Your Monthly Donor Impact Report |
|
|
|
Happy new year from everyone at Girl Scouts of Western Ohio! It’s January and you know what that means: it’s cookie season! When you buy Girl Scout cookies, you are investing in girls and helping them develop the skills to own their own business or become a Fortune 500 CEO some day.
When girls sell cookies, they are doing more than participating in the largest girl-run business in the world. They are becoming financially literate and improving their math skills. They are learning how to speak confidently, seek challenges, and overcome setbacks. The Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls about goal setting, decision-making, money management, people skills, and business ethics which are critical to girls’ success in school, in their future careers, and in life.
Please read on to learn how you are building today’s girls into tomorrow’s entrepreneurs. If you’re feeling hungry, why not open that box of Thin Mints you’ve been saving in your freezer – it’ll taste good and you can eat an entire sleeve knowing it’s helping girls do good.
|
|
Roni Luckenbill
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of Western Ohio
|
|
|
You are Creating Ambitious Adventurers, Eager Entrepreneurs, and Young Philanthropists |
Jolana and Tavi are Girl Scouts from Bryan, Ohio who are the top cookie sellers in western Ohio and southeastern Indiana. In 2020, they sold more than 5,200 boxes of cookies, raising thousands of dollars for Girl Scout adventures and meaningful service projects that make the world a better place.
Their cookie proceeds have fueled the following achievements and escapades:
- They bought an electric wheelchair for a neighbor in need.
- They fixed a bridge and walkway in a local park, making it safe for other kids to use.
- They attended Girl Scouts Air Camp and flew a plane.
- They camped in the wilderness of Tennessee and West Virginia.
Jolana and Tavi know giving back is important thanks to their "mawmaw" Terrie who adopted both girls and showed them the true meaning of family. They credit Girl Scouts with teaching them to seek challenges and overcome obstacles.
“Mawmaw and Girl Scouts taught me that many hands make lighter work and hard work pays off,” Jolana, aged 12, says. “I believe that if you help people, they will treat you with respect, love and do their part to help you too.”
Tavi, aged 14, agrees. "Helping people makes me happy. It teaches me to be a better person. It teaches me not to be selfish. I've set a goal to sell more cookies this year so I can keep Girl Scouting and giving back to my community."
|
|
|
You are helping to create tomorrow's business leaders, today. |
Air Force Veteran and Gold Award Girl Scout Charlynda Scales of Mutt's Sauce, LLC in Dayton had only a handwritten recipe on a piece of paper, but she knew she wanted to start a company. Toledo’s Rita Mansour fondly remembered when her mom required that she give back 25% of her lemonade stand proceeds -- her first lesson in profit margin.
It was these and other stories from women entrepreneurs that held the attention of a group of Girl Scouts in a recent “Month of the Entrepreneur” online panel discussion. Board member Patrice Borders commented, “The girls were incredibly curious -- about our stories, our successes, and our failures. Their questions were inspiring. There was so much energy and interaction, it felt like we were all in the same room even though we were on zoom.”
Girls listened as nine women shared their stories of getting started, what motivates them to do their work, and how they overcome challenges. Then it was the girls turn to ask questions. They wanted advice on how to sell cookies during COVID. They practiced their sales pitch. They learned the importance of moving beyond their first “No”. One girl wanted to know where to begin, at the age of nine, to start a construction firm. As they headed off to begin their entrepreneur badges, these girls were already well on their way to success.
Read about all nine women entrepreneurs and moderator Te'Jal Cartwright here.
|
|
|
Alicia Wagner: Restauranteur, Entrepreneur, and Girl Scout
Alicia Wagner is the owner of Fowl and Fodder Downtown, a Toledo restaurant that focuses on sustainability and locavore meal options. She is also female entrepreneur succeeding in a male-dominated industry and a community leader who is dedicated to fueling Toledo’s economy and improving the world around her.
“Girl Scouts is one of the pinnacle ways girls can access entrepreneurial skillsets and experiences,” Alicia says. “Now more than ever, we need girl leaders who understand who they are and know their place within community and workplace leadership opportunities. Girl Scouts showed me my potential at a young age, and this is why I support Girl Scouts of Western Ohio today.”
Thank you to Alicia for your service and dedication to Girl Scouts in northwest Ohio!
|
|
|
|
|
Did you know that among Girl Scout Cookie Entrepreneurs, 85% improve their financial literacy, 83% understand why business ethics are important, 80% learn how to set goals and achieve them, 77% girls learn how to work on a team to make decisions, and 75% of girls improve their people skills? |
|
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.
|
|
Customer Care Hotline
888.350.5090
Monday - Friday: 8:30 a.m. – 5:30 p.m.
|
|
Shop Hours:
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday: 10 am - 6 pm
Friday: 10 am - 5 pm
Closed for Lunch: 1:30 - 2 pm
Closed on Saturday, Sunday, Monday
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
