Your Monthly Donor Impact Report
July 2021
Recently, I was speaking with a Girl Scout troop leader and caregiver who said something that resonates with me during the month of July. She said, “Girl Scouts… it’s an American treasure!”

I love this sentiment and I agree with it! Since 1912, Girl Scouts has been an essential part of the fabric of our country. Whether girls are earning civics badges, camping in our country’s beautiful wilderness, or donating cookies to veterans’ organizations, Girl Scouting creates courageous and confident young women, encourages civic pride and community service, and teaches girls how to advocate for themselves and others during challenging times.

In this month’s newsletter, you will learn all about how Girl Scouts give back to their country through patriotism, philanthropy, service, and volunteerism. You will meet a Gold Award Girl Scout whose project empowers and uplifts our country’s military heroes, learn about our Cookies for a Cause campaign, and hear from Planes Moving and Storage about why they invest in America’s future leaders – today’s girls.

To all our supporters, thank you for investing in Girl Scouts of Western Ohio! We hope that you have a fun and safe Fourth of July weekend and enjoy learning how our Girl Scouts are giving back during this month of patriotism and celebration!
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Roni Luckenbill
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
Our Gold Shines Bright: How You Helped a Gold Award Girl Scout Celebrate and Preserve Military History
Emily is an Ambassador Girl Scout and a high school junior from Bradford, Ohio who became inspired when she volunteered to decorate graves on Memorial Day. It struck her that graves of fallen soldiers should be treated with reverence and respect, and these had fallen into disrepair.  
 
Emily launched her Gold Award Project, “Civil War Headstone Replacement.” To earn this prestigious award, she reached out to both the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and her city council. She selected six damaged and worn Civil War headstones at a local cemetery, researched each soldier and submitted paperwork to the VA. Her project was approved, and she recruited a team of volunteers to physically replace the damaged headstones.

At the grave rededication, a local pastor led a prayer and members of the American Legion presented a twenty-one-gun salute. She created a YouTube video about her project and the local library featured her on their website to educate the community about preserving and honoring our fallen heroes. “Through my project,” Emily said, “I want people to think about what they can do for their community, not what their community can do for them.”
You Empower Girl Scout Troops to Support Military Heroes
Every year, Girl Scout troops collect donations of cookies for deserving community organizations as part of the Cookies for a Cause campaign. After all, who deserves cookies more than our nation’s greatest heroes, our active-duty military personnel and veterans?

In 2021, Girl Scout troops donated 76,625 cookie packages to nonprofit partners including Packing Party for Troops and 180th Fighter Wing; the Miami Valley Military Affairs Association; the Wright Patterson Air Force Base (WPAFB); the Yellow Ribbon Support Center; and Veterans' Affairs Hospitals in Cincinnati, Dayton, Lima, and Toledo.

Cassie Barlow, a Girl Scout alum, parent, and donor, is an Air Force veteran who worked at WPAFB for many years. When she heard about Cookies for a Cause, she was excited because Girl Scouting was critical to her family during her tenure as a military officer. 

“Girl Scouts was a regular activity for my daughter as we moved around the world as an Air Force family. Every time we moved, we immediately looked for my daughter’s new troop in our new neighborhood or school. My daughter built tremendous friendships and learned how to be a leader at a very young age,” Cassie says. “Girl Scouts remains a large part of our lives and I am thrilled they are giving back to our military heroes."
Donor Spotlight: Planes Moving and Storage
Every box of Girl Scout cookies you enjoyed this year first traveled with care through the Planes Moving and Storage warehouse in West Chester, Ohio. More than 2.8 million packages of cookies were housed there on their way to you.

For 30 years, Planes has been a trusted partner, making sure cookies safely arrive at their destinations. As the sponsor of our "Cookies 1•2•3" program boxes this year, they also helped girls grow their entrepreneurial skills when they couldn't meet in person to plan their cookie season. "We are so pleased that the Cookies 1•2•3 program helped many Girl Scout troops succeed in selling cookies during a challenging year, and we look forward to continuing our partnership with the Girl Scouts as they continue their important work in our community," said John Planes, CEO, Planes Companies.

Partnering with Girl Scouts of Western Ohio helps Planes Moving and Storage live its corporate values. According to John Sabatalo, President, "One of our corporate values is empowerment. We are so proud to help empower the next generation of female leaders through our Cookie Champion sponsorship. It is inspiring to see troop members develop their leadership skills through projects designed to make the world a better place."

Pictured above: John Sabatalo, President; John Planes, CEO; and Stephen Sabatalo, VP, Operations.
Thank you for investing in girls, and supporting the visionary doers, innovators, creators and thinkers of tomorrow. Together, we can help girls discover their untapped potential and build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Make a gift today!

In Honor of Girl Scouts Founder Juliette Gordon Low, you can leave a gift that will impact girls for generations. Learn more about planned giving through the Juliette Gordon Low Society.
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