2023 Impact Report

Friendship. Resilience. Empowerment.

She Belongs Right Here!

Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland

2023 Impact Report

Dear Girl Scout Family and Friends,

In 2023, we were dreaming big and providing Girl Scouts with the tools and programming they needed to achieve their dreams for the future.

We showed girls they belong right here.

This past year, we broke ground on our STEM Leadership Center and Maker Space at our Camp. Ken-Jockety, just 15 minutes outside of downtown Columbus. We showed our girls time and time again, that they belong in Girl Scouts, and wherever they want to be.

Our Girl Scouts showed us just how much they grow at our Resident and Day Camps. We were thrilled to welcome 552 Girl Scouts to Resident Camp, and we hosted 1,836 Girl Scouts at Day Camp. 913 Girl Scouts attended our Mad Mud event, where they tackled a challenging and muddy outdoor obstacle course.

In September, we enjoyed an evening under the stars at our 6th annual Urban Campout fundraising event. During the event, 300+ guests toured “old camp”, took aim with slingshots, and enjoyed an array of gourmet camp-inspired food, craft cocktails, and of course, made s’mores by the campfire. Thanks to the support of our guests and sponsors, we raised more than $118,000 to support girls on their leadership journey.

We are so grateful for our girls, volunteers, staff, and donors for allowing Girl Scouts to dream big, and allowing us to prepare her for a bright future.

Yours in Girl Scouting,

4,070

Grades K-1

OUR MEMBERSHIP

4,393

3,350

4,554

Girl Scout Lilly S. awaits her induction to the Board of Directors as a Girl Board Member at the 2023 Anual Meeting

1,775

Cadettes

Grades 2-3

Juniors

421 Daisies

513

Seniors

Grades 6-8 Brownies

Grades 9-10

Community Outreach Impact

In addition to traditional troops, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland (GSOH) offers Community Outreach programs to girls in underserved and under-represented communities throughout our council. The Community Outreach Program introduces the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls who are in communities where barriers exist beyond their control and allows them to participate as a Girl Scout in an environment that is familiar to them.

Last year, we were able to serve 2,943 girls through Community Outreach programs. Partnerships included: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Zanesville, Columbus City Schools, Columbus Recreation & Parks, Communities In Schools, Cambridge City Schools, Chillicothe City Schools, Coshocton City Schools, Educational Academy for Girls & Boys, and many others. We are so grateful to all our community partners that help us provide all girls a nolimits place to learn, a place to be inspired, and the tools to thrive.

Grades 4-5 Direct Volunteers

Ambassadors

Grades 11-12

Some of our current programs include:

1. Backpack Program – A program that explores a variety of fun and interactive activities while girls learn about Girl Scouts, explore the outdoors, promote kindness and empathy, experiment with STEM, and feel empowered.

2. Peace It Together – A program that addresses relation aggression, promotes kindness, and appreciates the differences in others.

3. Moneywise – A program developed for girls to sharpen their financial literacy skills as they work towards an understanding of needs versus wants, how to create a basic budget, how to set a financial goal, and all about saving, spending, and sharing.

4. World of STEM – A program designed for girls to learn all about STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) through fun hands-on activities.

WHAT GIRL SCOUTS DO

What’s in a Badge?

6,717

Earned

6,850

14,273

Earned

5,995 STEM Badges

Outdoors Badges

Earned Life Skills Badges

Program Spotlights

Girl Scouts Grow

Entrepreneurship Badges

Earned

Girl Scouts learn new skills by earning Proficiency Badges created by Girl Scouts of the USA. Each badge has five steps that are designed to help girls explore subjects like STEM, life skills, the outdoors and entrepreneurship. As they progress thorugh our grade levels and complete more badges, they gain a deeper understanding of not only the world around them but also of themselves.

Mad Mud Challenge

Girl Scouts Grow is a special program that our partner The Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company provides to girls free of cost. We send girls packets of seeds that they plant in their gardens and tend throughout the season. Then, at harvest time they collect their homegrown produce and are asked to donate it to a local food pantry near them!

Through the past five years we have had 6,299 participants in the program, with 2,000 girls participating in 2023. In 2023, 2,088 pounds of produce were donated from Girl Scouts home gardens and 256 from our community garden at Camp Ken-Jockety. Thank you to The Scott’s Miracle-Gro Company for helping girls grow, eat, and share.

Once again, Girl Scouts arrived at our Camp Crooked Lane property to participate in one of our largest - and muddiest - events of the year, the Mad Mud Challenge! Participants challenged themselves on various obstacle course elements on a mud-filled trail to practice confidence, coordination and team work with their fellow Girl Scouts.

Over the two-day event, our course saw 913 participants and 199 spectators who cheered on those who braved the mud pits. That’s a lot of mud!

GIRL SCOUTS AND STEM

At Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, we focus on programming that develops girls’ courage, confidence, and character and prepare them for a lifetime of leadership. Our programs help girls’ ambition shine through! We accomplish this through experiences in the four program

pillars of STEM (science, technology, engineering, and math), the outdoors, life skills and entrepreneurships. Studies show that girls develop their unique STEM identity by third grade, and their confidence peaks by age 9. Some of our unique STEM partner programs we were able to offer girls included:

Construction Astronomy Engineering Logistics

Elford Construction Armstrong Air and Space Museum

New Programs Highlight STEM

Ready for Launch

Ready for Launch, a space-themed program was held at Camp Ken-Jockety where 94 girls came to learn about space science magic! We had rocket launching, mission control stations, space themed snacks and more.

NiSource & Columbia Gas of Ohio

Pollinator Protectors

Pollinator Protectors was an environmental science focused program where Girl Scouts of all ages and their families joined us at Camp Ken-Jockety to learn what pollinators are, why they are so important, and what we can do to help protect them. Girls enjoyed assembling bee hotels, planting starter gardens doing crafts and more!

BUILDING A DREAM

On May 9, 2023, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland welcomed over 100 community partners and supporters as we officially broke ground on the new STEM Leadership Center and Maker Space at Camp Ken-Jockety as part of the Dream Big Initiative. The festivities included remarks from Co-Chairs Lori Gillett, CEO of CK Construction, Yvette McGee Brown, Partner at Jones Day and Lou Von Thaer President and CEO of Battelle, along with County Commissioner Erica Crawley, Board Chair, Shakila Ali, and Master of Ceremonies, Tammy Wharton, President and CEO of GSOH. Girl Scout Junior, Jasmine, inspired all in attendance as she eloquently shared a poem she had written, Dare to Dream, Our Dreams are our Future. To top off the day, guests gathered together and put the first shovels in the ground as part of this momentous occasion.

With access to cutting-edge programs, a safe place to learn new skills, and mentors encouraging them along the way, girls will learn about jobs of the future to spark their interest and curiosity. The progressive programming will have a tremendous impact on the diversity and growth of the Central Ohio workforce for generations and help close the gender gap in STEM and In-Demand fields.

The initiative is a $16 million project, of which $12.8 million had been raised at

The Dream Big Initiative connects the traditional programs of the past to new and innovative programs needed in the future and includes:

• A STEM Leadership Center with community space, science, and technology labs

• A Maker Space to learn trade skills

• A NEW greenhouse

• Renovations to the Environmental Center to include a teaching kitchen

• New outdoor learning spaces

HIGHEST AWARD STARS

Highest Award Ceremony

Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award Girl Scouts have what it takes to make the world a better place. At Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland, we celebrate Girl Scouts who dream of a better tomorrow and take big steps today to make change happen.

In 2023, we honored Gold and Silver Award Girl Scouts in a Gold Award Ceremony at the Idea Foundry, an innovative and cutting-edge community art space in Columbus, Ohio. Girl Scouts spent time with President and CEO Tammy Wharton and heard from inspiring speakers including local activist and advocate Morgan Harper, Board Chair Shakila Ali and GSOH Silver Award recipient Anna Kuck. Attendees also had the chance to participate in an art project on site and mingle with award recipients during a unique networking reception.

Last Year We Honored...

99

Morgan Harper inspires the 2023 Gold Award Class at the Idea Foundry.

48 19 Bronze Awards Silver Awards Gold Awards

Julia Waltz observed that many of the younger students in Delaware City Schools did not have the opportunity to partake in or gain exposure to the arts until they reached an older age. When that age approached, and the chance to participate in such activities was given, many kids found themselves already committed to sports - never getting the chance to immerse themselves in the world of theater. Due to this, many missed out on the possibility of growing and developing necessary and essential life skills - that of public speaking, self-confidence, and healthy emotional expression. Through her project, Poetry Jam Camp, Julia worked to provide an opportunity for these kids, where they could learn more about theatrical arts early on, and a little more about themselves, too. She hosted a twoday workshop for middle schoolers to learn more about performance art and experience being on stage. The theatre troupe at her high school then agreed to keep this workshop going for years to come to help give middle schoolers this creative opportunity and nurture their interests in art, poetry, and drama.

CAMPS AND THE OUTDOORS

Friendship & Fireflies A Mythical Summer

What an awesome summer we had at our Girl Scout resident camp in 2023. We welcomed staff from around the world including Mexico, Colombia, United Kingdom, Ireland, Spain, and Germany who helped make the summer one to remember for our Girl Scouts. We had programs themed around backpacking, theater, equestrian experiences, art, the environment and more!

Across our 30 county district, day camp was filled with mystical creatures in 2023! From phoenixes and unicorns to leprechauns and fairies, Girl Scouts practiced outdoor skills and explored all kinds of parks and places. Thanks to the tireless help of our day camp volunteers, 1,836 Girl Scouts found new friends and experienced camp memories that will last their whole lives.

Our Outdoor Fun Didn’t End There...

675

33

507

Learned some sweet science at Tree Tappers girls joined us for our Camp Amigas girls took a spooky Halloween Hike

ALUM SPOTLIGHT

Meet Teri Varney

Teri has been a Girl Scout for over 40 years. She has impacted girls not only in her community in southern Ohio by leading several troops over the years, but she has also been a delegate for her service unit and provides support to her area. She currently facilitates troop camp training and is mentoring some local troops as well as serving on our Adult Camporee committee.

Teri often shares the story of how Girl Scouts impacted her as a young girl saying, “When I was a girl, my family moved

Teri is a very invested and dedicated volunteer. She shows up for the girls and our council whether it be at a smaller program or a major fundraiser and most importantly, she cares about the health, development, and impact that our council is making on girls in our community.

She is a cheerleader, a teacher, a mentor, and a friend. She does what she can to continue to hold the door open for the women and girls behind her no matter the industry or situation. “Give the girl a chance” has been her rally cry.

Teri is what Girl Scouts is all about – empowering girls to reach their potential and develop courage, confidence, and character. Her dedication and devotion to Girl Scouting defines her completely. She is a role model to girls and

Be a Part of Our Alumni Group!

Were you ever a Girl Scout (girl or adult member)? Since the Girl Scout organization’s inception in 1912, more than 50 million American women have enjoyed Girl Scouting, and more than 53 percent of all women business owners are Girl

Sign up to be a part of the Girl Scout Alumnae Association (it’s FREE) and receive news and information about upcoming alumnae events. All Girl Scout alumnae are encouraged to join, regardless of where, when, or how long

gsoh.org/alum to learn more and find our Alumni Facebook group to stay connected!

STATE OF THE GIRL

Our Past Influences Our Future

Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland hosted the tenth annual State of the Girl community conversation. More than 200 guests joined the conversation and heard about the challenges girls are facing today and learned about ways we can come together to support them on their leadership journey. Keynote speaker Erica C. Crawley, Franklin County Board of Commissioners President shared details about her personal leadership journey as a dedicated mother, advocate, and veteran, and first Black woman Franklin County Commissioner and Board President.

2023 Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor:

Gold Sponsor:

Silver Sponsors:

Battelle • DHL Supply Chain

Guests also were inspired by hearing firsthand from Gold Award Girl Scout Elyse. As a theater enthusiast, advocate for women’s issues, and a former docent at the Thurber House in Columbus, Elyse created a hands-on theater workshop for girls aged 14-18 as part of her Gold Award project. She collaborated with a local playwright to design and conduct a workshop to help girls create and perform their own monologues to build confidence in their voices and their stories and feel a sense of empowerment.

Bronze Sponsors:

CK Construction • GBQ Partners, LLC • Shakila Ali

Host Sponsors:

Abbott • Cramer and Associates

URBAN CAMPOUT

An Evening Under the Stars

Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland hosted its sixth annual signature fundraiser, Urban Campout on Friday September 29, 2023. The evening brought together more than 300 guests for a casual chic evening under the stars at Camp Ken-Jockety. Thanks to sponsors and guests, $118,701 was raised and will support girls in Girl Scouting and give them opportunities to explore the outdoors, participate in STEM programming, and learn entrepreneurship skills that will last a lifetime.

2023 Sponsors

Presenting Sponsor:

Throughout the evening guests participated in a variety of camp-inspired activities including slingshots, archery and racing paper rockets. L.A. Catering provided an array of gourmet appetizers, Middle West Spirits created signature cocktails and Bristol Republic hosted Girl Scout cookie and bourbon pairings. And what would an evening be at Girl Scout camp be without roasting s’mores by the campfire.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to our sponsors, in-kind contributors, and attendees for their invaluable support, contributing to the success of our mission to empower girls on their leadership journey.

Silver Sponsors:

AEP Foundation • Bath & Body Works • DHL Supply Chain

Glen & Shakila Ahrens Family Foundation • Huntington

Medical Mutual of Ohio • Nationwide

Gold Sponsors:

Bronze Sponsors:

CK Construction Group • Feazel • Michael & Dana Isaacs

OhioHealth • Park National Bank • Worthington Industries

Friends of GSOH:

Dave & Amy Franko • Collin & Elizabeth Seely • Tradepost

Molly and Brian Watts

Campfire

Circle Sponsors:

Tim Gose-Pfister Insurance Agency • Julie Holbein

Ann and Doug Teske • Annette Whittemore

Three Ton Toad brings the stage to life after the sun sets at Urban Campout 2023.

DONOR SPOTLIGHT

Girls Soar in the Outdoors

Outdoor learning and environmental education is one of the foundational pillars of Girl Scouts. Thanks to the Columbus Youth Foundation, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland was able to expand and enhance outdoor programs and bring more girls out to camp through field trip experiences. Activities included hiking, canoeing, archery, and learning to cook over a campfire.

These outdoor learning activities offer girls the chance to step outside their comfort zones, discover new interests, and develop important life skills while having fun in the great outdoors.

In a recent study from the Girl Scout Research Institute entitled, “Girl Scouts Soar in the Outdoors,” they found that:

• Just one Girl Scout badge hones girls’ outdoor leadership – and outdoor competence grows more with each badge earned!

• Doing a Take Action or service project in Girl Scouts teaches girls how to take care of the environment.

With support from organizations like the Columbus Youth Foundation, Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland is able to offer girls a variety of outdoor programs full of adventure and exploration. These programs nurture physical health, mental well-being, environmental awareness and play a vital role in shaping girls that are confident, resilient, and environmentally conscious.

FINANCIALS

Revenue Breakdown

Product: 65.2%

Contributions: 18.1%

Retail & Other: 8.9%

Program Fees: 7.8%

Expense Breakdown

Program Services: 85.6%

Fund Raising: 9.0%

Management & General: 5.4%

Key Figures

Total Assets: $26,915,957

Liabilities: $978,279

Net Assets: $25,937,678

Total Liabilities & Net Assets: $26,915,957

Total Support, Revenue & Gains: $10,618,941

Expenses: $7,560,944

Change Net Assets: $3,057,997

Net Assets (Beginning): $22,879,681

Net Assets (End): $25,937,678

JULIETTE GORDON LOW SOCIETY

Leave a Legacy

In March 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered just a few girls to begin the Girl Scouts. Juliette’s outstanding leadership was matched by her stewardship when she converted the carriage house of her home into the first Girl Scout national headquarters, and she gifted the property to Girl Scouts in her will.

Juliette’s bequest was the beginning of planned giving for Girl Scouts. In her memory, the Juliette Gordon Low Society was established to thank and honor friends of Girl Scouting

2023 Members

• Shakila Ali

• Erik and Eva Anderson Girl Scout Movement-wide Challenge Planned Gift

• Anonymous (x2)

• Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder Girl Scout Movement-wide Challenge

Planned Gift

• Wayne and Ruth M. Cook

• Nancy Cruickshank

• Tracy A. Elich

• Amy Franko

• Eileen S. Goodin

• Julie Holbein

• Kathy Lowrey Gallowitz

• Anne Powell Riley

• Heidi Hansen McCrory

• Elizabeth O’Conner Seely and Collin E. Seely

• Ann E. and Douglas W. Teske

• Tammy Wharton

• Annette L. and Lyle Whittemore

who choose to make Girl Scouts part of their legacies and a beneficiary of their estate plans.

To celebrate membership in the society, each member will receive a special lapel pin. Members are invited to attend special recognition and educational events and are recognized in select publications.

We’d like to honor the following individuals whose commitment to Girl Scouts of Ohio’s Heartland is being recognized for their realized planned gifts.

• George H. and Dorothy T. Alber

• Emma Barr

• Melvin Busch Jr.

• Betty Clark

• Sara H. Cowgill

• Ruth L. Crumrine

• Susan Dunlap Marr

• Jesse Eyeman

• Anna G. Ferguson

• Rosemary Flowers

• Emmett J. France

• Rebecca F. Fraundorfer

• A.L. Gregg

• Nellie Hatfield

• Logan Holl

• Walter E. Hoover

• Imogene G. Howland

• Louise Kling

• Thelma and John G. LeBrun

• Arline and Clay Littick

• Anna J. Lytle

• Theodore R. Magnuson

• Marcella Niehaus Mahrt

• Louis McClain

• Mary Jane and Donald McClurg

• Phyllis Milks

• Mary Ann Moeffert

• William B. and Norma Moore

• Donald Robbins

• Della Selsor

• Barbara P. and Larry Smith

• Burton Stevenson

• Merry E. Texter

• Buell F. Webster

• George Wooster

• Mabel Wurster

PEARL SOCIETY

Donors Making a Difference

2023 Members

Shakila F. Ali and Glen Aherns

Marshell Arnold

Mary Auch

Bhakti Bania and Bharat Baste

Melanie Berman

Ann Burson

Carla L. Cefaratti

Michelle D. Cramer

Phylis and Ray Crook

Suzanne and Donald Cruickshank

Catherine Cunningham

Deirdre DeWeese

Amy Franko

Laura A. Froehlich

Eileen S. Goodin

Lisa Groff

Lynda Guenther

William Heffner

The Pearl Society includes individuals who have given cumulative gifts of $1,000 or more to our Annual Fund between October 1, 2022 and September 30, 2023.

Donna L. Hughes

Susan C. Hunt

Patricia and Jack Isaacson

Neysa and Kevin Jenkins

Joyce and David Johnson

Stella Keane

Susan “Casey” Kerr

Melanie Kolp

Susan Krantz

John P. Kusnir

Cathy Lanning

Kate Logsdon

Su Lok

Kathleen “Tak” Lowe

Sarah H. Martin

Elizabeth McAllister

James and Heather Monkmeyer

Jamison Pack

Barbara E. Poppe

Anne Powell Riley

Mary E. Rauschenberg

Amanda Reeves

Jennifer Reimer

Kevin Ronnebaum

Elizabeth and Collin Seely

Julie E. Sherwood

Ann and Doug Teske

Karen D. Townsend

Carol A. Ventresca

Molly and Brian Watts

Tammy Wharton

Annette and Lyle Whittemore

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

2022-2023 Board

Chair

Amy Franko

First Vice Chair

Shakila Ali

Second Vice Chair

Cathy Lanning

Secretary

Molly Crabtree

Treasurer

Sarah H. Martin

Members-at-Large

Marshell Arnold

Bhakti Bania

Melanie Berman

Darren Cherry

Lisa Groff

Stella Keane

Melanie Kolp

Susan Krantz

Su Lok

Natalie Mitchell

Jim Monkmeyer

2023-2024 Board

Chair

Shakila Ali

First Vice Chair

Su Lok

Second Vice Chair

Cathy Lanning

Secretary

Molly Crabtree

Treasurer

Elizabeth Seely

Members-at-Large

Marshell Arnold

Bhakti Bania

Darren Cherry

Catherine Cunningham

Lisa Groff

Melanie Kolp

Susan Krantz

Kate Logsdon

Sarah H. Martin

Natalie Mitchell

Jim Monkmeyer

Jamison Pack

Jennifer Reimer

Elizabeth Seely

Leslie Vesha

President & CEO

Tammy H. Wharton

Girl Members

Syna S.

Elyse W.

Jamison Pack

Jennifer Reimer

Brian Swanson

Amy Valley

Leslie Vesha

President & CEO

Tammy H. Wharton

Girl Members

Lilly S.

OUR COUNCIL

Union

Fayette

Highla nd

Wyandot Ross

Craw ford

Richland

Ashland

Wayne

Holmes

Morrow

Delaware

Knox

Licking

Franklin

Pickaway

Hocking

Vinton Pike

Perry

Coshocton

Guernsey

Muskingum

Gallia

Camp Beckoning Trails

Camp Crooked Lane

Camp Ken-Jockety

Camp Molly Lauman

Jackson

Marion

Madison

Adams Scioto