THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME
Melissa Young-Bridgeforth is shaping the future of Girl Scouts, today
Melissa Young-Bridgeforth’s Girl Scout journey began in adulthood, when she started a troop in her neighborhood for her oldest daughter, Nicolette, to join. “I was a single parent, and while Nicolette had some friends in the neighborhood, there weren’t really any activities available,” Melissa said. “I called Girl Scouts and learned that there were no troops in my area, and then I found myself starting one!” In the twenty years since, Melissa’s journey has been a unique adventure she cherishes for shaping her – and her daughters – personally and professionally. She’s worn many hats as a service unit manager, council trainer, delegate chair, and lifetime member, and has no plans to hang any up, anytime soon. “Volunteering has given me a desire to do more…to make sure what I do is better than before, for others. It’s given me the chance to hone
Leave Your
Legacy 4
www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/donate
“It was the next logical step,” Melissa shared. “I have already invested my time and talent, I might as well make it 100%!” The Juliette Gordon Low Society recognizes individuals who make a planned gift by naming GCNWI as a beneficiary of their estate plans. Common forms of planned gifts include naming an organization in your will, or as a beneficiary of a 401(k), IRA, or insurance plan. “I originally thought that it was donating your entire life!” Melissa said. “But then I learned that wasn’t the case, and I could leave a percentage of my estate to the council. I thought, why wouldn’t I do that? Getting that clarity made all the difference.”
Fall 2018
Newsletter
A newsletter for supporters of GCNWI who are inspired to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.
A ‘DRIVING FORCE’
a large set of skills I didn’t realize I already had.” Now Melissa has a new hat to wear, having recently joined the Juliette Gordon Low Society.
Inspired! Thank you for shaping Allison’s Girl Scout journey
By including Girl Scouts in her legacy, Melissa hopes more girls can have the same life-changing Girl Scout experiences her daughters did, well into the future. “Girl Scouts gave them more exposure of what’s outside their zip code, both literally and physically. Through camp and travel, they met girls from all over the world. Because of their Girl Scouts involvement, they won scholarship money for school. It really gave them a lot of exposure to what’s truly possible for them!” While Melissa has already experienced so much, she hopes her planned gift will help GCNWI grow well into the future. “I hope that we are able to embrace and serve more girls and volunteers than we have in the past.”
As a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, you can make a lasting difference today for Girl Scouts of tomorrow. If you have already named GCNWI as the beneficiary of a planned gift, please let us know. Members receive an exclusive Society pin, recognition in our annual report, and invitations to special recognition events. If you would like more information about how you can become a member—in a manner that benefits you, your heirs, and Girl Scouts— please contact Patricia Broughton at pbroughton@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
This year, nine Gold Award Girl Scouts received our council’s Gold Award Scholarship to help them pursue excellence in education, careers, and community involvement. $10,000 was awarded, thanks in part to your continued generosity! In her own words, scholarship recipient Allison Klage from Winfield, IL shares her Girl Scout story and gratitude for your generosity. Girl Scouts has been a driving force in my life for the past 13 years. I grew up having the core scouting values ingrained into me. I have met some of my best friends through scouting and have been able to participate in amazing adventures with my Girl Scout sisters. I am always proud to proclaim that I am a Girl Scout and explain to others why it’s so important for younger girls to stay in scouting. I have become a skilled leader and communicator through my Gold Award, being a camp counselor, and an advocate for Girl Scouts to younger girls in my community. My sophomore year I created a mentoring program called Teens Mentor Teens (TMT). I had high school girls mentor middle school girls as we discussed issues affecting both generations of girls such as social media, girl-on-girl hate, stress management, self-
image, and much more. The high school girls gave advice on how they have handled these types of issues, while the middle school girls found a trusted friend to turn to. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks for honoring me with a scholarship. Girl Scouts has been my backbone all through my schooling. I have always come back to my Girl Scout sisters when I needed help or advice. Whenever I wanted to learn something new or improve my skills, Girl Scouts would have a program for it. As I continue onto higher education I am ecstatic to be supported by an organization that I have called home since kindergarten. Thank you so much for the continued support and for molding the next generation of women into the world’s future leaders, activists, teachers, and
so much more. Together we all truly can make the world a better place. Since the inception of the GAS in 2016, nearly $30,000 in scholarships have been awarded to Gold Award Girl Scouts from our council. To learn more about how you can make an impact through the scholarship, please contact Patricia Broughton at pbroughton@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
IN 2018... Scout Seniors 76 Girl & Ambassadors Earned the Gold Award THROUGH
of 6,080 Hours Service
vvvTO
vv z vv
5,816 People
@girlscoutsgcnwi
1
BECAUSE OF YOU,
We Are Leaving No Girl Behind Every day, Girl Scouts in our community are demonstrating the courage, confidence, and character to lead by example—and your involvement is helping them every step of the way. Your action speaks power to the importance of girls’ voices and experiences. Girl Scouts is where EVERY girl can grow into her best self. These young women are today’s hope and tomorrow’s leaders. Nancy L. Wright, CEO Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
TAKING ACTION
Last school year, the troop aspired to make a lasting difference in their community. Realizing they all experienced bullying, they jumped at the chance to help each other, and their fellow classmates. “It seemed to be a recurring issue and they suggested a safe place,” troop co-leader Mary Helen Reyna said. “I asked them where that safe place would be, and they said at www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/donate
Because you turn your passion into action, you champion girls through the Girl Scout Movement. Together, we are not only making a difference in the lives of girls – we are making a difference in the world. Today, and always, we are grateful.
the playground. A few girls shot up their hands at the same time to suggest buddy benches.” And with that, the project began. “We set up an art committee, fundraising committee, and a speaking committee so they could work together and come up with ideas,” Mary Helen said. The art committee designed flyers, and the fundraising committee pursued a goal to sell 10,000 boxes of cookies to fund the project. The speaking committee developed the troop’s business case that outlined the need for a buddy bench, and gave many girls a chance to hone their public speaking skills.
BUILDING A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP
Your support is opening new doors for girls The day began unlike most at Camp River Trails. Thirty Girl Scouts gathered in small groups, putting the final touches on their “Shark Tank” presentations, preparing to make their sales pitches to a panel of judges. Welcome to Camp CEO. Since 2007, Girl Scouts in greater Chicago and northwest Indiana have connected with highly accomplished women at Camp CEO, the premiere leadership camp for teen girls, to access valuable mentorship and leadership experiences.
Brownies battle bullying, one bench at a time
For many second-graders, bullying is an all-too-common issue found in the classroom, on the playground, and beyond. But for Brownie Troop 55169 of the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church, it was a challenge the girls stepped up to solve together.
2
This is why I am thrilled to share our debut print issue of Inspired! which highlights your impact through stories about girls who are speaking up and creating change.
You are empowering girls like Allison, a Gold Award Girl Scout, to seize the future for themselves, their families, and their communities (pg. 1). You are motivating girls like the participants of Camp CEO to learn how to confidently take their place (pg. 3).
“Some of our girls are really shy, and had a hard time speaking when they first came into the group. They came up with a script of what they were going to say, and the girls attended PTA meetings at the school to make their case,” Mary Helen explained. “It was really cool to see that every girl wanted the chance to speak.” The girls found success across all their efforts, and will celebrate their first bench being installed at Bolingbrook Elementary this fall. The benches will feature plaques recognizing the troop’s donation— and serve as a lasting reminder of what Girl Scouts can do!
“What inspired me to go to Camp CEO were the opportunities that it could offer and the possibility of opening up a door I have never touched,” Girl Scout Hannah O’Dell said. “I am always up for an adventure and am always very curious, so I was excited to work with girls from all over, and entrepreneurs that are so inspiring.”
During their week at Camp CEO, Girl Scouts were paired with female mentors from companies like Edelman, Cushman & Wakefield, and Lurie Children’s Hospital, to expose them to a variety of career paths. From workshops on personal branding and public speaking, to individual coaching from their mentors, campers learned new ways to leverage their Girl Scout experiences. “[I learned to] take advantage of opportunities and know that it is okay to not know what is next or have a plan,” Girl Scout Suzy Switzer said. While gaining life and career skills was front and center during the various sessions, Camp CEO also reinforced many of the values Girl Scouts carry on in their daily lives. “For the Shark Tank project, my group and I put together a potential app to help adolescents get help mentally and physically,” Hannah said. “When it came down to
presenting, a group member and I spoke about our struggles with being bullied, wanting to commit suicide, and how we have improved our mental health. While presenting, we could see our mentors’ emotional reactions and how they understood what we were expressing. It gave me a new sense of confidence.” Mentors enjoyed sharing their own successes and challenges to encourage Girl Scouts to dream big and take action. “I love supporting the young women and girls to realize the future that they are interested in,” mentor Jeanette Shutay, Senior Director, Advanced Analytics at HAVI shared. “Our future is great,” mentor Caryn Curry from Lurie Children’s Hospital said. “These are bright young women who are bringing new ideas and solutions to some of the challenges we are dealing with.”
Help kick off the giving spirit this holiday season and make a difference for girls! Your gift raises a girl’s voice for good right here in greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
@girlscoutsgcnwi
3
BECAUSE OF YOU,
We Are Leaving No Girl Behind Every day, Girl Scouts in our community are demonstrating the courage, confidence, and character to lead by example—and your involvement is helping them every step of the way. Your action speaks power to the importance of girls’ voices and experiences. Girl Scouts is where EVERY girl can grow into her best self. These young women are today’s hope and tomorrow’s leaders. Nancy L. Wright, CEO Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana
TAKING ACTION
Last school year, the troop aspired to make a lasting difference in their community. Realizing they all experienced bullying, they jumped at the chance to help each other, and their fellow classmates. “It seemed to be a recurring issue and they suggested a safe place,” troop co-leader Mary Helen Reyna said. “I asked them where that safe place would be, and they said at www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/donate
Because you turn your passion into action, you champion girls through the Girl Scout Movement. Together, we are not only making a difference in the lives of girls – we are making a difference in the world. Today, and always, we are grateful.
the playground. A few girls shot up their hands at the same time to suggest buddy benches.” And with that, the project began. “We set up an art committee, fundraising committee, and a speaking committee so they could work together and come up with ideas,” Mary Helen said. The art committee designed flyers, and the fundraising committee pursued a goal to sell 10,000 boxes of cookies to fund the project. The speaking committee developed the troop’s business case that outlined the need for a buddy bench, and gave many girls a chance to hone their public speaking skills.
BUILDING A LIFETIME OF LEADERSHIP
Your support is opening new doors for girls The day began unlike most at Camp River Trails. Thirty Girl Scouts gathered in small groups, putting the final touches on their “Shark Tank” presentations, preparing to make their sales pitches to a panel of judges. Welcome to Camp CEO. Since 2007, Girl Scouts in greater Chicago and northwest Indiana have connected with highly accomplished women at Camp CEO, the premiere leadership camp for teen girls, to access valuable mentorship and leadership experiences.
Brownies battle bullying, one bench at a time
For many second-graders, bullying is an all-too-common issue found in the classroom, on the playground, and beyond. But for Brownie Troop 55169 of the DuPage African Methodist Episcopal (AME) church, it was a challenge the girls stepped up to solve together.
2
This is why I am thrilled to share our debut print issue of Inspired! which highlights your impact through stories about girls who are speaking up and creating change.
You are empowering girls like Allison, a Gold Award Girl Scout, to seize the future for themselves, their families, and their communities (pg. 1). You are motivating girls like the participants of Camp CEO to learn how to confidently take their place (pg. 3).
“Some of our girls are really shy, and had a hard time speaking when they first came into the group. They came up with a script of what they were going to say, and the girls attended PTA meetings at the school to make their case,” Mary Helen explained. “It was really cool to see that every girl wanted the chance to speak.” The girls found success across all their efforts, and will celebrate their first bench being installed at Bolingbrook Elementary this fall. The benches will feature plaques recognizing the troop’s donation— and serve as a lasting reminder of what Girl Scouts can do!
“What inspired me to go to Camp CEO were the opportunities that it could offer and the possibility of opening up a door I have never touched,” Girl Scout Hannah O’Dell said. “I am always up for an adventure and am always very curious, so I was excited to work with girls from all over, and entrepreneurs that are so inspiring.”
During their week at Camp CEO, Girl Scouts were paired with female mentors from companies like Edelman, Cushman & Wakefield, and Lurie Children’s Hospital, to expose them to a variety of career paths. From workshops on personal branding and public speaking, to individual coaching from their mentors, campers learned new ways to leverage their Girl Scout experiences. “[I learned to] take advantage of opportunities and know that it is okay to not know what is next or have a plan,” Girl Scout Suzy Switzer said. While gaining life and career skills was front and center during the various sessions, Camp CEO also reinforced many of the values Girl Scouts carry on in their daily lives. “For the Shark Tank project, my group and I put together a potential app to help adolescents get help mentally and physically,” Hannah said. “When it came down to
presenting, a group member and I spoke about our struggles with being bullied, wanting to commit suicide, and how we have improved our mental health. While presenting, we could see our mentors’ emotional reactions and how they understood what we were expressing. It gave me a new sense of confidence.” Mentors enjoyed sharing their own successes and challenges to encourage Girl Scouts to dream big and take action. “I love supporting the young women and girls to realize the future that they are interested in,” mentor Jeanette Shutay, Senior Director, Advanced Analytics at HAVI shared. “Our future is great,” mentor Caryn Curry from Lurie Children’s Hospital said. “These are bright young women who are bringing new ideas and solutions to some of the challenges we are dealing with.”
Help kick off the giving spirit this holiday season and make a difference for girls! Your gift raises a girl’s voice for good right here in greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
@girlscoutsgcnwi
3
THE GIFT OF A LIFETIME
Melissa Young-Bridgeforth is shaping the future of Girl Scouts, today
Melissa Young-Bridgeforth’s Girl Scout journey began in adulthood, when she started a troop in her neighborhood for her oldest daughter, Nicolette, to join. “I was a single parent, and while Nicolette had some friends in the neighborhood, there weren’t really any activities available,” Melissa said. “I called Girl Scouts and learned that there were no troops in my area, and then I found myself starting one!” In the twenty years since, Melissa’s journey has been a unique adventure she cherishes for shaping her – and her daughters – personally and professionally. She’s worn many hats as a service unit manager, council trainer, delegate chair, and lifetime member, and has no plans to hang any up, anytime soon. “Volunteering has given me a desire to do more…to make sure what I do is better than before, for others. It’s given me the chance to hone
Leave Your
Legacy 4
www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/donate
“It was the next logical step,” Melissa shared. “I have already invested my time and talent, I might as well make it 100%!” The Juliette Gordon Low Society recognizes individuals who make a planned gift by naming GCNWI as a beneficiary of their estate plans. Common forms of planned gifts include naming an organization in your will, or as a beneficiary of a 401(k), IRA, or insurance plan. “I originally thought that it was donating your entire life!” Melissa said. “But then I learned that wasn’t the case, and I could leave a percentage of my estate to the council. I thought, why wouldn’t I do that? Getting that clarity made all the difference.”
Fall 2018
Newsletter
A newsletter for supporters of GCNWI who are inspired to build girls of courage, confidence, and character.
A ‘DRIVING FORCE’
a large set of skills I didn’t realize I already had.” Now Melissa has a new hat to wear, having recently joined the Juliette Gordon Low Society.
Inspired! Thank you for shaping Allison’s Girl Scout journey
By including Girl Scouts in her legacy, Melissa hopes more girls can have the same life-changing Girl Scout experiences her daughters did, well into the future. “Girl Scouts gave them more exposure of what’s outside their zip code, both literally and physically. Through camp and travel, they met girls from all over the world. Because of their Girl Scouts involvement, they won scholarship money for school. It really gave them a lot of exposure to what’s truly possible for them!” While Melissa has already experienced so much, she hopes her planned gift will help GCNWI grow well into the future. “I hope that we are able to embrace and serve more girls and volunteers than we have in the past.”
As a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, you can make a lasting difference today for Girl Scouts of tomorrow. If you have already named GCNWI as the beneficiary of a planned gift, please let us know. Members receive an exclusive Society pin, recognition in our annual report, and invitations to special recognition events. If you would like more information about how you can become a member—in a manner that benefits you, your heirs, and Girl Scouts— please contact Patricia Broughton at pbroughton@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
This year, nine Gold Award Girl Scouts received our council’s Gold Award Scholarship to help them pursue excellence in education, careers, and community involvement. $10,000 was awarded, thanks in part to your continued generosity! In her own words, scholarship recipient Allison Klage from Winfield, IL shares her Girl Scout story and gratitude for your generosity. Girl Scouts has been a driving force in my life for the past 13 years. I grew up having the core scouting values ingrained into me. I have met some of my best friends through scouting and have been able to participate in amazing adventures with my Girl Scout sisters. I am always proud to proclaim that I am a Girl Scout and explain to others why it’s so important for younger girls to stay in scouting. I have become a skilled leader and communicator through my Gold Award, being a camp counselor, and an advocate for Girl Scouts to younger girls in my community. My sophomore year I created a mentoring program called Teens Mentor Teens (TMT). I had high school girls mentor middle school girls as we discussed issues affecting both generations of girls such as social media, girl-on-girl hate, stress management, self-
image, and much more. The high school girls gave advice on how they have handled these types of issues, while the middle school girls found a trusted friend to turn to. I would like to extend my most sincere thanks for honoring me with a scholarship. Girl Scouts has been my backbone all through my schooling. I have always come back to my Girl Scout sisters when I needed help or advice. Whenever I wanted to learn something new or improve my skills, Girl Scouts would have a program for it. As I continue onto higher education I am ecstatic to be supported by an organization that I have called home since kindergarten. Thank you so much for the continued support and for molding the next generation of women into the world’s future leaders, activists, teachers, and
so much more. Together we all truly can make the world a better place. Since the inception of the GAS in 2016, nearly $30,000 in scholarships have been awarded to Gold Award Girl Scouts from our council. To learn more about how you can make an impact through the scholarship, please contact Patricia Broughton at pbroughton@girlscoutsgcnwi.org.
IN 2018... Scout Seniors 76 Girl & Ambassadors Earned the Gold Award THROUGH
of 6,080 Hours Service
vvvTO
vv z vv
5,816 People
@girlscoutsgcnwi
1