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.##
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.
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 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.
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.”
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.
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.
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, Inc. 