Girl Scouts receives $10,000 from Fort Bend Junior Service League
The Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council (GSSJC), one of the largest Girl Scout Councils in the U.S., received a $10,000 check from the Fort Bend Junior Service League (FBJSL). The grant will help make the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE) available to girls living in underserved areas of Fort Bend County, including those who attend schools located in Fort Bend and Lamar Consolidated ISDs, as part of the Council’s Girl Scouts on the Go Program. The GSLE engages girls in discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place.
“GSLE is available wherever girls are — in schools, community centers and places of worship,” said Mary Vitek, chief executive officer of GSSJC. “We are grateful that the (FBJSL) supports us in meeting the many needs of at-risk girls in Fort Bend County, including providing leadership opportunities that empower girls to make good decisions and change the communities in which they live.”
GSSJC plans to reach more than 1,000 girls attending Fort Bend County-area schools during the 2012-2013 school year. Girl Scouts on the Go is offered free-of-charge to girls during and after school for 27 weeks each year. In-school programs take place once per week during girls’ physical education classes, while after-school programs take place once per week for approximately one hour. In addition, girls take two overnight trips to camp, an opportunity for them to gain independence, work with others, enjoy the outdoors and develop a respect and appreciation for nature.
GSSJC meets the many needs of at-risk girls in the community by leveraging community partnerships, which helps the Council make the greatest impact. The support of these partnerships enabled GSSJC to serve more than 70,000 girls and nearly 19,000 adults during the 2010-2011 school year. Of these girls, 21,721 at-risk girls participated in community outreach programs, and 6,227 took part in Council-led recruitment programs in underserved areas. More than 2,450 girls attended resident camp with 267 on scholarship, and 176 achieved their Gold Award, the highest honor in Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s preeminent organization for girls, with a membership of more than 3.7 million girls and adults. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Chartered by GSUSA to provide Girl Scouting locally, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is one of the largest Girl Scout councils in the country serving more than 70,000 girls served and nearly 19,000 adult members in 26 southeast Texas counties.
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