Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Girl Scout Promise
On my honor, I will try: To serve God* and my country, To help people at all times, And to live by the Girl Scout Law.
Girl Scout Law
I will do my best to be honest and fair, friendly and helpful, considerate and caring, courageous and strong, and responsible for what I say and do, and to respect myself and others, respect authority, use resources wisely, make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.
A Message from our CEO and Board Chair
Dear Friends,
In 1924, a group of women helped form what is now Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas and changed the world for good.
Perhaps they imagined the movement they helped ignite would be around a century later, but surely, they could not have foreseen the number of lives changed and communities improved thanks to Girl Scouts.
These women and the Girl Scouts who followed them were a lot like you. They had big dreams. They were trailblazers, redefining what was possible for themselves and for girls everywhere. And they empowered generations of young Texans to achieve their greatest potential as engaged citizens and leaders.
Our Centennial celebration in 2024 honored them as well as those of you who have carried on their legacy the past 100 years. Thank you for helping make it such a resounding success!
A celebration for all girls
We kicked things off by debuting our special Centennial float in various parades across our region, thanks to the generosity of Gamez Law Firm. We also celebrated our history with the unveiling of a mural in downtown San Antonio depicting Girl Scouts who have made and are making a difference in our communities. A yearlong slate of activities followed; see pages 6-7.
At our Birthday Bash on March 11, 2024, we announced our exciting “A Backyard for all Girls” major gifts campaign for The Backyard. This multi-use outdoor space at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center will provide an accessible space for Girl Scouts and girls in the community to have the freedom to experience the benefits of exploring their environment, connecting with nature, and developing new
skills as they grow into the leaders they choose to be. Learn more on Pages 18-19.
We could not have realized this dream—or such a memorable Centennial—without dedicated and generous donors, staff, volunteers, Girl Scouts, families, and friends. You keep this movement going, and we are grateful.
Our
next 100 years
Our everyday work continues. Our Girl Scouts never slowed down even amidst the celebratory activities. They earned 12,665 badges, sold 1,202,988 packages of Girl Scout Cookies, attended events and camp, earned top awards, and made a difference in their communities.
We continue to work to strengthen the number of girls in our program as well as camp attendees and those earning our Highest Awards, especially the Girl Scout Gold Award. We know these opportunities are life-changing, and we want as many girls to experience them as possible.
Thank you again for all that you do to support our girls and our mission. We’re ready for the next 100 years. Join us.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Dr. Sarah Baray Chair Board of Directors
Angie Salinas
Major General USMC (Ret.)
Chief Executive Officer
Board Chair
Dr. Sarah Baray
1st Vice Chair
Lea Ream
2nd Vice Chair
Sara Brouillard
Secretary
Gwendolyn Jaramillo
Treasurer Amy Grubbs
Members-At-Large
Rebecca Brune
Luis de la Garza
Dr. Gretcha Flinn
Kim Ford
Monica Moore-Gonzalez
Carrie Gray
Teri Grubb
Dr. Cindy Johnston
Lori Johnson Leal
Michelle Martinez
Makayla Matheson
Anthony Medina
Amy Perry
Erika Prosper
Maritza Rodriguez
Amy Shaw
Dr. Atikah Shemshack
Claudia Smithwick
Annie Uribe Turner
Dr. Sandi Wolff
Angie Salinas, Ex Officio
Ex Officio Girl Board Members
Rachel Sherman, Girl Board Chair
Aliana Flores, Vice Chair
Ashley Dudzikowski
Milana Dudley
Nicolette Duque
Amaya Hill
Anushka Jain
Karina Jo Leija
Tristyn Myrick
Ayesha Obhrai
Wendy Sauceda
Chloe Verducci 3
Our Members
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas supported 9,624 girls as they developed courage, confidence, and character and made the world a better place.
Girls: 9,624
Daisies: 26%
Girls in grades K-1
Adults: 3,801
Brownies: 27%
Girls in grades 2-3
Juniors: 24%
Girls in grades 4-5
Cadettes: 14%
Girls in grades 6-8
Race
Ethnicity
Seniors: 5%
Girls in grades 9-10
Ambassadors: 4%
Girls in grades 11-12
Girl Scouts is a great way to make friends, try new things, and make a difference!
Brielle Y., Girl Scout Cadette (Brielle is pictured on the left)
Ways to be a Girl Scout
Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas is committed to serving our area’s diverse population and meeting girls where they’re at— whether that’s at school, in after-school programs, or at home. By expanding our programming, we’re engaging with girls and families who wouldn’t typically connect with the organization. Many are considered economically disadvantaged and at-risk, especially those who live in Edgewood Independent School District where our West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center is located. Our programming helps these girls reach their full potential, and our West Side center provides a safe space for them to discover themselves, connect with others, and take action to make the world a better place.
Girls participate through two main pathways: the volunteer-led experience, and partner-led programming:
Volunteer-led experience
Volunteer-led troop (37.4%)
Troop (total of 226*) format led by a volunteer—usually a parent or caregiver of one of the members in the troop.
Partner-led programming
In-school (28.1%)
Independently registered girl (4.4%)
Girl Scout who is not in a troop and participates through programming at their own pace.
Facilitated by teachers/instructors at 13 schools in the Edgewood and Harlandale independent school districts. Girls follow curriculum provided through virtual or in-person programming led by council staff.
Collaborations (22.1%)
Led by trained staff members at 57 after-school organization sites, girls follow curriculum provided by council staff.
Gamma Sigma Pearls™ and Gamma Sigma Girls® (7.1%)
Led by trained teachers/instructors at 14 middle schools (Pearls) and 10 high schools (Girls), girls sign up to participate in this sorority-like leadership development program.
41.8% of girls
58.1% of girls
Girl Genius (0.8%)
Led by council staff, this after-school tutoring and Girl Scout programming is conducted at our West Side center.
Note: It is possible for a girl to be in more than one of these categories.
*Troops of a least five members 5
Our Centennial
You only turn 100 once, and thanks to you, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas celebrated its 100th anniversary in style in 2024!
The fun included working with local governments to receive special proclamations honoring our Centennial; a big Birthday Bash at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center and the dedication of the new GSSWT Centennial Museum; a special Centennial float and participation in more than a dozen parades; a one-of-a-kind mural downtown telling our story and honoring leaders in our Movement; raising funds for The Backyard, a multipurpose outdoor space at the Sally Cheever center that will provide a backyard for all girls; Adventure Days in various cities, and one big Adventure Day in San Antonio celebrating everything from STEM to the outdoors to the arts featuring Kate the Chemist; and more.
Thank you for helping make this once-in-a-lifetime celebration a blast! Your participation in these events made them special, and we are grateful you are a part of Girl Scouts.
Here’s to the next 100 years!
Learn more about the Centennial Mural by scanning here or visiting www.gsswt100.org/mural
Our Program
Girl Scouts look at our world and take action to change it for the better. They make friends, challenge themselves with new experiences, write their own stories, and develop the skills and confidence to say, “I know I can do this!”
So how do they do it? It’s all part of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience, which has four pillars: STEM, outdoors, life skills, and entrepreneurship. It’s what makes Girl Scouting a unique experience for girls.
12,665
Number of badges Girl Scouts earned
2,795 STEM badges
4,413 Life Skills badges
2,368 Outdoor badges
3,089 Entrepreneurship badges
Girls have fun at the 2024 Cookie Rally, where they celebrated and learned about all things related to the Girl Scout Cookie season.
Girl Scout Activities
2,262* girls attended 63 activity and training events.
Girl Scout programming helps girls discover new passions and grow their talents. Exploring aviation, learning what doctors do, practicing archery, participating in theater and music, building robots, studying animals, marching in parades, discovering the outdoors—Girl Scouts do a bit of everything!
*Reports duplicated attendees; girls often attend more than one activity each year.
Thousands of girls participated in events such as the African American Advisory Committee’s Mother-Daughter Tea to Adventure Day SA, part of our Centennial. Learn more about how we celebrated our 100th anniversary on pages 6-7.
Camp & Outdoors
Girls had a blast in summer 2024!
Whether they attended day camp sessions at Camp Metro at our West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center, or attended resident camp sessions at Camp La Jita in Utopia, Texas—or did both!—they learned new skills, made friends, explored the outdoors, and above all, had fun.
312*
216*
*Numbers for girl campers were only counted once. Many girls attend more than one camp session each summer.
Entrepreneurship
The 2024 Girl Scout Cookie Program was a huge success.
1,202,988
Packages of cookies sold to customers across south Texas and beyond.
14,099
$902,241
Approximate troop proceeds that funded amazing experiences, from troop trips to camp.
2,754 Girl Scouts who participated in the program.
Packages donated to local USO centers, Fischer House, Ronald McDonald House, and the San Antonio Food Bank through Gift of Caring.
5,168
Packages of cookies sold by our Top Cookie Entrepreneur, Bridget B. (pictured at bottom right)
My favorite part of selling Girl Scout Cookies is talking to customers and showing them the patches on my vest. Bridget B., Girl Scout Daisy, Troop 980 (pictured below)
Girl Scout Leadership Experience Outcomes
The foundation of the Girl Scout program, the Girl Scout Leadership Experience features a variety of fun, challenging, and experiential activities that empower girls as they develop five attitudes, skills, and behaviors essential to effective leadership.
Here’s how girls in our council responded to a survey on these leadership outcomes for 2023-24:
91% of girls developed a strong sense of self
93% of girls developed positive values
88% of girls sought challenges
87% of girls built healthy relationships
94% of girls desired to solve community problems
“
Girl Scouts is a community that truly instills courage, confidence, and character. It’s where girls grow through service, leadership, and friendship—lessons that have shaped me and will stay with me for life.
Girl Scouts take action to make a lasting impact in the world.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, Silver Award, and Bronze Award prove girls have what it takes to build a better today—and tomorrow. The Gold Award is the highest award in Girl Scouting.
Sliver Awards
Girl Scouts identify an issue, make a plan, and take action to improve their community.
Bronze Awards
Girl Scouts team up with a group of fellow Juniors to make a difference in their neighborhood.
12 Gold Awards earned
Gold Award Girl Scouts
The Trifecta Award recognizes Girl Scouts who earned their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.
Shara Alexander
Kaylee Carmichael
Trifecta Award Recipient
Liana Forster
Trifecta Award Recipient
Evalynn Hoffmann
Trifecta Award Recipient
Caitlyn Lamm
Trifecta Award Recipient
Maya Lopez
Trifecta Award Recipient
Payton Miller
Trifecta Award Recipient
Jessica Nunez
Trifecta Award Recipient
34 Silver Awards earned
Isabella Phillips
Rose Simonson
Trifecta Award Recipient
Natalie Taylor
Georgia Vergara
Trifecta Award Recipient
80 Bronze Awards earned
Melissa M. earned her Bronze Award for bringing support and recognition to kids with cancer. Melissa spent a lot of time at the hospital with her sister, Cindy, who is currently fighting cancer and receiving chemo through a port. Melissa was inspired to make chemo port shirts for younger cancer patients after a shirt once given to Cindy to wear during her chemotherapy treatment was too big and made her uncomfortable. Melissa collected 212 children’s shirts through a drive at her school. She then placed a zipper on every shirt for easy access to chemo ports for treatment and donated them to local cancer centers and hospitals.
Lilith S. earned her Silver Award for addressing both the problem of menstruation misinformation and period inequity by providing, to under-served teens, period kits that contained a menstruation guide (an infographic) with scientific facts that dispel myths and menstruation products that promote confidence. She created 500 period kits that were donated to organizations such as Big Mama’s Safe House and Child Advocates San Antonio. “I discovered that in helping my community, even in a small way, I have the power to inspire change and become part of something that is much bigger than a project started by one person,” Lilith said.
Kaylee Carmichael earned her Gold Award for creating a three-tiered garden bed at Smithson Valley Middle School to help conserve the population of monarch butterflies, which are vulnerable to extinction. Kaylee’s project helps the school’s science teachers by providing an outdoor learning space, and students will help maintain the gardens. Kaylee also created informational materials for students to learn about the life cycle of the butterfly and ways they can help conserve the population. Kaylee graduated from Smithson Valley High School and studies marine transportation at Texas A&M University-Galveston.
Our Partners and Supporters
We are fortunate to have people like you who believe in us and our mission. One of the fun ways to show this support is by sponsoring or attending one of our special fundraising events.
In April, we headed to Camp La Jita for “Girls Shine Bright,” a fun weekend and viewing party of the total solar eclipse. That month, we also celebrated our Lotería para Líderes (“lottery for leaders”) fundraiser, an official Fiesta® San Antonio event where attendees enjoy a time of kicking off the Fiesta® season and supporting Girl Scouts and the West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center.
And in September, we had a special, Centennial-sized Trefoil Award Luncheon and honored three women of distinction in our community—Mary Henrich, Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, and Lisa Wong—who represent the courage, confidence, and character we help build in Girl Scouts. The Trefoil Award is the highest honor we bestow outside of Girl Scout-related awards.
“
[My involvement with] Girl Scouts is probably why I’m able to step into situations and not be intimidated.
Jelynne LeBlanc Jamison, 2024 Trefoil Award Honoree
Patch Partners
We’re thankful for our Patch Partners—businesses and entities that have partnered with us to provide programming to Girl Scouts to prepare them for a lifetime of leadership. The Patch Partner Program is unique to our council, and we’re thrilled that thousands of girls can earn the patches each year and learn valuable skills from leaders in our community.
We were thrilled to welcome Boeing, the City of San Antonio, CPS Energy, H-E-B, USAA, Valero Energy, Wellpoint, and Wells Fargo for taking the lead in supporting Girl Scouts through these programs. Thank you for investing in the future by investing in girls!
A Backyard for all girls
To celebrate our 100th anniversary, we launched an exciting campaign that will change the way our area girls experience the outdoors. Our A Backyard for all Girls major gifts campaign capitalizes on our expertise by building The Backyard, a four-acre green space with limitless potential at the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center in San Antonio. Through this campaign, Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas will:
• Create a unique outdoor space for teaching valuable skills and building future leaders.
• Make outdoor programming accessible to all area girls.
• Improve the physical and mental well-being of area girls.
• Advance Girl Scouts’ mission and membership across the region. Because leadership begins in a backyard for all girls. We plan to break ground on The Backyard later in 2025.
Courage begins in the backyard. Confidence begins in the backyard. Character begins in the backyard.
Our Financials
How We’re Funded
Our funding comes from five primary sources:
Product Program
Girl Scout Cookies and other product program sales
Programming Fees
Participation fees for camp, events, and other programs
Philanthropy
Charitable donations and grants from individuals, corporations, foundations, governments, and other partners
Financial Assistance
We’re proud to offer assistance so that all girls can participate in the Girl Scout experience.
Retail
Girl Scout Shop proceeds from the sale of badges, uniforms, gifts, supplies, and merchandise
Other Income
In-kind
and miscellaneous
Our funding goes to three primary areas:
(75%)
(18%)
$489,851 (7%)
(51%)
$314,156 (3%)
(1%)
$923,593 (8%)
$237,899 (2%)
Our Donors
Your support changes the world because Girl Scouts change the world! Those changes start small, and they start here in Southwest Texas. Thank you for making a lasting difference in our girls’ lives.
Juliette’s Circle Donors
“Ours is a circle of friendships united by ideals.”
– Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts
Named for our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, Juliette’s Circle is an extraordinary group of individuals who are passionate about the Girl Scout mission. Members show their support by committing to an unrestricted gift of $1,000 or more a year for three years. Each gift gives girls a space to lead, thrive, and make the world a better place.
Because when girls are given opportunities to grow and develop their potential, they change the world.
Dr. Sarah Baray
Dr. Susan Blackwood
Donna Brady
Sara Brouillard
Rebecca Brune
Laura Burt
Ella Carrasco
Cece Cheever
Jean Cheever
Joan Cheever
Luis de la Garza
$25,000+
Patricia Diaz Dennis
Jan Elliott
Kelly Faglie
Saundra Finleon
Stephanie Finleon Cortez
Dr. Gretcha Flinn
Kim Ford
Monica Gonzalez
Jackie Gorman
Suzanne Goudge
Alice Kleberg Reynolds Foundation
Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation
Boeing Company
Cece Cheever
Jean Cheever
City of San Antonio
CPS Energy
Greehey Family Foundation
Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation
H-E-B
John R. And Greli N. Less Charitable Trust
Kate Marmion Charitable Foundation
Klesse Family Foundation
Kronkosky Charitable Foundation
Gamez Law Firm
Muriel F. Siebert Foundation
Myra Stafford Pryor Charitable Trust
Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation
NuStar Energy, L.P.
Carrie Gray
Teri Grubb
Amy Grubbs
Harriet Helmle
Mary Henrich
Jelynne LeBlanc
Jamison
Gwendolyn Jaramillo
Dr. Cindy Johnston
Lori Johnson Leal
Katie Jones
San Antonio Area Foundation
The Tobin Endowment
Tres Grace Family Foundation
United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County
University Health System
USAA Foundation
Valero Energy Foundation
Wellpoint
Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.
Wheeler Foundation
Suzanne Wade
$10,000+
Jon Brumley
Capital Group Companies, Inc.
Joan Cheever
Endeavors
Faye L. and William L. Cowden
Charitable Foundation
FirstDay Foundation
Frost Bank Charitable Foundation
Sharon Jones
Schweitzer
Dr. Yvonne Katz
Margie Klesse
Johnette Lee
Michelle Martinez
Cheif Justice Rebeca
Martinez
Dr. Cythia TenienteMaston
Anthony Medina
Janet Pedrotti
Stacie Prier
Lea Ream
Angie Salinas
Cynthia Schneider
Andrea Seal
Dr. Atikah Shemshack
Marsha Shields
Blythe Simonson
Cecilia Smith
Claudia Smithwick
H-E-B Tournament of Champions
Charitable Trust
Suzanne & Jimmy Goudge
Impetus Foundation
McCombs Foundation
Palmer Foundation
Angie Salinas
Summerlee Foundation
The University of Texas at San Antonio
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Texas, Inc.
$5,000+
CAPTRUST
Caterpillar Inc
Frost
Carrie Gray
Teri Grubb
Gwendolyn Jaramillo
Janet King
Julie & John Maguire
Joan Petty
Rosario’s
Paula Starnes
Diane Theiss
Jill Torbert
Annie Turner
Suzanne Wade
Lynn Weirich
Linda Whitacre
Dr. Sandi Wolff
Sally and Charlie Cheever Foundation
Silver Ventures, Inc.
Cecilia Smith
Texas Cavaliers Charitable Foundation
The Ewing Halsell Foundation
Via Transit
Whitacre Family Foundation
$2,500+
Alamo Colleges District
Ancira Auto Group
Andrade-Van De Putte and Associates, LLC
Dr. Sarah Baray
Ben E. Keith
Bexar County
Yonnie Blanchette
Elise Boyan
Broadway Bank
C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.
Cariño Cortez-Haass
Davidson Troilo Ream & Garza
Dixie Flag and Banner Company
Eatery Culinary Group
Ernst & Young LLP
Fabian’s Construction
Dr. Gretcha Flinn
Gonzalez Professionals LLC
GPM Life Insurance Co.
Amy Grubbs
Hoffman Ospina Landscape Architecture
Holt CAT
IBC Bank
John Newman Family Charitable Fund
Dr. Cindy Johnston
Adrienne King
Cyndi Taylor Krier
Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson LLP
Jessica Lombardi
Martin & Drought P.C.
Amy Perry
Parra & Co.
Phyllis Browning Company
Port of San Antonio
Lea Ream
RSM US LLP
Security Service Federal Credit Union
Sendero Wealth Management
Amy Shaw
Smothers Foundation
Southwest Research Institute
SWBC
The CE Group
theKFORDgroup
Annie Turner
United Way of Comal County
UT Health San Antonio
Leticia Van de Putte
$1,000+
Alamo City Tea Roses Foundation
Dr. Susan Blackwood
Bracewell LLP
Donna Brady
Sara Brouillard
Laura Burt
Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, LLC
Credit Human
Luis de la Garza
Patricia Diaz Dennis
Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation
Miriam Douglas
Carrie Dyer
Jan Elliott
Saundra Finleon
Stephanie Finleon Cortez
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
Girl Scouts of the USA
Monica Gonzalez
Elaine Hardman
John Henrich
Mary Henrich
Cecilia Herrera
Jefferson Bank
Lori Johnson Leal
Sharon Jones Schweitzer
Linda Kelly
Dona Kotzur
Michelle Martinez
Chief Justice Rebeca Martinez
Medtronics Foundation
Celina Montoya
P16Plus
Janet Pedrotti
Pre-K 4 SA
Stacie Prier
Lea Rosenauer
Cynthia Schneider
Andrea Seal
Adriana Segundo El-Farrah
John Sherman
Blythe Simonson
Susan Spanley
Paula Starnes
Vivian Garza-Steele
Elizabeth Swize
talkStrategy
Dr. Cynthia Teniente-Maston
Diane Theiss
April Ancira Thompson & Jason Thompson
Jill Torbert
United Way of Guadalupe County
United Way of Kendall County
Laura Vaccaro
Peggy Walker
Lynn Weirich
Whataburger Restaurants, LLC
Dr. Sandi Wolff
$500+
Christina Bocanegra-Perez
Central Park Lions Club
Kelli Cubeta
Barbara Gentry
Shelby Goolsby
Jackie Gorman
Greater San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
Barbara Anne Groce
Amy Hanson
Harriet Helmle
Estella & Chuck Kierce
Johnette Lee
MACRI
Darla Peek
Jean L. Peffers
Sarah Pierson
Erika Prosper
Ana Schroeder
Edward Scott
Sewell Automotive Companies
Joseph Uecker
United Way of Del Rio-Val Verde County
In-Kind
Karrie Adams Johansson
Edgewood ISD
H-E-B
Ann Marmion
The RK Group
Angie Salinas
Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. This list includes cash donations received Oct. 1, 2023 - Sept. 30, 2024.
If we have made an error, please notify us at development@girlscouts-swtx.org.
