Appreciation Pin Recipients

The Appreciation Pin recognizes an adult volunteer who has delivered outstanding service to at least one service unit. The honoree has significantly contributed to meeting one or more council goals in membership growth, retention, fund development, or increased community visibility in one service unit.

2020 Appreciation Pin Recipients

SARAH ADAMSON

Stoneyridge “I enjoy sharing with and learning from the other troop leaders in our Service Unit and beyond in our Council. There are so many opportunities for girls and adults to learn more skills, and support each other. I’ve enjoyed the opportunity to explore the many virtual events this last year and share them with others as our Service Unit’s social media representative, and I look forward to many more opportunities to serve this community.” DOREEN AITELLI

La Canada “My highlight was pivoting during COVID-19 and recreating our Gold, Silver, and Bronze Award ceremonies from in-person to video. We were able to recognize all the participating troops so they could share their accomplishments.”

SHANA BALLAS

Canyon Star “I have wonderful memories of being a Girl Scout. I am proud to instill the values of courage, confidence, and character for the next generation. Girl Scouts should be kind, open minded, creative, adventurous and always stand up for what is right.”

MARY ATHANS-BARTLETT

Manhattan Beach

“I watched many leaders in our service unit pivot and create meaningful, fun content for their troops in a virtual setting while dealing with the challenges the pandemic placed on their own work and families. I am inspired by their resilience and dedication.”

SARA ALVAREZ

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouts has created great relationships and fostered a sense of community at a time when we are physically distant. I am closer to my troop members and to the service unit, and I am excited to make a positive impact.”

ANETT ASSILIAN

Stoneyridge “As a psychologist, I often speak about self-care. Girl Scouting is not just my hobby, it is my self-care. I truly love being a Girl Scout, my Girl Scout friends, and sharing the experience with my husband and children.”

CHRISTINA BATCHELDER

CV/Glendale “The highlight for me this past membership year was the girls who stayed in our troop and displayed tremendous resilience through the pandemic and shifting to virtual!”

PATTIANN BRUNDIGE

CV/Glendale “I’ve said it at least 1,000 times, and I’ll say it at least 1,000 more: Girl Scouts is the ONLY place a girl can be ANYTHING she wants to be! Baker, hiker, camper, Robotics engineer, traveler, scientist, seamstress, singer—we can make it happen!”

HEATHER BERGER

Twin Oaks “With Girl Scouts, we have taken part in new community activities and support programs. We participated in a book drive, a food drive, and we have helped different organizations with their supporting causes while getting to know our neighbors.”

ROCHELLE BUTLER

Westside “I was fortunate to be able to mentor and co-lead a young group of extraordinary LEGO enthusiasts (K-3rd grade). Our FIRST LEGO League Jr. Girl Scouts, team Lego Engineers, worked diligently, learning new skills with sensors, robotics, and coding.”

CYNTHIA BROCKMANCOLEMAN

Westchester/Del Rey “My Girl Scout Highlight was our virtual bridging ceremony! It was amazing to look back through photos and videos of the girls starting as Brownies and becoming Seniors. They each shared how meaningful being a Girl Scout has been for them.”

MELINDA CANNY

South Pasadena “Girl Scouts is community. It is an opportunity to give back to others what I was given, to show a new generation of girls what it is to be a leader and provide service to their communities, and to provide opportunities to learn new skills or activities.”

CHRYSTAL BROESEL

Northeast Hills, “Girl Scouts has had a large impact on our community. Due to our growth in troops and the longevity of several of them, other nonprofits and business leaders now reach out to us when help is needed.”

AMY CAPONPON

Torrance “As a Girl Scout leader, I got to see how the girls step out of their comfort level. They use the skills they learn to become critical thinkers, to be active in community service, to volunteer, and to have positive life outcomes.”

ROBIN CHARTIER

Westside “Some of my best childhood memories are with Girl Scout friends. I have enjoyed being a troop leader and passing on Girl Scouts traditions and values to the girls in our troop. I am grateful for the lifetime of memories Girl Scouts has provided me.”

ORPHA EGET

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouting has been amazing. I am part of a sisterhood that spans the world, and it has enriched my life. Seeing Girl Scouts learning to be independent young women and using skills they learned as Girl Scouts is my greatest achievement.”

DENNIS COLATO

Mission Rose “Girl Scouts means an opportunity for my daughter to see women in positions of authority, and as role models.”

RACHEL ELI

Canyon Star “My troop impacted our community when they earned their Bronze awards. They built a portable garden from scratch and delivered it to a shelter to assist residents with gardening. We also had a peanut butter drive to benefit the NHIFP.”

APRIL COLBERT

Heart of the Valley “I love Girl Scouts’ commitment to community service. Our troop has been able to make a difference in our school and in the lives of those who are under-served in our communities—the homeless, youth, animals, and lowincome residents.”

CHRISTINA EVANGELISTA

Twin Oaks “Two highlights stand out. The first was seeing my daughter, who has difficulty making friends, blossom and start to make friends. The second was being part of an amazing service unit that was supportive, caring in the community, and welcoming.”

DINORA EDWARDS

North River “One of the most important highlights was mentoring girls in our troop to plan and coordinate their Take Action projects, Journeys, and Silver Award projects through a global pandemic. Girls were able to show their creativity and perseverance.”

JULIE EVANS

La Canada “Girl Scouts broadens horizons for girls and the women they will become. They learn about many topics they normally wouldn’t in their own day-to-day experiences.”

LISA FETTERS

Manhattan Beach “This year, our troop sent letters and art to a local senior center, adopted a newly-formed Daisy troop as pen pals, and made halloween bags for two firstgrade troops.”

JASMINE JAFFE

Marina “As a co-leader, it is so rewarding to watch girls grow from Daisies to Cadettes, and I look forward to seeing them continue through high school as they earn their Gold awards.”

ERIN FLEMING

Manhattan Beach “Girl Scouts is a group of girls that might not hang out during the normal school day, but who come together each week or month and share a passion for service. They support each other as they develop their leadership skills, and they have each other’s backs”.

LAURA KEATING

Manhattan Beach “Girl Scouts is building and fostering leaders in my community. As my troop has gotten older, I love how much my girls want to focus on community service. My troop likes to have fun, but they are passionate about giving back.”

JULIE GOLDIN

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouts has been so important, especially this past year. We’ve provided a haven for girls during this most tumultuous time, and we have continued to bring service projects to the community.”

KEISHA KIDWELL

Mission Rose “Our troop’s Halloween Tea, dedicated to Juliette Gordon Low, was the highlight of my 2019-20 membership year. Various troops from my area were invited to share in this special experience. It was so wonderful to watch the girls’ interactions together.”

KIMBERLY GRIFFIN

Twin Oaks “In my two years as a troop leader, I’ve witnessed our Twin Oaks Service Unit hold several community service projects that helped foster a deeper sense of purpose, charity, and accountability in our troop members.”

ILENE KNEBEL

Holly Hills “Girls they can do anything they set their minds to, and with strong women leaders setting them up for success, they are destined to attain their goals. They also learned to pivot and reorganize and still be successful, even in a pandemic!”

MELISSA LYNCH

Canyon Star “During the COVID-19 pandemic, our Girl Scouts created an online community of support for each other through virtual events, and they gave back to the local area by coordinating food drives, spreading cheer to neighbors, and selling cookies!”

ANNETTE MEYERSON

Twin Oaks “In a year in which our social worlds were torn apart, the bond between the girls in our troop helped us all stay afloat. The girls no longer had school or in-person gatherings to be together, but they always had a place where they belonged.”

JACQUELINE MCINTYRE

Marina “Girl Scouts makes a big city like Los Angeles feel like a small town. Our troop has been our family for the past eight years, and when we encounter other girls/troops there is a common bond that makes them feel like extended family.”

CAROLE MINGUS

Mission Rose “I was amazed at the computer skills the older girls have. They introduced us to Zoom and, when needed, would move us to different virtual rooms. They planned and conducted Cadettes Go Crazy with their knowledge, talents, and skills over Zoom!”

KIM MCNAMEE

RDE/Sil-Dom “Transitioning to virtual meetings because of the pandemic was a challenging highlight, but we still took full advantage of time with the girls to complete the Be Prepared, Not Scared badge series, which was very timely and appropriate.”

HEIDI MOUNTJOY

Palmdale “What Girl Scouts means to me is to show leadership, be able to help in the community, and learn practical skills.”

TRICIA MCREYNOLDS

Westchester/Del Rey “Girl Scouts means so much to me. It has introduced me to so many amazing women and girls. I love the sisterhood and the friendships that I have found, as well as the support and strength everyone gives each other.”

BILL NELSON

Board Member “Girl Scouts represents a community for girls and young women to develop their talents and create opportunities for all of them to explore those talents. This translates to having young women ready for critical roles ahead. Everyone benefits.”

PATTI NISHIMURA

Torrance “Selling cookies is always a highlight in our troop, and we sold nearly 13,000 packages last year! In addition, we had two girls earn their Gold Awards and seven earn their Bronze awards. All older scouts led younger scouts in badge work.”

LIZBETH RAMIREZ

Westchester/Del Rey “Girl Scouts means I have many sisters who can help me navigate as a troop leader, and they have helped me realize that we can achieve any goals we set our minds to.”

LUPE NUNEZ

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouts has taught girls confidence and empowerment and the possibilities they can accomplish as a group and individually.”

CHRISTINA RICE

CV/Glendale “The girls in our troop are from eight different schools and geographically live in communities from Tujunga to Sherman Oaks and places in between! Girl Scouts has enabled our girls to expand their inner circles and bridge our different communities.”

CHRISTINA OZENNE

S. Torrance “Our troop enjoyed a virtual movie night and a cupcake war. It was a fun and different way for them to connect while apart.”

MARA RICHARDS

Marina “Girl Scouts is realizing potential, broadening horizons, discovering what’s important to you, and giving back to your community and the world.”

KIMBERLY PRIMO

Heart of the Valley “Girl Scouts impacts the community by providing girls with opportunities to learn new things and have experiences they may not otherwise have. Girl Scouts teaches girls to work together and to be supportive, while teaching them to be leaders.”

CARRIE ROBERTSON

Twin Oaks “My highlight is working with our girls to complete multiple badges online, and the amazing creativity of my co-leader and parents to make it work.”

RITA RIVERA

Bellflower/Hollymount “Girl Scouts has made a positive impact in our service unit’s community. We have supported several food drives in our community, put together toiletry bags for homeless shelters and women’s shelters, and brought happiness to seniors with fun tray favors.”

DEBI SHAKTI

Stoneyridge “Girl Scouts is a community and a sisterhood of amazing women dedicated to empowering girls to discover their strengths, explore their interests, and try new things in a safe, girl-centered environment. It is a place to be silly, serious, and make lifelong friendships.”

DANIELLE SAGER-EBLING

Marina “Girl Scouts has given me 11 years of unforgettable memories with my daughters, my co-leaders, and my troop. We have learned so much over the years, and I take such great pride in this future generation of leaders, who I have encouraged for so long!”

JULIE SMITH

Canyon Star “My troop impacted our Girl Scouts has impacted the girls in our troop by providing a community that could gather together online when we couldn’t gather in person. It has been a beneficial social outlet as well as a constant during a very crazy year.”

KRISTINE SCHLACHET

Heart of the Valley “Girl Scouts has made a positive impact on my community by providing a welcoming environment for girls of all backgrounds to come together and learn from each other as they support the community at large.”

AMBER SPENCE

Marina “Girl Scouts does a great deal of service in our area, from feeding housinginsecure individuals to providing Christmas treats for foster children and low income families”

KIM SCHWARZ

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouts has provided the opportunity to engage the two troops that I lead in meaningful serviceoriented opportunities. It has also given the girls a fun outlet to engage with each other, even though they have different interests.”

PATRICIA STANARD

Northeast Hills “My highlight from this past year has been that most of the girls in my troop show up for each virtual troop meeting we schedule via Zoom, and they all look forward to it.”

CYNTHIA VAZQUEZ

Westchester/Del Rey “It has been amazing and rewarding to see how our leaders and our Girl Scouts were so resilient and positive with the safer-at-home orders. We saw so many examples of creativity and dedication to keep Girl Scouts open for our girls.”

LISA THACKER

Canyon Star “Seeing how resilient and positive the girls in my daughter’s Girl Scout Troop were to continue having meetings and earning badges through the pandemic was my highlight.”

MAY-MAY SUGIHARA

Claremont “Girl Scouts has given me the chance to help girls in my community grow and learn, and I get to grow and learn right alongside them.”

ROCIO TORRES

Southeast SU “It’s a good program focused on the girls.”

MALI TEISAN

Marina “To me, Girl Scouts means helping girls reach their maximum potential to grow into helpful, caring, and productive women. I feel fortunate to belong to a sisterhood that offers so many opportunities to girls and women of all ages.”

RACHAEL SUAREZ

Twin Oaks “Girl Scouts impacts our community by empowering young women to be strong, creative, and fearless leaders.”

KENNEICE TOLLIVER

Westchester/Del Rey “Girl Scouts gives me the opportunity to spend quality time with my daughter while we both learn a variety of life skills and have fun doing it. It also gives me a greater sense of being and purpose.”

MICHELE WAHLIG

Pali/Mali “Mentoring youth, providing opportunities, and having unique and empowering experiences has been very rewarding. I enjoy witnessing girls succeed as they explore, promote worthy causes, and build leadership skills, while strengthening lifelong friendships.”

CYNTHIA WEICHELT

Twin Oaks “We held space for the girls to checkin and support each other through the year. And even though it was one more Zoom meeting, it was a place of selfcare and resilience that we all needed.”

SHANTE’ YOUNKER

South Pasadena “Girl Scouts South Pasadena stayed connected to our community with Zoom meetings, making cards for senior centers, and participating in a virtual Nailed It event. Twenty-nine girls completed their Silver Awards, and 11 girls completed their Gold Awards!”

LOIS YOUNG

Twin Oaks “My highlight was the video presentation the girls made of our troop and what it means to them. It was very inspirational and made my heart soar. It really showed the love they have for each other and Girl Scouting.”