2015 Winter Connections

A Quarterly Newsletter from Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania

WINTER 2015 EDITION

Connections PG. 2-3 • Leadership Update • Family Partnerships

PG. 4-5 • Investor's Report: The Impact of Financial Literacy

PG. 6-7 • Family Camp-Cation •Take A Hike: Be an Outdoor Volunteer • Planned Giving Girl Scout Troop 41230 teamed up with Penn State University’s softball team to host a pitching and catching clinic for the community.

Social Entrepreneurship

• Held 34 Cookie Booths between February-March, 2014

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Girl Scouts: The Business Troop 41230 of Giving Back By the Number What is in a box of Girl Scout Cookies? Upgrades to an animal shelter? Enough food to feed a family? A mobile library? It sounds crazy, but all of that and more can fit into a box of cookies because Girl Scouts are in the business of giving. And the giving is good for Cadette Troop 41230 from Port Matilda in Centre County.

• On average completed 1.5 community service projects a month

“I believe in teaching the girls to find ways to give back as they grow. That's how we make this world a better place, one girl at a time,” said Troop Leader Tara Mondock. And one box at a time!

• Served over 500 hours of community service

Some Girl Scouts sold over 1,000 boxes of cookies to help support their troop’s activities, service projects AND a trip to Savannah, GA. 12-year-old Maya Mondock’s cookie selling secret? “I ask everyone. I’ve probably asked over 1,000 people!”

• 3 Girl Scouts earned the President’s Volunteer Service Award Gold Level 4 years in a row • Support the service projects of 3 Silver Awards

This troop of Girl Scouts have worked together to Adopt-aFamily during the holidays, participate in Toys-for-Tots, host food and donation drives for those in need, build a ball pen park, socialize with seniors and so much more! Almost every area of need in the community has been served. “It makes me feel good that I can make a difference and have fun with my friends,” said 12-year-old Marissa Mondock.

• Paid $0.00 out of pocket to participate in Girl Scouts all year round

We want to hear your troop's story! Contact us at communications@gshpa.org.

Leadership Update

Dear Friends,

Both of us remember selling cookies- our first taste of what it would be like to run a business. The very first transactions were cookie sales in the neighborhoods where we grew up. We had to keep tidy order cards and tally up our collections. We had to make sure we had the right cookies to deliver. We had to set goals and work hard to meet them. We learned so much through our hands-on experience and it was so fun growing skills and connecting with customers alongside our troop.

But when it came to understanding what volunteers, parents, staff, and even local businesses were doing to support our budding careers, we were oblivious.

Now we are older and wiser Girl Scouts. This year we have data showing that 12,601 girls submitted orders, 5,014 girls participated in the new Digital Cookie option, and girls participated in over 3,000 approved cookie booths across the council--cookie booths stocked by 57 cookie cupboards. After weeks of working hard, our Girl Scouts sold over 1,655,000 packages of Girl Scout Cookies.

2015 Cookie * Program

• 12,601 girls subm • 5,014 girls parti

itted orders

cipated in the new Digital Co okie • 1,655,000 pack ages of Girl Scout Cookies

*Cookie data collected as of Ma

rch 16, 2015.

How is this even possible? Because of you! We see thousands of you rallying Girl Scouts, teaching them how to set goals and organizing themselves to sell cookies. We see thousands braving the cold to support the girls at the booths. We see our community members stop by a booth to pick up a box of cookies from a Girl Scout working towards a goal. We see hundreds of local businesses encouraging our young entrepreneurs by hosting Girl Scout Cookie booths at their stores. And oh, do we see boxes of Girl Scout Cookies in garages, car trunks and living rooms of our volunteers and parents!

Without you, our Girl Scouts would not be able to be a part of the largest girl-led business our country has ever seen or gain the essential skills that will help her flourish. We are thankful to all of your powerful support that encourages our Girl Scout entrepreneurs.

Sincerely,

Carolyn Warman Jane Ransom Board Chair President & CEO

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Family Partnerships Giving the Gift of Girl Scouts

Did you know that last year GSHPA invested $274/per girl to provide affordable Girl Scouting for more than 20,000 girls in our council? Did you know that girls in our area need financial assistance more than ever?

“We have seen an increase in the number of families in our community who need financial assistance for their girls to participate in Girl Scouts,” said Katie Knaub of Gordonville (Lancaster County). “We want to make sure that no girl is turned away from participating in Girl Scouts because of financial difficulty.”

You can help make this happen. Your gift and involvement in GSHPA’s Family Partnership (April 1-May 31, 2015) can help make Girl Scouting affordable to local girls in need. Last year, GSHPA’s Girl Scout families

raised over $23,000 to provide Financial Assistance for girls in need.

spreading the word, you can help make a difference in girls’ lives.

100% of the money raised stays in GSHPA’s council for financial assistance, and participating communities receive a portion to support their local community events.

Your reason to give might be your daughter, a niece, or even the neighbor girl down the street. “As parents, don’t we want all girls to grow up as empowered women able to change the world around them for the better?” asks Connie Scheunemann from Millville (Columbia County). This spring-let’s make a difference together.

“Because of Family Partnership funds, we are able to pay for over half of the cost for each event that our Community had for the girls,” said Linda Davis of Willow Street (Lancaster County). “This money is reaching every girl in our Girl Scout Community.”

Family Partnership fundraisers take on many forms, online giving, family coin collections, and special fundraising events like pancake breakfasts, bake sales, and car washes. By donating, participating, and

For more information on how you can support your Girl Scout Community during Family Partnership, please contact Lynne Dillard at ldillard@gshpa.org or 717.233.1656.

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NVESTOR’S REPORT:

The Impact of Financial Literacy

April is Financial Literacy Month, but our Girl Scouts are already ahead of the curve and have been busy investing in their financial education through GSHPA’s new initiative called Change It Up!. They’ve been rolling their quarters, pinching their pennies, and bulking up their piggy banks with fun events from life-size board games on money management to meet ups with business owners and financial experts to prepare them for long-term success.

From across the board and across our council, Girl Scouts (volunteers and girls) have taken stock in the importance of saving and building business skills.

“I learned there is the product, which you need to know about, the price, the places-like where you selland promotion-like decorating our booths and creating the website,” Lindsey said about discovering the 4 P’s of Marketing strategy.

- Lindsey Rogowicz, Mechanicsburg, PA (Troop 11592) GSHPA connected with a group of 10-15 year olds through a LIVE airing video chat from Junior Achievement’s BizTown in December - February.

“Do you make different buying decisions using your money versus your parent’s money?” Tricia Heisey from Belco Credit Union asked Girl Scouts. She then told how they could save their own money by making SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Adjustable, Realistic, Time-Oriented).

Below, GSHPA Membership Recruiter Sokkim Lay, at left, with Lisa Barhsinger from First Capital FCU, at right, during Big Save Video Chat Episode 2.

BIG SAVE VIDEO CHAT

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COOKIE CRUNCH TIME

CHANGE IT UP! THE GAME “As parents and adults we lose touch with our childish side and we expect our girls to understand finances as we do. Learning through the game helped it sink in on their level.”

- Melissa Cable, Harding, PA (Troop 30245)

WOMEN IN BUSINESS LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE A group of Girl Scouts connected with local business owners at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central PA as they received oneon-one advice on their resumes, cover letters, and mock interviews.

“It was inspiring to see some of the women come up from nothing and make their place in the world. It said to me, as a 15-year-old girl, that I could do it too,” - Katie Troutman, Halifax, PA (SU999)

SUPER SHOPPERS Over 800 Girl Scouts and volunteers have swept through GIANT® Food Stores to conquer comparison shopping and distinguish the difference between wants and needs.

Join us at our events.

Visit www.gshpa.org for details.

2015 Family Camp Dates Camp Small Valley: July 5 -8 Camp Archbald: August 8 -11

As a father of two Girl Scouts, Michael Davis, from Lebanon, knows how priceless uninterrupted family time can be.

Pictured right, the Davis family at Camp Louise's Family Camp in 2007 and below, at Camp Archbald's Family Camp in 2014.

2007

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\ y l i m a F am p-Cation C

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r a s e i r o m Where med that last create lifetime a

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2014

“In today’s world families are pulled away from each other in every direction,” said Michael Davis, father of Girl Scouts Kiersten, 18, and Kaitlyn, 15, from Lebanon, “We always knew that camping was a way to keep us together.”

And at Girl Scout Family Camp the Davis family could do just that.

“We thought we knew what we were getting into, but it was even better,” said Janiece (a.k.a.

Mom) about the ease of their camping weekend. The activities, events, and meals were all planned and the only thing the Davis family had to do was park their car.

The Davis family filled their days by exploring different activity stations, taking walks around the campgrounds and discovering nature. “My daughters climbed the tower as many times as their arms could pull,” said Janiece.

From action to connections, the Davis’ met tons of people! They chatted with some international counselors about future travel and college plans and hung out with other families (some experienced campers, some not) during activities, like the climbing wall. “The best part was that everyone was supportive and cheered families on,” said Michael.

From climbing walls to canoes, the family of four tackled everything in one long weekend and they all had their favorites. Michael enjoyed the waterfront activities. Kaitlyn will always remember riding horses with Dad. Kiersten prized the Family Challenge. And of course Janiece loved being together. “We are already looking forward to attending Family Camp next year,” she said.

Every day was an unforgettable, bonding experience and Michael appreciated the uninterrupted family time. “We were unplugged from TV and electronics so when the campfire ended, we went back to the houseboat and talked to each other until we fell asleep.”

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Juliette Gordon Low Society

Legacy Giving When considering charitable contributions, you most likely have encountered the term “planned gift.” This broad term is used to describe gift opportunities that are of a size or scope that require more consideration and planning than the typical cash donation. Planned gifts provide lasting support for Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA -- from the troop experience to camping – from financial literacy to leadership opportunities.

While often offering donors a variety of tax benefits, a planned gift might be in the form of a simple bequest, a gift of insurance or individual retirement account or a more complex donation, such as the creation of a charitable gift annuity that provides you or a loved one with a guaranteed income stream.

Take A Hike

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essential qualifications

= Be a Girl Scout member = Pass a background check = Be trained in First Aid = Complete Outdoor Basics training

Be an Outdoor Volunteer Do you have a passion for the outdoors? Do you have a couple of spare weekends a year? Our outdoor volunteers have hiked many miles and need a breather and could use your help.

Our Troop Adventure Camps and Backpacking Programs are in high demand by girls and we are in high demand of volunteers. Volunteer for a couple days or a couple of weekends a year to give the gift of the outdoors to Girl Scouts. As a Troop Adventure Camp (TAC) volunteer you can help with programs, preparew lunch, set up or clean up! It is as easy as that!

Looking for a bit more adventure? Become a backpacking volunteer and take Girl Scouts on the path less traveled.

Interested in volunteering or advancing your training? Contact camp@gshpa.org.

Planned gifts are made by a diverse group of donors, across a wide range of ages and income levels, who have one common connection – a desire to invest in girls and ensure that the future of Girl Scouting remains strong.

While many individuals are limited by the realities of a day-to-day budget, a little careful planning makes it possible for most to do far more in the future to benefit themselves, family, friends and Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA -- more than may ever be imagined.

To explore how a planned gift can meet your personal needs while supporting future generations of Girl Scouts, please contact:

Debra Hess Director, Fund Development 717-233-1656 � dhess@gshpa.org

Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania 350 Hale Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17104 800.692.7816 www.gshpa.org | general@gshpa.org

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Sign up for summer camp!

Visit www.gshpa.org

Adventure Awaits