to my past. My birth parents were 16 years old and did not have supportive families,” she said.
Her birth father tried to care for her during the first two months of her life, but ultimately made the difficult decision to place her for adoption, giving her a second chance.
“I am so thankful that I was not illegally abandoned, and this strengthens my desire to help prevent baby abandonment deaths,” she shared.
Her Gold Award project combines public education and legislative advocacy to raise awareness about the benefits of Safe Haven Baby Boxes and increase their availability in Florida communities.
“Women in a crisis pregnancy situation will now have a completely anonymous option to surrender their infant. It is my hope that offering these baby boxes will help eliminate baby abandonments. Using these baby boxes will provide the mother an opportunity with no shame, no blame, and no name.”
She is hopeful the new law will reassure moms in crisis that their babies can be safely and lovingly placed for adoption, without fear of legal repercussions for the birth parents.
She credits much of her confidence and communication skills to her 11 years in Girl Scouts.
“Ever since I started Girl Scouts 12 years ago, I have greatly improved my skills in public speaking and how to get into contact with important people. Doing cookie booths helped me learn how to communicate with people and how to organize my time. Cookie booths taught me to shoot for the sky with my goals, and I’ve carried that over to my Gold Award.”
Throughout her advocacy journey, Kaylee met with lawmakers, collaborated with nonprofits, and educated the public on the need for safe, legal alternatives for surrendering infants. Her work helped garner support for SB 1690, which she believes will help save lives.
“I have learned a lot about the political and legal process and that it is hard to get everyone to agree on an issue even if it will benefit the citizens. Working on this project for nearly two years has taught me you need to persevere and be determined to get the results you want. I have met several politicians and other people who were able to help make a big impact and help the bill get passed.”
Kaylee’s work is not done. Now that the legislative arm of her project is complete, she is turning her focus to serving moms in her own local community by working with the Fort Myers Fire Department and Safe Haven Baby Box to install a box right here in Fort Myers.
“These baby boxes are installed due to public interest. All you need to do is contact Safe Haven Baby Box and ask how to begin the process. They will walk you through how to contact fire stations and find one that is open to having a baby box installed. Once there is a contract in place, then they need to help find a contractor and an alarm system to install the baby box. Once there is a contract, fundraising can begin.”
She also shared a heartfelt message for mothers facing difficult decisions.
“I want mothers in crisis to know they don’t have to do this alone. They can call the hotline and talk to someone about what they are going through. They will be informed of their options, receive emotional support and get help to make the best decision for them and their baby. There should be no shame, no blame and no name. The choice to safely surrender your infant may be hard, but sometimes the best choices are the hardest ones to make.”
Based on recent research published in The State of the Florida Girl Report, we know that when girls succeed, communities thrive. That’s why we’re thrilled to celebrate the amazing businesses that joined our Cookie Business Partner Program this spring! 🍪
Through this program, local businesses stepped up to support 93 Girl Scouts across the Gulf Coast by purchasing over 12,000 boxes of cookies—giving these young entrepreneurs the boost they need to power a year full of adventure, leadership, and skill-building.
More Than Just Cookies—Fueling Girl Scouts’ Dreams
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is the largest girl-led entrepreneurship program in the world. It teaches girls essential skills like goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. But it’s so much more than just selling cookies—it’s about building confidence, independence, and leadership.
Thanks to the support of these incredible businesses, Girl Scouts in our community will embark on camping trips, outdoor adventures like swimming and kayaking, art projects, STEM activities, and service projects that give back to their communities. Their future is bright, and it all starts with a box of cookies!
A Special Thank You to Our Cookie Business Partners
We are incredibly grateful to the 185 businesses that believe in the power of girls and have stepped up to invest in the next generation of leaders and changemakers.
A special thank you goes to the following businesses that supported our Girl Scouts by purchasing 16 or more cases of Cookies, including:
Coastline Engraving Company
Acura of Naples
American Legion Post 113
Boaters Landing, Inc. of Fort Myers
Callaghan’s Best One Tire & Service
Carlos A. Gutierrez P.A.
Castlerock Benefits
Cha Time
Crafty Counseling
Creative Events and Rentals
Falcon Tire Center
Fresh Take Solutions
Harllee & Bald PA
Lakehouse
Lansdowne Street LLC
Lodgco Hospitality
Mike’s Auto Body and Paint Inc.
Millennium Physicians Group (David J. Knudtson MD, FACP)
Mowers Inc.
National Window Co.
Once Upon A Child
Roman’s Submission School
Shea’s Lansdowne Street LLC
Statement Jewelers
Taylor Carpet One
The GOAT Plumbing
The Paper Merchant
The Sandbar & Grille
The UPS Store 262689
Truax Downtown Dental
Uncle Ricco’s Pizza
Woods Weidenmiller Michetti & Rudnick
Cape Coral Title
Cemex Inc.
Phil’s Site Prep Inc.
VFW Auxiliary 702
Jersey Girl Bagels
Coconut Point Honda
Freedom Jet Ski Rental
Music Go Round
Palm Pointe Dentistry
Sunset Cadillac of Bradenton
Ryder Bikes
Fraternal Order of Eagles
Kia of Port Charlotte
Sons of the American Legion Post 103
Express Employment Professionals
Barefoot Trader Inc.
FineMark National Bank & Trust
Floorz
Footnotes Dance and Music
Gail’s Family Hair Styling
Germain Lexus of Naples
Good Works
Lexus of Naples
Lou’s Total Car Care
Making Math Add Up
Only the Beginning
Paco’s Tacos
Palm Island Resort
Sanibel Air & Electric
The Chop Shop
The Golf & Casual Shop
The Postal Place Pack & Ship
E & T Maintenance & Repair LLC
Footnotes Dance & Music Studio
Kikes Transport LLC
Hendrick Honda Bradenton
IL Primo Pizza & Wings
Naples Nissan
Anthony’s Cooling Heating and Electrical
Cox Chevrolet
Gavin’s Ace Hardware
Landes Emergency Training Services
Nissan of Bradenton
USA Fence
American Legion – DN McQueen Post 103
Hyperfiber
Callender Tree Service LLC
Dazzle Me Productions LLC
Grout Shield Distributors
Law Office of Marc L. Shapiro
Legendz Barbershop
Retallick Financial Group
Elite Pain Care
Push Unique Serving Hands LLC
Smitty’s
Kid to Kid (Fort Myers)
Southern Precision Cleaning LLC
DLS Construction Inc.
Rotonda VFW Post 10476
Annie’s Restaurant
Sign Your Business Up to Support Girl Scouts
If you are interested in participating in the Girl Scout Cookie Business Partner Program please email customercare@gsgcf.org.
A group of Junior Scouts and volunteers standing on a white bridge together A group of Junior Scouts and volunteers standing on a white bridge together
Volunteers are the heart and soul of the Girl Scouts, dedicating their time, energy, and passion to empower young girls across Florida. Their unwavering commitment not only enriches the lives of individual scouts but also strengthens our communities as a whole.
The Impact of Volunteers
Girl Scout volunteers wear many hats—they are mentors, educators, confidants, and role models. Through their guidance, girls learn invaluable skills, from leadership and teamwork to problem-solving and community service. Volunteers create safe and nurturing environments where girls can explore their interests, build confidence, and develop resilience.
Insights from the State of the Florida Girl Report
The recent State of the Florida Girl Report sheds light on the challenges faced by young girls in our state and underscores the vital role volunteers play in addressing these issues:
Alarmingly, 52% of high school girls reported feeling sad or hopeless for two or more weeks in a row, reflecting a 40% increase in depression over the past decade.
1 in 4 girls seriously considered attempting suicide, showing a troubling rise of more than 60% in the last 10 years.
1 in 8 girls miss school due to feeling unsafe
Girls are 1.5 times more likely than boys to stay home after experiencing bullying.
The State of the Florida Girl Report also confirms something we already knew—Girl Scout volunteers are changing and saving girls’ lives. One girl surveyed said, “My troop leader saved my life.”
Some other heartwarming facts from the report:
89% of Girl Scouts in Florida report that their troop leader “cares about me as a person.”
84% describe that their troop leader “makes me feel important.”
Donating time to build positive relationships with girls is perhaps the most simple, yet effective, way to sew more systems of support into our communities for girls.
These statistics highlight the pressing need for positive adult influences in the lives of young girls. Volunteers provide the support and encouragement necessary to navigate these challenges, fostering environments where girls feel safe, valued, and capable.
A Call to Action
In light of these findings, the importance of volunteering with the Girl Scouts has never been more evident. Whether you can give a few hours, a few weeks, or a few months, your involvement can make an incredible impact on the life of every girl.
By becoming a volunteer, you contribute to building a community where every girl is celebrated and valued.
If you’re inspired to make a positive change and support the next generation of female leaders, consider volunteering with the Girl Scouts. Your unique skills and experiences can help Girl Scouts dream big, explore new interests, and spark their imaginations.
Together, we can create a brighter future for all girls in Florida.
At Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we believe in the power of community and giving back. That’s why we’re asking our members, volunteers, and supporters to take action and help us advocate for the Charitable Act (H.R.801/S.317). This bipartisan legislation will create a non-itemized, universal charitable deduction, empowering taxpayers to give back to their communities—something we know is vital to strengthening the programs and initiatives that make a difference in the lives of so many, including our own Girl Scouts.
Why is the Charitable Act Important?
This bill will help millions of Americans continue to give back to causes they care about. The Universal Charitable Deduction (also known as the Non-Itemizer Deduction) allows individuals and couples to donate to charity and claim a deduction, even if they don’t itemize their taxes. This helps us keep the momentum going in charitable giving, which has shown a proven increase in donations—especially from those with adjusted gross income of less than $30,000.
For Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, individual donations are critical to the success of our programming, providing resources and support for our 6,200 Girl Scout members. Nationally, Girl Scouts have reported incredible outcomes:
90% of Florida Girl Scouts say Girl Scouts gives them a sense of belonging.
99% of Girl Scouts feel safe in the organization.
Girl Scout alums are more likely to attain a higher level of education than their peers.
By supporting this bill, you will help ensure that these life-changing outcomes continue for generations to come.
How Can You Help?
We’re asking for you to take a moment to write to your U.S. Representatives and Senators to urge them to support the Charitable Act. It’s simple, and we’ve made it even easier by providing a pre-written letter that you can download and include in your email. Here’s what you need to do:
Find Your District Representative: Below is a list of Representatives and the Florida districts they serve. Look for your district and contact the corresponding Representative.
3. Send your email: Craft your email using the draft provided below. Don’t forget to personalize it with your Representative’s name and send it with the attached letter.
Sample Email Template:
Dear [INSERT REPRESENTATIVE NAME],
On behalf of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, thank you for your ongoing support of the Girl Scout Movement.
I write to ask for [REPRESENTATIVE NAME]’s support of the Charitable Act (H.R.801/S.317). This bipartisan piece of legislation will create a non-itemized, universal charitable deduction which will empower taxpayers to give back to their communities. Please see the attached document for a letter from the CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Mary Anne Servian.
Yours in Girl Scouting, [YOUR NAME]
It’s time for us to make our voices heard!
As a member of the Girl Scout community, your support can help us continue to provide valuable programs and opportunities to young girls across Florida. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that future generations benefit from the power of charitable giving.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) is proud to announce that it has received a generous grant from Suncoast Credit Union to support leadership development programs for girls across the region. This funding will help provide girls with essential skills in STEM, entrepreneurship, outdoor exploration, and civic engagement, empowering them to become the leaders of tomorrow.
Thanks to this grant, GSGCF will expand access to high-quality programs that inspire courage, confidence, and character in young girls. Through innovative initiatives and hands- on experiences, participants will have the opportunity to build practical skills, develop strong leadership abilities, and make a meaningful impact in their communities.
“Girl Scouts is dedicated to helping girls reach their full potential, and Suncoast Credit Union’s commitment to empowering the next generation aligns perfectly with our mission,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “Their support enables us to continue creating life-changing opportunities that help girls thrive.”
This grant underscores Suncoast Credit Union’s dedication to improving the lives of children and supporting organizations that foster education and leadership. GSGCF expresses its sincere gratitude for this partnership, which will continue to inspire and uplift girls throughout Gulfcoast Florida.
“At Suncoast Credit Union, we are committed to empowering the next generation of changemakers,” said Bob Hyde, Vice President of Community Impact, Suncoast Credit Union. “By supporting the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, we are investing in young leaders who will shape the future through innovation, courage, and service. With opportunities in STEM, entrepreneurship, outdoor exploration, and civic engagement, these girls are gaining the skills and confidence to make a meaningful impact on their communities and beyond.”
For more information about the programs supported by this grant or to learn how to get involved with Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, visit www.gsgcf.org.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts create the world they want to live in and strive to make it better every single day. They explore their strengths, take on newchallenges, and can always be themselves, regardless of background or ability. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council has a membership of nearly 3,500 girls in grades K- 12, and more than 1,500 adult members. GSGCF is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves girls in ten counties including: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. The council is governed by a volunteer board of directors who represent the geographic, ethnic, and social demographics of the council’s jurisdiction. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit www.gsgcf.org.
AboutSuncoast Credit Union
Suncoast Credit Union is the largest credit union in the state of Florida, the 8th largest in the United States based on membership, and the 10th largest in the United States based on its $18.4 billion in assets. Chartered in 1934 as Hillsborough County Teachers Credit Union, Suncoast Credit Union currently operates 81 full-service branches and serves more than 1.2 million members across Florida. As a community credit union, anyone who lives, works, attends school, or worships in Suncoast Credit Union’s service area is eligible for membership. In 2021, Suncoast Credit Union’s field of membership was expanded to include public K-12 teachers, college educators, and educational support staff from all of Florida’s 67 counties. Suncoast is passionate about community support. Since its founding in 1990, the Suncoast Credit Union Foundation has raised and donated more than $53 million to organizations and initiatives that support the health, education, and emotional well-being of children in the communities that the credit union serves. For more information, visit suncoast.com or follow us on social media: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.
The Girl Scout motto is “Be prepared,” and seventeen-year-old Catelyn Holcomb is embodying this by making a life-saving impact in her community through her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Operation Hometown Heroes.
This innovative project, developed in collaboration with the Sanibel Fire Department, provided hands-on emergency response training to local youth, equipping them with critical skills in fire safety, CPR, and first aid.
Operation Hometown Heroes was designed to address the lack of accessible emergency response education among young people. Through a two-day interactive camp, Holcomb and her team empowered third through eighth graders with the knowledge and confidence to respond effectively in emergency situations. Campers learned essential life-saving skills, including how to perform CPR, use a fire extinguisher, and administer basic first aid.
“Increasing public awareness and educating the community was the goal of my Gold Award project,” said Holcomb. “By educating children through the camp—and, in turn, their friends and family—I aimed to increase the number of people in my community who know how to perform CPR. This could potentially raise the percentage of individuals who receive immediate CPR above 40% and improve overall survival rates.”
The camp featured demonstrations by local firefighters, police officers, and EMTs, offering participants a firsthand look at the roles of first responders. Hands-on activities included fire extinguisher training, emergency simulations, and interactive lessons on when and how to call 911. The participants also dissected animals and met with detectives to learn about police work.
The success of the program was made possible through the support of local sponsors, including the Sanibel-Captiva Chamber of Commerce, Sanibel Glass, Costco, Sanibel Deli, and The Magic Bus. Their contributions helped provide essential materials such as t-shirts, meals, and emergency preparedness resources.
Holcomb’s efforts align with national initiatives aimed at improving public safety awareness and emergency response preparedness. Recognizing the impact of her project, she has begun developing a curriculum that will allow other fire departments to implement similar training programs in their communities.
About the Girl Scout Gold Award
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, awarded to Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts who identify a community issue and develop sustainable solutions. Gold Award projects require at least 80 hours of work and demonstrate leadership, creativity, and lasting impact.
Girl Scout Troop 258 has made a paws-itive impact on their community through a heartfelt Take Action project benefiting Cape Coral Animal Shelter.
As part of their journey to earning the Bronze Award—the highest honor a Girl Scout Junior (grades 4-5) can achieve—the troop worked together to provide comfort and care to shelter animals.
Audrey W., Elizabeth K., Rebekah M., Scarlet M., Stella P., Sophia J., Zahmiya V., and Jazzlyn B. will receive their Bronze Awards at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s annual Young Women of Distinction Ceremony on May 18th.
The Girl Scout Bronze Award recognizes young leaders who identify a community need, develop a sustainable solution, and take action to make a lasting difference. Through teamwork, problem-solving, and service, Girl Scouts learn valuable skills while making meaningful contributions to their communities.
After selecting the shelter as their focus, each team member brainstormed ways to help and met with a shelter representative to present their ideas. They learned about the work the volunteers at animal shelter do, and met some of the pets who live there.
They then put their plan into action by sewing blankets and hand-making pet toys. In order to accomplish their goals the Girl Scouts learned a new skill – sewing! They also learned baking skills, and baked homemade dog treats for the shelter pets.
Their biggest undertaking involved crafting special satchels designed to comfort newly adopted puppies and kittens. These snuggle satchels not only help the animals feel secure in their new homes but also protect their new owners from scratches.
They also visited the animal shelter to learn about their work and to play with some of the animals who live there.
Show your appreciation for bus drivers by participating in School Bus Driver Appreciation Day on April 22nd!
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida celebrated School Bus Safety Week in Oct. 2023. (Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida)
Every school day, bus drivers ensure that students get to and from school safely, often going above and beyond to provide a friendly smile, a word of encouragement, and a sense of security. School Bus Driver Appreciation Day, taking place from April 22, is the perfect opportunity to recognize their hard work and dedication.
For Girl Scouts, this is a chance to come together and express gratitude in a meaningful way. On Tuesday, April 22 Girl Scouts can personally deliver thank-you cards to the drivers who keep our communities moving.
Why School Bus Driver Appreciation Day Matters
School bus drivers are often unsung heroes, rising early and navigating busy roads to transport students safely. Many develop strong relationships with the children they drive, offering encouragement and ensuring a safe, positive experience each day. Their job requires patience, attentiveness, and care, and this special day is dedicated to recognizing their invaluable service.
How Girl Scouts Can Participate
Participating in this initiative is simple and impactful. Troops are encouraged to:
✔ Download and print thank-you cards or design your own. ✔ Fill them out together as a troop with personal messages of appreciation. ✔ Wear Girl Scout uniforms to proudly represent the organization. ✔ Deliver the thank-you cards in person to bus drivers.
By delivering thank-you cards directly to the drivers, Girl Scouts can brighten their day and remind them that their work is truly valued. This simple act of kindness strengthens community ties and helps young girls develop empathy and gratitude—key values in Girl Scouting.
Share the Appreciation!
We’d love to see your troop in action! Take photos (with permission) and share them on social media using #ThankYouBusDrivers and tag our account @GirlScoutsofGulfcoastFlorida to spread the love and inspire others to show appreciation.
Get ready to show your Girl Scout pride! From March 9-15, 2025, we’re celebrating Girl Scout Spirit Week—seven themed days filled with fun, friendship, and service. Whether you’re a Daisy, Brownie, Junior, Cadette, Senior, or Ambassador, there’s a way for everyone to participate.
Are you ready? Here’s how you can celebrate each day!
Sunday, March 9 – Spirit Sunday
Spirit Sunday is a special time to reflect on our Girl Scout values, and commitment to making the world a better place.
Honor the Girl Scout Movement by sharing on social media an issue you’re passionate about and what you’re doing to make a difference. You’ve got this, Girl Scout!
📌 Ways to Participate:
Do something kind in the spirit of Girl Scouts!
Share a photo of a community service activity you did with your troop.
📸 Share a picture of how you celebrated and tag us! #SpiritSunday #GirlScoutsGiveBack
Monday, March 10 – Make New Friends Monday
“Make new friends but keep the old…” 🎶💛 Today’s challenge:
Be a sister to every Girl Scout! 🤝
💡 How to Celebrate:
Invite a friend to a troop meeting or Girl Scout event
Write a kind note to a friend or mentor who inspires you
Learn how to say “friend” in a new language
💬 Tag your new friends in the comments, or snap a pic of you doing something fun together! 👭💚
Friday, March 14 – Free Scoop Friday at participating Culver’s! (Keep reading for locations!)
Girl Scouts + Ice Cream = The Sweetest Day Ever! 😍🍨
Wear your Girl Scout uniform (vest or sash) to participating locations and get a free scoop of frozen custard.
📍 Participating Locations:
19355 Times Circle, Venice
1735 S Tamiami Trl, Venice
385 Kings Hwy, Port Charlotte
1140 El Jobean Rd, Port Charlotte
26440 Jones Loop Rd, Punta Gorda
2455 SE Hwy 70, Arcadia
5648 Tuscola Blvd, North Port
10301 Corkscrew Rd, Estero
8400 Murano Del Lago Dr, Estero
10050 University Plaza Dr, Fort Myers
9340 6 Mile Cypress Pkwy, Fort Myers
12651 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers
2511 Lee Blvd, Lehigh Acres
1607 Cape Coral Pkwy E, Cape Coral
2526 Skyline Blvd, Cape Coral
309 SW Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral
2974 NE Pine Island Rd, Cape Coral
11905 Bonita Beach Rd, Bonita Springs
44 Lashley St, LaBelle
5102 Tamiami Trail E, Naples
5775 Airport-Pulling Rd N, Naples
90 Cattlemen Rd, Sarasota
7250 S Tamiami Trl, Sarasota
3515 Cortez Rd W, Bradenton
5750 Ranch Lake Blvd, Bradenton
4714 E State Rd 64, Bradenton
13020 SR 64 East, Bradenton
1801 US-301, Palmetto
1023 US-27, Avon Park
📢 Note: Girl Scouts is not affiliated with Culver’s. This is an independent promotion by participating Culver’s locations in recognition of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s Spirit Week.
📸 Tag us in your Culver’s pics and let us know your favorite flavor! #GSSpiritWeek #FreeScoopFriday
💪 Girl Scouts don’t just dream of a better world—they make it happen!
🌎 Take action today! Ideas to help your community:
Donate to a local food pantry
Clean up a park or beach
Help at an animal shelter
📸 Share your service project and inspire others! #ServiceSaturday #GSGCFPride #GSGCFSpiritWeek #GirlScoutSpirit #GirlScoutsRocks
Faith-Based Celebrations During Spirit Week
“The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual.” —Preamble, Constitution of Girl Scouts of the USA. Girl Scouts celebrate faith in many ways!
During this week, Girl Scouts across the country will honor those shared beliefs by celebrating their own faith, learn more about other faiths and share the values we have in common. Offer your time and service to your house of worship and share your Girl Scout pride while wearing your uniform:
✨ Girl Scout Sunday (Sunday, March 9)
✨ Girl Scout Jummah (Friday, March 14)
✨ Girl Scout Sabbath (Friday, March 14 – Saturday, March 15)
No matter how you celebrate, Girl Scout Spirit Week is all about friendship, fun, and making the world a better place! 💚
Madelinn Canty, a member of the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida and Gold Award candidate, was honored with a Proclamation from the Mayor of Venice during the City Council meeting on Feb. 11, 2025. The proclamation recognizes February 25, 2025 as “World Spay Day” and February 2025 as “Spay/Neuter Awareness Month,” as part of her animal advocacy efforts for her Girl Scout Gold Award.
Canty spoke at the City Council meeting where she recieved the proclamation. “Thank you so much for recognizing World Spay Day and Spay/Neuter Awareness Month,” she said. “My Girl Scout Gold Award project, “A Hope for Kittens,” focuses on the importance of socializing kittens so they are more adoptable. But of even greater importance is spaying and neutering pets, which saves the lives of animals by reducing the amount of stray animals and also helps control pet populations, reducing the amount of homeless and euthanized animals.”
Girl Scout council leadership, a Gold Award Committee representative, and the Venice Sheriff’s Animal Control Unit attended the meeting as the mayor presented the proclamation.
Canty, a sophomore at Venice High School, is working toward her Gold Award through A Hope for Kittens, a project aimed at raising awareness about the needs of feral cats and those awaiting adoption. A longtime volunteer with Englewood Animal Rescue Sanctuary (EARS), she is dedicated to educating the community and advocating for feline welfare. She is working with EARS on her Gold Award project, which is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn. The award requires an 80 hour sustainable leadership project that addresses a community issue.
For more information about Girl Scouts and the Gold Award, visit www.gsgcf.org.
An essential component of the Girl Scout Bronze Award is team work; the girls worked together at each stage of the project to ensure their goals were met.
Girl Scout Troop 607 has successfully completed the last in a series of woodsheds at Honi Hanta, marking the culmination of a multi-year effort by their troop. This project, titled Last of the Woodsheds at Honi Hanta, was the final step for these dedicated Girl Scouts in earning the prestigious Bronze Award—the highest honor a Junior Girl Scout can achieve.
Scouts Aria H., Bailey P., Allyson L., Gwyn R., Brooklynn W., Belicia E., and Elsie P. worked together to design, construct, and install the storage shed, ensuring that firewood at Honi Hanta remains neat, organized, and accessible for future campers. Throughout the project, the girls developed essential skills in teamwork, problem-solving, and hands-on technical abilities such as engineering, woodworking, how to pour concrete, and painting.
The new woodshed will enable future campers to learn fire building skills and fire safety. The girls repurposed leftover wood from a previous project they did, cutting and assembling materials to fit their design specifications. They also installed shingles for the roof and reinforced the structure using tools and techniques they had learned through their experience. Despite challenges—including sanding treated wood to ensure a smooth, splinter-free finish and delays caused by Hurricanes Milton and Helene—the girls demonstrated resilience and adaptability.
The troop not only built the new shed but also inspected previous structures completed by older members of the troop, ensuring they remained in good condition. This hands-on experience in structural maintenance and repair reinforced the long-term sustainability of their work.
The project also provided an opportunity for creativity, as the girls enjoyed painting the shed’s exterior to complement the Roundhouse and amphitheater area. Their attention to detail and craftsmanship left a lasting mark on the campsite, ensuring it remains a welcoming and functional space for future visitors.
As they prepare to receive their Bronze Award at the upcoming Young Women of Distinction Ceremony, the girls hope to inspire younger Girl Scouts to take on leadership roles and tackle meaningful community projects
Victoria Morton, a 17-year-old Girl Scout Ambassador from Troop 00135 in Gulfcoast Council, has earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, for her project, Pet Resource Central. With only 5.4% of eligible Girl Scouts earning this distinction, Victoria’s initiative stands as a testament to her leadership, dedication, and commitment to her community.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest recognition a Girl Scout can earn. It is the culmination of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, in which Girl Scouts use all the skills and knowledge they have gained through Girl Scouting to identify an issue they care about and develop a plan for sustainable change in their communities. The award requires Girl Scouts to demonstrate proficiency in team leadership, project planning and execution, and outreach, while ensuring their project creates a sustainable, measurable impact on the community. The prestigious award is recognized nationally by GSUSA, as well as by Congress and the U.S. Military.
Recognizing the financial burden pet care can place on low-income families, Victoria launched Pet Resource Central, an initiative aimed at providing essential pet care education and resources. She created a website, petresourcecentral.com, offering information on low-cost and free pet care services, vaccinations, and spay/neuter programs. To ensure accessibility, she distributed over 2,000 pounds of pet food, each bag attached with an informative pamphlet directing pet owners to the website.
Victoria also hosted 13 free pet care events, providing bathing, nail trimming, ear cleaning, and teeth brushing, all while educating pet owners on affordable veterinary services.
“My goal was to make sure that pets in low-income households receive the care they deserve, even when their owners face financial hardships,” Victoria said. “Through my website and outreach events, I was able to connect pet owners with the resources they need to keep their animals healthy and happy.”
Victoria’s project has had a lasting impact. She secured partnerships with the Gulf Coast Humane Society and the Community Resource Center of Punta Gorda, ensuring the continued distribution of educational materials and pet food. Additionally, the website will remain active, with updates managed by dedicated volunteers.
Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, praised Victoria’s efforts: “Earning the Gold Award is an extraordinary achievement, and Victoria embodies the core values of Girl Scouting. This program teaches girls how to communicate effectively and collaborate with their communities to drive meaningful change. Victoria’s initiative not only provided immediate support to pet owners in need but also created lasting partnerships to ensure its impact continues. She has truly made a difference.””
Through her 136.5-hour project, Victoria honed her leadership, problem-solving, and organizational skills. “I learned that even small actions can create a ripple effect,” she reflected. “This project was about more than just pet care—it was about supporting families and ensuring that no one has to choose between feeding their pet and feeding themselves.”
Victoria will be honored at the Young Women of Distinction Ceremony later this year, where she will join an elite group of Girl Scouts who have made significant contributions to their communities through the Gold Award.
For more information on Pet Resource Central, visit petresourcecentral.com.
For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida or how to join or support a troop, visit www.gsgcf.org.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is proud to announce continued funding from United Way of Lee, Hendry, and Glades Counties, reinforcing a decades-long partnership that empowers girls through leadership development, STEM education, and financial accessibility to the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
United Way has been instrumental in supporting Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. The most recent funding allocations will directly enhance programming in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties by covering membership fees, troop supplies, and program scholarships for families facing financial hardships.
This year, United Way’s funding also helped launch the Mad Lab STEM Program, a hands-on initiative designed to engage girls in science, technology, engineering, and math through immersive learning experiences. The Mad Lab STEM Day at Camp Caloosa in Lee County, hosted in December, introduced Girl Scouts to robotics, engineering challenges, virtual exploration, and interactive science experiments. The girls gained skills and knowledge in a fun and supportive environment.
“United Way’s steadfast partnership allows us to expand our reach and provide life-changing experiences for girls who may not otherwise have access to these opportunities,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, our unique, results-driven curriculum, girls develop practical skills in leadership, critical thinking, and problem-solving—giving them a lifelong advantage in any path they choose. Whether they’re exploring STEM, taking on entrepreneurship, or leading service projects, they gain confidence, resilience, and a strong foundation that will serve them well into adulthood.”
Through this partnership, Girl Scouts in Lee, Hendry, and Glades counties will continue to develop leadership skills, explore career pathways, and engage in meaningful service projects that strengthen their communities.
Let’s all take a moment to reflect on a Black woman trailblazer and change-maker whose story has impacted you. It could be someone you know personally or someone you learned about at school. Can you picture her yet?
Now, share her story with one or more people and inspire them to celebrate the strength, originality, beauty, and resilience of Black girls and women everywhere.
In this Black History Month (and every month!), let’s acknowledge, celebrate, and commemorate the achievements of Black Americans. History is not only about the past; girls everywhere are molding the future as we speak! From phenomenal Gold Award Girl Scouts making a lasting impact on their communities to bold Black women breaking records and shattering glass ceilings—Black history is happening all around us.
In 2024, the Girl Scouts continue to uphold their commitment to diversity, pluralism, and anti-racism. At the 2023 Convention, the DEIRJ Language Amendment was adopted, amending the Preamble to the Girl Scouts Constitution. The new preamble emphasizes the dedication to advancing diversity, pluralism, and anti-racism in the Girl Scout Movement and the communities in which they live.
Here are a few ideas your Girl Scout is sure to love:
Watch a movie or documentary about Black history in the United States, then share it with your friends. Kick off your list with a silver screen activity. Learn about Black stories through the eyes of notable Black storytellers, including directors, actors, and historians. Share what you learned with your friends or host a screening!
Learn about famous Black women who have been a part of the Girl Scout Movement. You may be surprised to see a few of your favorite celebrities and artists on the list!
Identify a book written by a Black author that you would like to read—and start reading one of them! Throughout history, Black authors and poets have shaped the ideals and imaginations of their readers. Get to know the trailblazers responsible for some of the most impactful contributions to science and beyond. Uplift and share the story of their legacy with those around you!
List five major events of the Civil Rights Movement, noting the dates and two or three details about each one. We are not that far removed from the movement that shaped the world we know today. This activity proves that it is never too late to discover new information or get a refresher on the old.
How did Black History Month get started? Learn more about National Freedom Day and Negro History Week. Last but not least, discover how it all came to be! Learn how the initial celebration, started by Carter G. Woodson, evolved into a month of worldwide commemoration and pride for the history, works, and achievements of the Black community.
This Black History Month, let’s fill our social media feeds with a showcase of Black women who changed our world in decades past, as well as those who continue to do so today.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian with Girl Scouts Olivia T. and Mackenzie S.
A groundbreaking study, the State of the Florida Girl Report, has revealed significant challenges facing girls across the state, particularly in academics, physical health, mental wellness, and social well-being. The findings were unveiled on Jan. 29 at the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida headquarters in Sarasota, where CEO Mary Anne Servian underscored the urgency of addressing these issues.
“Through the commissioning of this report, we are taking critical steps toward understanding the challenges girls face in our communities,” Servian said. “We all know that girls are full of potential. But what this research confirms is that today’s girls are facing unprecedented struggles, especially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. They are struggling in the classroom, in their relationships, and with their mental and emotional health.”
The report, commissioned by the Girl Scouts of Florida—a coalition of six councils serving girls statewide—analyzed publicly available data from reliable sources including the U.S. Census Bureau, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the Florida Department of Education. Through unpaid collaborations with peer reviewers in institutions of higher learning across the state of Florida, the areas of analysis and related charts and graphs were reviewed for themes, context, and unintended biases.
The substantiated findings paint a troubling picture of gender disparities in key areas of well-being for Florida youth.
Source: Florida Girl Scouts
Among the most alarming findings:
Girls in Florida are three times more likely than boys to experience sexual violence.
One in six high school girls reported experiencing sexual violence in the past year.
Twice as many girls seriously consider attempting suicide.
More high school girls misuse controlled substances compared to their male peers.
One in eight female students reported missing school due to safety concerns.
More than half (52%) of high school girls reported symptoms of depression.
High school girls are 1.5 times more likely than boys to vape or use nicotine, with nearly 20% engaging in these behaviors.
Servian emphasized that these findings demand action. “We are reaching out to schools, foundations, and elected officials to share this critical information,” she said. “We are meeting with state leaders and policymakers to advocate for stronger mental health support in schools and expanded access to after-school programs.”
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors Appointed Girl Representative and Gold Award Girl Scout Olivia Trader spoke about how her experience in Girl Scouting over the last 13 years has positively impacted her life.Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors Girl Member at Large, Mackenzie Shockey, shared how Girl Scouts has helped her overcome social anxiety and become a leader in her community.
The Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida will take their advocacy directly to Tallahassee in March, bringing Girl Scouts in grades 7-12 to the Florida Capitol. There, they will meet with legislators and discuss the pressing issues highlighted in the report.
The report also explored the root causes behind these challenges, pointing to the immense social pressures placed on girls. “Several troubling trends presented in the report fundamentally stem from unrealistic expectations,” the study noted. “From body image concerns to rising levels of anxiety and depression, girls are adapting to the damaging demands of social pressure.”
One of the report’s key recommendations is to provide girls with safe, supportive, single-sex environments—such as those offered through Girl Scouts. In girls-only settings, they feel safe to talk about issues they wouldn’t necessarily talk about with boys, try out new activities without a fear of failure, and experience less pressure to look or act a certain way.
“An all-girl environment presents better outcomes in mental health interventions and academic performance,” the report stated. “Girls benefit in deep, important ways from a supportive, all-girl setting that may not always be available through family or school.”
As Florida grapples with these findings, the Girl Scouts of Florida continue to push for systemic change, advocating for policies and programs that will empower girls and help them thrive.
Savannah Stewart, District Aide for Rep. McFarland (HD73) and Debbie Trice, Vice Mayor City of Sarasota attended the event to hear the report’s startling findings.From left: Heather Hackett, founder and CEO of Local Relief; Tim and Cynthia Holliday, owners of Children’s World Uniform Supply and Girl Scout volunteers; Background: Susan Trader, Girl Scout mom and volunteer; and Richard Cyphers, former GSGCF Board President.Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida aims to expand partnerships with local schools, businesses, and organizations to develop new programs and policies that advocate for the well-being of girls in Florida.The Pledge of Allegiance
After Jocelyn was diagnosed with sensory processing disorder, she wanted to help others girls facing similar challenges feel included in Girl Scouts.
Jocelyn N., an 8th-grade member of Girl Scout Troop 721, has earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award for her project titled “Girl Scouts Is for Everyone.” Jocelyn’s project exemplifies the Girl Scouts’ core values of inclusion by creating tools to support girls with sensory-related disorders such as autism and sensory processing disorder (SPD).
The Girl Scout Silver Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout Cadette (grades 6–8) can earn. It recognizes girls who identify an issue they care about, create a sustainable solution, and make a measurable impact on their communities. By earning this award, Jocelyn joins a legacy of Girl Scouts who have demonstrated leadership, innovation, and a commitment to improving the world.
For her Silver Award, Jocelyn designed and distributed portable sensory bags to troop leaders within her council. Each lightweight bag includes fidget toys, sensory items, sunglasses, earplugs, and educational resources on SPD, along with instructions for calming techniques. To ensure the sustainability of her project, Jocelyn created a website where Girl Scout leaders can learn about sensory challenges and replenish kits as needed.
Jocelyn shared that this project is close to my heart because she has experienced sensory challenges herself. She believes that Girl Scouts is a place where every girl should feel welcome. “I wanted to help create an environment where all girls can succeed,” she said.
The Girl Scouts organization is committed to welcoming girls of all backgrounds and abilities and fostering an inclusive and safe space where every member can thrive. To further this mission, Girl Scouts recently expanded tools to support girls with special needs in accessing and achieving the highest awards, such as the Gold Award. By creating a formal process for girls to request accommodations while pursuing the Highest Award, Girl Scouts has ensured that no girl will face barriers to her success.
The Gold Award, the highest honor a Girl Scout can achieve, is designed with flexibility to meet the individual needs of each girl. Advisors can work with Girl Scouts on a case-by-case basis to provide accommodations, ensuring that all girls can accomplish their goals to the best of their ability.
“Girl Scouts believe in the power of all girls,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “Jocelyn’s project beautifully reflects our commitment to inclusivity and demonstrates how Girl Scouts can truly make the world a better place.”
Girls needing accommodations while pursuing the Girl Scout Highest Awards can request them through the new Special Factors section of GoGold Online, ensuring they have the tools and support necessary to succeed.
It’s the most delicious time of the year—Girl Scout Cookie Season is just around the corner! The Girl Scout Cookie Program launched on Jan. 7 across the Gulfcoast council, covering ten counties: Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier, and ends on Mar. 9. Girl Scout Cookie fans can now order in person or online through Digital Cookie by connecting with local Girl Scouts. Booth sales, where Girl Scouts sell cookies directly to the public, begin Feb. 7.
Beyond satisfying sweet tooth cravings, Cookie purchases are an investment in local Girl Scouts and their communities, funding adventures, empowering girls, and supporting impactful service projects throughout the year.
When you buy a box of Girl Scout Cookies, every penny stays local. Profits are divided between individual Girl Scouts and their council, the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF). The girls use their earnings to fund projects, trips, and personal goals, while the council reinvests in programming that creates unforgettable camp adventures and dynamic activities for girls all year long.
Troop 610 recently turned their profits from the fall “Mags and Munchies” program, the sister program to the Girl Scout Cookie Program, into a heartfelt community project. The girls created 50 Birthday Cake Kits, each filled with the non-perishable ingredients to bake a cake, balloons, candles, and a disposable pan—complete with a hand-colored birthday card. The kits were donated to local schools, ensuring that every child, regardless of financial situation, could celebrate their birthday. We can only imagine how these girls are going to help their community with their Cookie funds!
“They really enjoyed doing this, and I’m glad we were able to donate to their schools so it could hit closer to home for them,” said Lisa Haney, Troop 610’s leader.
Troop 610 decided to use their Mags & Munchies profits to fund a service project for local school children.The girls included hand-written birthday cards and party supplies purchased with their fall product porfits.
The experience of a lifetime
Last year, a group of local Girl Scouts turned years of cookie sales into an unforgettable Girl Scout Destinations trip to London and Paris. The European adventure exemplifies the life-changing opportunities cookie funds can provide, empowering girls to explore the world and gain independence.
The Girl Scouts who embarked on this unforgettable journey included Izy S. from Cape Coral, Melissa G. and Payson G. from Parrish, Teresa S. and Chloe S. from Bradenton, Brooke H. and Ava G. from Fort Myers, Tabitha G. and Bailey G. from Fort Myers, as well as Aimee F. and Madison K. from Venice.
Girl Scouts visit Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre in London.The Girl Scouts visited iconic landmarks in France, such as the Eiffel Tower.
The Girl Scout Cookie Program builds lifelong skills
The Girl Scout Cookie Program is more than a fundraiser—it’s the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world. By participating, girls gain five essential skills: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. These skills build the foundation for success in life and leadership.
“Our Girl Scouts learn so much through the Cookie Program—it’s not just about selling cookies; it’s about building confidence, learning life skills, and giving back to the community,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “When you buy Girl Scout Cookies, you’re supporting these incredible experiences and helping develop the leaders of tomorrow.”
Get Ready to Make a Difference!
Girl Scouts across the gulf coast are officially taking orders now for the 2025 Girl Scout Cookie season. Whether you’re stocking up on Thin Mints or giving back to the community through Gift of Caring donations, your purchase makes a real difference.
Stay tuned for more details about booth locations and online ordering options. You can find Cookies through the virtual Cookie Locator on the Girl Scouts’ website: https://www.girlscouts.org/cookies. You can also text 59618 to stay up to date on the latest Cookie news. Together, we can make this Cookie season the sweetest yet!
Additionally, this year, local businesses can now partner with Girl Scouts in their communities by becoming Cookie Business Partners. GSGCF introduced a new Cookie Business Partner Program for the 2024 Cookie Program. Through this program girls expanded their skills by approaching businesses hoping to increase their troop sales and earn Cookie Business Kits. Business owners interested in participating in our Business Partner Program can reach out to cookies@gsgcf.org or contact Ashley Gill at ashleyg@gsgcf.org
For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida or how to join or support a troop, visit www.gsgcf.org.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida proudly announces a generous grant from Publix Super Markets Charities, which will directly support the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) and help expand opportunities for girls in the Gulfcoast region. This funding will enable the formation of three new Girl Scout troops and provide critical resources for troop leaders and members.
The grant funds will supply necessary items, including uniforms, GSLE curriculum books, and troop supplies, ensuring all girls can fully participate in troop activities. The grant may also fund vehicle charters to transport girls to programs and events, breaking down barriers to access.
Additionally, with this generous grant, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida will provide stipends to teachers who establish new troops at their schools. Troop leaders are instrumental in guiding and mentoring the next generation of female leaders. The grant funds will supply necessary items, including uniforms, GSLE curriculum books, and troop supplies, ensuring all girls can fully participate in troop activities. The grant may also fund vehicle charters to transport girls to programs and events, breaking down barriers to access.
“This partnership with Publix Super Markets Charities allows us to reach even more girls in our community with meaningful programming that nurtures their development and leadership potential,” said Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida. “We are grateful for their ongoing commitment to empowering girls and creating opportunities that align with our mission.”
Through the GSLE, Girl Scouts gain skills and experiences that prepare them to lead with courage, confidence, and character. Publix Super Markets Charities’ investment in this vision ensures girls from diverse backgrounds have the tools and support they need to succeed and make the world a better place.
The Girl Scout Leadership Experience is grounded in three keys to leadership:
Discover: Girls learn to understand themselves and their values, building confidence and personal awareness.
Connect: Girls develop empathy, teamwork, and leadership skills as they inspire and collaborate with others.
Take Action: Girls apply their skills to make a positive impact in their communities and the world.
For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida or how to join or support a troop, visit www.gsgcf.org.
The Volunteer Celebration is a prestigious occasion to recognize the incredible individuals who bring the Girl Scout experience to life for girls in their communities. These outstanding volunteers have gone above and beyond to create life-changing opportunities for girls and further the Girl Scout mission both locally and nationally.
Tania Harmon, Volunteer Operations Manager, expressed her admiration for the dedicated volunteers, stating, “Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida has been historically blessed with selfless volunteers that go above and beyond to create opportunities for girls and support the council and national Girl Scout mission. We are proud to celebrate and honor them.”
Distinguished speakers for the event include Mary Anne Servian, Chief Girl Champion and CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Barbara Borderieux, Alum,Volunteer and Trainer, and Olivia T., Girl Scout Gold Award Ambassador and GSGCF Girl Board Member.
The ceremony featured the presentation of several prestigious awards, presented by Madison Witherspoon, Gold Award Girl Scout, Alum, and GSGCF past Girl Board Member, to deserving individuals, including the following categories:
Honor Pin Awardee:
Stephanie Klosterman (Manatee 1)
Appreciation Pin Awardees:
Nancy Centers (Highlands 651)
Theresa Marks (Sarasota 12)
Carrie Price (Collier 13)
Volunteer of Excellence Awardees:
Crystal Burritt (Charlotte 12)
Ashley Laird (Sarasota 15)
Kristina McCauley (Sarasota 12)
Lora Wolff (Charlotte 11)
Green Angel Award Awardees:
Elizabeth Roessner-Knighting (Charlotte 11)
Pamela Brownell (Sarasota 15)
This inspirational event truly was a celebration of the Girl Scout spirit of leadership, community, and empowerment. To enjoy additional photos of this celebration please visit our Facebook page.
Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc. 