Annual Report 2022-23

2022-2023

Our Mission

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,

We learn so much serving Girl Scouts, with each year seeming to bring a new lesson. If there’s one thing that hit home for us in 2022-23, it was this: Girl Scouts is truly a community of believers.

Our founder, Juliette Gordon Low, believed in providing a place where girls are encouraged to explore the world around them—and to do it together. She ignited a movement that spread to San Antonio in 1924, a movement that has redefined what is imaginable for girls here and around the world.

Believers like our staff and volunteers who volunteered to work at our summer camps so campers could enjoy the best Girl Scout experience possible.

Believers like our steadfast business, government, and higher education Patch Partners who provide programming to prepare girls not only for what’s ahead, but for what they may not have imagined they could achieve.

Believers like our donors, who gave more than $4.2 million to support our mission and exceptional programming, from being members of giving societies to attending fundraisers such as the Girl Scout Golf Tournament and Lotería para Líderes supporting our West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center.

Believers who helped us honor former Texas Senator Leticia Van De Putte as our 2023 Trefoil honoree for her lifetime of leadership and willingness to stand up for others in need.

Believers like every Girl Scout parent and caregiver who helped their girl(s) at a cookie booth, dropped them off for days of fun and making new friends at camp, learned alongside them at Cookie Rally and STEM Expo, and

encouraged them to embrace their superpower— being a girl!—at Day of the Girl SA.

Believers like the late Kathy Grantham, our council’s 10th CEO from 2000 to 2009, whose belief that girls needed a state-of-the-art building led to our first capital campaign and construction of the Sally Cheever Girl Scout Leadership Center. We lost Kathy in July; however, her legacy of devotion to Girl Scouts lives on.

Believers like Kathy—believers like you—have kept us going for a century. And it will take believers like you, donating your time, your talent, and your treasure to pledge to keep us going for the next 100 years.

As we begin celebrations for our Centennial, we cannot thank you enough for believing in Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas. Our girls need us now more than ever, and we are committed to building the next generation of leaders who change our communities for the better.

With your support, our Girl Scouts shine. When you believe in us, and in them, we all can do great things.

Yours in Girl Scouting,

Dr. Sarah Baray Chair Board of Directors

Major General Angie Salinas

USMC (Ret.)

Chief Executive Officer

2023-2024

Board of Directors

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

Lori Johnson Leal

Michelle Martinez

Makayla Matheson

Anthony Medina

Amy Perry

Erika Prosper

Maritza Rodriguez

Amy Shaw

Claudia Smithwick

Annie Uribe Turner

Dr. Sandi Wolff

Angie Salinas, Ex Officio

Ex Officio Girl Board Members

Erin Bean, Girl Board Chair

Morgan Stone, Vice Chair

Aliana Flores

Anushka Jain

Ashley Dudzikowski

Audrie Quesnot Torres

Ayesha Obhrai

Josephine Schultz

Mona Ceguera

Nicolette Duque

Rachel Sherman

Ria Vazir

Our Members

Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas supported 9,816 girls as they developed courage, confidence, and character and made the world a better place.

Girls: 9,816

Daisies: 29%

Girls in grades K-1

Adults: 3,954

Brownies: 25%

Girls in grades 2-3

Juniors: 24%

Girls in grades 4-5

Ethnicity

Cadettes: 14%

Girls in grades 6-8

Seniors: 4%

Girls in grades 9-10

Ambassadors: 4%

Girls in grades 11-12

Being involved in Girl Scouts has taught me what it feels like to belong in a sisterhood.

Erin

Bean Girl Board Chair

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 (40.3%)

Troop (total of 346) format led by a volunteer—usually a parent or caregiver of one of the members in the troop.

Partner-led programming

In-school (29.2%)

Independently registered girl (4.2%)

Girl Scout who is not in a troop and participates through programming at their own pace.

Facilitated by teachers/instructors at 16 schools in the Edgewood and Harlandale independent school districts. Girls follow curriculum provided through virtual or in-person programming led by council staff.

Collaborations (20.4%)

Led by trained staff members at 53 after-school organization sites, girls follow curriculum provided by council staff.

Gamma Sigma Pearls™ and Gamma Sigma Girls® (6.8%)

Led by trained teachers/instructors at 24 middle schools (Pearls) and 10 high schools (Girls), girls sign up to participate in this sorority-like leadership development program.

44.5% of girls

57.2% 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.

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.

13,764

Number of badges Girl Scouts earned

2,846 STEM badges

3,899 Life Skills badges

3,384 Outdoor badges

3,635 Entrepreneurship badges

Several dozen Girl Scouts had a blast last summer attending Phenom by Girl Scouts and the National Council Session, both part of the 2023 Girl Scout Convention at Walt Disney World® Resort in Florida.

Girl Scout Activities

823* girls attended 128 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, creating science experiments, 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.

More than 1,000 girls participated in major events as well, including Cookie Rally, STEM Expo, and Day of the Girl SA.

In October, GSSWT celebrated the fifth anniversary of Day of the Girl SA with another big bash at Hemisfair’s Yanaguana Garden. Girls from the council, other girl-serving organizations, and the community celebrated their superpowers and all the things that make being a girl awesome!

Camp & Outdoors

Girls had a blast in summer 2023!

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.

*Numbers for girl campers were only counted once. Many girls attend more than one camp session each summer.

Entrepreneurship

The 2023 Girl Scout Cookie Program was a huge success.

1,201,847

Packages of cookies sold to customers across south Texas and beyond.

14,692

$837,300

Approximate troop proceeds that funded amazing experiences, from troop trips to camp.

2,977 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.

5,076

Packages of cookies sold by our Top Cookie Entrepreneur, Victoria R. (pictured at bottom right)

The cookie program gives me the opportunity to work on goal setting and creating a personal brand, both of which will help me in the future.

Victoria R., Girl Scout Cadette, Troop 941

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 2022-23:

89% of girls developed a strong sense of self

91% of girls developed positive values

88% of girls sought challenges

87% of girls built healthy relationships

89% of girls desired to solve community problems

“

I enjoy Girl Scouts because I can make new friends and spend time with them. I get to sell cookies at a cookie booth and learn how to work with money. I also get to try new things like science.

Luz F., Girl Scout Brownie, Troop 9999 (pictured above)

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.

Our annual Girl Scout Golf Tournament is a fun way for golf aficionados (and a few novices) to support Girl Scout programming. This year was no exception, with dozens braving the cold weather to hit the course at The Dominion Country Club. In April, our Lotería para Líderes event became an official Fiesta® San Antonio event where attendees enjoyed a time of kicking off the Fiesta® season and supporting the West Side Girl Scout Leadership Center. And in September, we honored former Texas Senator Leticia Van de Putte with the 2023 Trefoil Award, the highest honor we bestow outside of Girl Scout-related awards, for her contributions to the community. Thank you for helping make a difference in girls’ lives!

Be kind. Don’t be afraid to try new things. And don’t be afraid to give thanks for what you have.

The Honorable Leticia Van De Putte offered advice for today’s Girl Scouts at the

“Mr. Fiesta” himself Michael Quintanilla, pictured here with CEO Angie Salinas, emceed the 2023 Lotería para Líderes fundraiser.

2023 Trefoil Luncheon honoring the former Texas Senator.

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 and its Aerospace Initiative and Wellpoint and its Bullying Prevention Initiative as partners this past year. Thank you for investing in the future by investing in girls!

Embracing Patriotism Initiative

From left, Gina Abad, chief mission officer, Becky Marek, Cindy Schneider, Karan Wroten, Margie Klesse, and Angie Salinas at the 2023 Girl Scouts Golf Tournament at the Dominion Country Club.

Highest Awards

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.

12 Gold Awards earned

50 Silver Awards earned

Monica Cruz earned Girl Scouts of the USA’s Gold Award Scholarship for her Gold Award project “Fun for All Ages.” She focused on encouraging youth to spend more time with the elderly, especially those in nursing homes and hospice care. She distributed information at colleges, conducted presentations for students and professionals about the benefits of spending time with the elderly, and led an event where volunteers engaged with patients via arts and crafts. She’s a graduate of Communications Arts High School, attends Northwest Vista College, and plans to transfer to the University of Texas at Austin.

107 Bronze Awards earned

Gold Award Girl Scouts

The Trifecta Award recognizes Girl Scouts who earned their Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards.

Caelin Alspaugh

Miriam Barba

Peyton Braun

Alexis Cartwright

Trifecta Award Recipient

Monica Cruz

Trifecta Award Recipient

Emma Heeney

Trifecta Award Recipient

Rylee Lippenholz

Amrutha Mummidi

Mia Pacheco

Saira Shakoor

Rachel Sherman

Trifecta Award Recipient

Jacqueline Shweiki

Kendal Simon

Trifecta Award Recipient

Vaibhavi Sunkara

Rachel Sherman earned her Gold Award for her project “Why Does It Snow In San Antonio?,” a picture book designed to educate elementary school students about climate change complete with rhymes, illustrations, discussion questions, and a classroom pledge. Sherman has conducted several signings and readings of the book at local bookstores and elementary schools, and you can purchase “Why Does It Snow In San Antonio?” on Amazon. Rachel is a junior at the International School of the Americas.

Amrutha Mummidi earned her Gold Award for her project “Teen Health” to increase awareness of the importance of mental, physical, emotional, and nutritional wellness for teens. Amrutha conducted interviews with leading physicians, a registered dietician, and a nutritionist and used them for a podcast to spread education and awareness to people her own age. Amrutha is a graduate of The International School of the Americas and is studying journalism and pre-medicine at The University of Texas at Austin.

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

What Our Funding Provides

Our funding goes to three primary areas: Change in Net Assets: $2,712,653

(74%)

(19%)

Beginning of Year Net Assets: $13,300,479

End of Year Net Assets: $16,013,132

(7%)

Our 2022-23 Fiscal Year:

Sales (net): $99,409 (1%)

Income: $493,137 (5%) Other: $92,936 (1%)

Revenues $9,413,157 Product Sales (net): $3,868,830 (41%) Public Support: $4,481,611 (48%) Program Fees: $377,234 (4%)

Contributions and Special Events: $4,227,304 United Way: $106,219 Grants: $148,088 Total Public Support: $4,481,611

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 G. Brouillard

Mary Rose Brown

Rebecca Brune

Laura E. Burt

Ella Carrasco

Cece D. Cheever

Jean M. Cheever

Regina Cheever

Mary Conditt

Chris Crane

$50,000+

Boeing Company

Luis de la Garza

Patricia Diaz Dennis

Jan M. Elliott

Whitney Ellis

Kelly Faglie

Saundra L. Finleon

Stephanie Finleon Cortez

Dr. Gretcha Flinn

Kim Ford

Monica Gonzalez

Jackie Gorman

Suzanne Goudge

Capital Group Companies, Inc.

City of San Antonio

Greehey Family Foundation

Harvey E. Najim Charitable Foundation

H-E-B

Margie & Bill Klesse

San Antonio Area Foundation

United Way of San Antonio & Bexar County

USAA

Valero Energy

$25,000+

CAPTRUST

CPS Energy

Carrie Gray

Teri M. Grubb

Amy S. Grubbs

Harriet Helmle

Mary L. Henrich

Susan Hough

Jelynne L. Jamison

Gwendolyn Jaramillo

Katie M. Jones

Hon. Yvonne

Katz, Ed D.

Lee Anne Keim

Janet L. King

Faye L. and William L. Cowden

Charitable Foundation

McCombs Foundation

NuStar Energy, L.P.

Texas A&M University - San Antonio

The Tobin Endowment

Suzanne A. Wade

Wellpoint

Wells Fargo Bank, N.A.

Wheeler Foundation

$10,000+

Christian Archer

Betty Stieren Kelso Foundation

Jon Brumley

Rebecca D. Brune

Cece D. Cheever

FirstDay Foundation

Margie Klesse

Lori Johnson Leal

Johnette Lee

Rebeca Martinez

Anthony Medina

Jessica Mobley

Susan Pamerleau

Janet Pedrotti

Amy L. Perry

Stacie M. Prier

Lea Ream

Angie Salinas

Cindy Schneider

Ford Motor Co.

Sharon Jones Schweitzer

Andrea K. Seal

Amy Shaw

Marsha M. Shields

Blythe Simonson

Ceci M. Smith

Claudia Smithwick

Paula Starnes

Diane Theiss

Jill Torbert

Laura J. Vaccaro

Suzanne A. Wade

Marcia and Otto Koehler Foundation

Mays Family Foundation

Muriel F. Siebert Foundation

Nancy Smith Hurd Foundation

Palmer Foundation

Angie Salinas

Sally and Charlie Cheever Foundation

San Antonio Area Foundation

Women & Girls Development Fund

$5,000+

3M Foundation

KGBTexas Communications

Nicole Nosek

Amy L. Perry

Pre-K 4 SA

Silver Ventures, Inc.

Lynn Weirich

Linda F. Whitacre

Dr. Sandi Wolff

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. The list includes donations received as of February 22, 2024.

Cecilia M. Smith

Texas Captive Insurance Association

The Brown Foundation, Inc.

The Center for Health Care Services

The Ewing Halsell Foundation

$1,000+

Alamo Colleges

Alterman, Inc.

Ancira Auto Group

Dr. Sarah Baray

Mike & Jennifer Biry

Dr. Susan Blackwood

Bounceology Inc

Brackenridge Park Conservancy

Joseph Brininstool

Broadway Bank

Sara G. Brouillard

Mary Rose Brown

C.H. Guenther & Son, Inc.

Joan M. Cheever

Cleary Zimmermann Engineers, LLC

Mary Conditt

Luis A. de la Garza & Sherry Hatcher

Dixie Flag and Banner Company

Dixie Starnes Wenger Foundation

Adriana El-Farrah

EY

Facility Rx LLC

Kelly Faglie

Saundra L. Finleon

Stephanie Finleon Cortez

Frost Bank

Vivian Garza-Steele

Girl Scouts of the USA

Monica Gonzalez

Goodwill

Suzanne C. Goudge

GPM Life Insurance Company

Carrie Gray

Teri M. Grubb

Amy S. Grubbs

Cecilia & Frank Herrera

Corinna Holt Richter

Susan Hough

IBC Bank

John Newman Family Charitable Fund

Lori Johnson Leal

Katie M. Jones

Major General (R) Jimmie Keenan

Janet L. King

Linebarger Goggan Blair and Sampson LLP

George Long

Julie & John Maguire

Medtronics Foundation

Celina Montoya

Morgan Stanley Gift Fund

Gregory E. Muenster

MV Transportation Inc.

Division 54 - Corpus Christi, TX

Oak Hills Foundation

Susan L. Pamerleau

Janet Pedrotti

Port San Antonio

Stacie M. Prier

Lea Ream

San Antonio Chamber of Commerce

San Antonio Professional Firefighters Association

San Antonio Zoological Society

Sharon Jones Schweitzer

Andrea K. Seal

Sec-Ops, Inc.

SSFCU

Sewell Automotive Companies

Amy Shaw

Silver Eagle Beverages

Blythe Simonson

Patricia Smothers

SWBC

Southwest Research Institute

Paula Starnes

Anamaria Suescun-Fast

Elizabeth R. Swize

talkStrategy

The HCA Foundation

The University of Texas at San Antonio

Diane M. Theiss

theKFORDgroup

Jill Torbert

Annie Uribe Turner

United Way of Comal County

United Way of Greater Atlanta

United Way of Kendall County

Laura J. Vaccaro

Leticia Van de Putte

VIA Metropolitan Transit

Dr. Alice B. Viroslav

Visit San Antonio

Whataburger Restaurants, LLC

Dr. Sandi J. Wolff

$500+

Donna Brady

Chris Crane

Jan M. Elliott

Dr. Gretcha Flinn

Cathy Obriotti Green

Rhonda Hart

Janet D. Holliday

Magnolia Pancake Haus

Marathon Petroleum

Rebeca Martinez

Raquel Sakai

Elise Ross

San Antonio Area Chevy Dealerships

- Northside Chevrolet

Edward Scott

Sheryl Sculley

Claudia Smithwick

United Way of Guadalupe County

Peggy Walker

Lynn Weirich

In-Kind

Angie Salinas

Carolyn Kahle

Edgewood Independent School District

Jonathan Goff

Myra Pilant

The Dominion Club

The IMG Studio

MM Creative

Every effort has been made to ensure the accuracy of this list. This list includes cash donations received as of September 30, 2023.

If we have made an error, please notify us at development@girlscouts-swtx.org.