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.

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.”

“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.

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.

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.

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.

To learn more about volunteer opportunities, visit the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida’s volunteer page: https://www.gsgcf.org/en/get-involved.html

Thank you to all our volunteers for your dedication and passion. You are truly making the world a better place, one Girl Scout at a time.