Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
Our Mission
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Table of Contents
Juliette Gordon Low Society ............................
Corporate Sponsors ..........................................
Circle of Friends ...............................................
Highest Awards .................................................
Membership ......................................................
Mission Moments .............................................
GSHPA Properties ............................................
Outdoor .............................................................
Programming ....................................................
Troop PA ...........................................................
Product Program ...............................................
Girl Scouts Celebrates 110 Years ..................... The Year in Photos ............................................
...........................................
...............................................
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.
Impact Report 2
Financial Report
4 5 6 7 8, 9 10, 11 12 13 14 14 15 16 17 18 19
Fund Development
Steering the ship
Dear Friends and Supporters of GSHPA,
The 2022 Girl Scout year was one of excitement, triumph, and positivity. After two years of virtual living and unpredictability, we were finally able to bring our members, volunteers, and staff back together again for in-person activities and events. And now, we look forward to navigating the next course for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania and the powerful impact we will have on girls through Girl Scouting.
As an organization, we celebrated our 110th anniversary in 2022. Through this milestone we not only recognized 110 years of Girl Scouts, but the proven success of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. In 2022, GSHPA saw 9,958 girls learning and growing as Girl Scouts. Through our STEM, outdoors, entrepreneurship, and life skills programming, our girls gained crucial skills that will serve them not only in youth, but throughout their entire lives.
This past year also brought many great events and opportunities for girls and volunteers alike. We thrived in the winter with a successful Girl Scout Cookie Season that saw over 7,600 of our girl members participate in the world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial program. Our members made a difference in our environment by planting 1,475 new trees throughout the year for the Girl Scout Tree Promise. And we had over 400 girls step out of their comfort zones to try new things and make new friends at GSHPA Summer Camps at all four of our camp properties. Our girls wouldn’t have had the successes they experienced without an essential group of people at the helm – our volunteers. GSHPA had 2,991 hardworking and passionate individuals volunteer with Girl Scouts in 2022. Our volunteers know firsthand how vital Girl Scouts is to the growth and development of our future female leaders. It is because of their all hands-on deck mentality and belief in our mission that we maintained a steady course in ensuring Girl Scouts was available to all girls in the 30 counties that we serve.
Helping drive impact were our individual, foundation, and corporate donors, as well as our program partners. We so greatly appreciate the generosity of these donors. With their support, we are able to reach more girls and make a bigger impact.
Whether we faced calm or choppy waters this past year, the successes and milestones of 2022 prove that GSHPA is forging a sustainable path for Girl Scouts in northeastern and central Pennsylvania. Together we will continue sailing ahead in our mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character. And we cannot wait to see what is beyond the horizon for Girl Scouts.
2021-2022
Board of Directors
Chair of the Board
Adrienne Vicari
Enola, PA Vice-Chair
Alison L. Bernhardt
Harrisburg, PA Secretary
Jeshanah Fox
Marysville, PA Treasurer
Bridget Casher
New Cumberland, PA
Members-at-Large
Anthony Billet
York, PA
Impact Report
Adrienne Vicari Board Chair Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
Janet Donovan RADM, JAGC, USN (Ret.) President and Chief Executive Officer Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania
These exceptional individuals create a legacy for the next generation of leaders.
The Juliette Gordon Low Society is a special group who have made the commitment to share their legacy with the Girl Scouts. Through their dedication and vision, these individuals empower GSHPA to fulfill its vital mission of inspiring girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
Members of the Juliette Gordon Low Society receive:
• Recognition as a member of the society and invitations to special events hosted by Girl Scouts
• Updates about the work of Girl Scouts, nationwide and in their community
• The joy of knowing that their gift will impact girls for future generations
Erik and Eva Andersen
Josephine Appell
Joanne M. Bankos
Carol Bartoe
Susan J. Beittel
Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder
Karen Diener Best
Sharon Blosser
Beth Anne Bodtorf
Louise Brown
Nancy Bryant
Marie Carpentier
Linda Castagna
Shirley M. Covert
Kate Crowley
Linda L. Davis
Judith Doviak
Carol Eberly
Carol V. Freer
Kristine Frey
Jane L. Grim
Sara L. Hannigan
William Hoffmann
Charmine Hoke
Carolyn Hunger
Kyle F. Kauffman
Marilyn D. Kauffman
Betsy Keefer
Carrol B. Kindel
Patricia Kotchek
Marguerite W. Leahy
Gwen L. Loose
Barbara Mable
David Maneval
Maralyn Mazza
David and Kathryn McCorkle
Janie McKnight
Martha E. Meadows
L. Sue Morrison
Joan and Keith Mummert
Doris Myers
Marianne S. Nolt
Terry C. Novak
Karen Poe
Candy Poklembo
Flora H. Poulos
Donna Pullo
Jane Ransom
Susan Ross
Chriss Schultz
Joan S. Scott
Susan E. B. Shetter
Anne Marie Shuey
Pamela Silar
Sue Anne Snell
Belinda and James Stefl
Mary Noel Stenberg
Linda F. Thum
Edward and Milicent Treat
Beth Tyson
Rosalyn R. Ward
Carolyn F. Warman
Diana E. Weaver
Laura Weber
Cornelia M. Yoder
Harry K. Alwine*
Joseph J. Anselmo, Sr.*
Lawrence Arnold*
Vivian Beaston*
Kathleen Benner*
Ethel Bergdoll*
Emma Lou Bowersox*
Nellie Boyle*
* Deceased
Martha L. “Marty” Brown*
Elwood Brumm*
Betty Jean Cannon*
George Delp*
Katherine Didier*
Lovetta M. Dinius*
W. Paul Fegley*
M. Martha Foreman*
Constance Gehman*
Carl and Josephine Gettig*
Jeanne Gordon*
Whyona Graver*
Dorothy Heisey*
S. D. Hockman*
Grace Hostetter*
Robert Hostetter*
Hugh E. Hughes*
Jean K. Hull*
Sherman & Laura Kelly*
Crull Kister*
Marlene Kruger*
Carlos and Georgiana Leffler*
Pearl Lower*
James McBean*
Edie O’Hara*
Josephine Pederson*
Nancy Richardson*
Charles A. Robertson*
Harold & Sallyanne Rosenn*
Alice Wagner Hostetter*
John Ward*
Alan Warehime*
Marie Williams*
William Young*
Jay Zarfos*
Martha Zeller*
Dr. Hermann and Mary Zwerling*
Impact Report 4
Our supporters provide opportunities in the lives of our Girl Scouts.
Airie Knipel, Harry V. and J. William Warehime Foundation
Barley Snyder
Bass Pro Shops
Boyer & Ritter LLC
Brent L. Miller Jewelers & Goldsmiths
Brown Schultz Sheridan & Fritz
Capital Blue Cross
Central Penn Business Journal
Collens-Wagner Insurance Agency, Inc.
Dauphin County Community Fund
Dauphin County Gaming Advisory Board
Donegal Insurance Group
Duck Donuts
Edwards Business Systems
Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank
Futer Bros. Jewelers
Geisinger Health System
Gentex Corporation
Glatfelter Insurance Group
H. A. Tattersall Medical Center
Hershey Entertainment and Resorts
Highmark Blue Shield
Huntingdon County United Way
Interbake Foods LLC
John Family Foundation
Johnson and White Wealth Management
Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful Kingfisher Group, LLC
Konhaus Print and Marketing
Lackawanna County
Lamar Advertising LINK Foundation
Lobar Associates, Inc.
M&T Charitable Foundation
Magee Foundation Fund of Community Giving Foundation
McCormick Family Foundation
Members 1st Charitable Foundation
Members 1st Federal Credit Union
Mid Penn Bank
Monroe County Sheriff’s Office
Mutual of America
Nivert Metal Supply
Orrstown Bank
Penn State Health
Pennian Bank
Pennsylvania College of Technology
PNC
PPL Corporation
RETTEW
RG Group
Richard S. & Ann B. Barshinger Family Foundation
Shipley Energy
Susquehanna Style
Susquehanna Valley United Way
The Anne Brossman Sweigart Charitable Foundation
The Arthur J. and Lee R. Glatfelter Foundation
The Benecon Group, Inc.
The Bishop Foundation
The Dime Bank
The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation
The Elmer E. Naugle Foundation
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities
The G. Dewey & Mary J. Krumrine Foundation
The Hershey Company
The High Companies
The Kenneth Bankert Foundation, Inc.
The Steinman Foundation
The Stewart Companies
The York Water Company
Traditions Bank
Truist
UGI Utilities, Inc
United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties
United Way of York County
UPMC
Waterday Foundation
Weis Markets, Inc.
WellSpan Health
WGAL 8
White Rose Leadership Institute
William E.C. & Mary Dearden Foundation
Wyoming County United Way
York College of Pennsylvania
York County Economic Alliance
York County Planning Commission
5
Circle of Friends
Girl Scouts benefits from generous donors.
The Circle of Friends Giving Society includes our most generous supporters. Each year, they deepen their commitment to girl leadership with a transformative gift that makes Girl Scouts accessible to thousands of girls across our footprint.
Diamond
Terry and Caryl Hollinger
Betsy Keefer
Mary Troy
Patricia Vance
Anonymous
Anonymous
Emerald
Michael Boarman
Linda and Patrick Castagna
Jeshanah and Matthew Fox
Virginia L. John
Donna and Robert Pullo
Daniel Sheaffer
Coni Wolf
Hattie Woods
Cornelia M. Yoder
Tourmaline
Marion C. and William Alexander
Mimi Barash Coppersmith
Mark and Denise Bennett
Karen D. Best
Janice R. Black
Lori Burkholder
Catherine and John Bush
Bridget Casher
Nicole and Steven Castagna
Linda and John Davis
David Del Grosso
Janet Donovan
Christine and Joseph Dougher
Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis
Lutricia Eberly
Blake and Linda Gall
Shannon Gority
Barbara Green
Pamela Gunter-Smith
William Hoffmann
Jayne Huston
Kim Lemon
Kathryn and David McCorkle
Jane E. and William M. Murray
Brenda and John Pardue
Linda R. Pheasant
Neal Rhoads
Daren Russ
Bob and Georgie Sibert
Barbara A. Sleeger
Imp 6
Our council returned to a much-anticipated, in-person Gold Award Ceremony in June.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award a Girl Scout can earn and provides Girl Scouts in high school the opportunity to use their passion to make a difference. The 2022 Gold Award Class totaled 68 girls who represented 20 of the 30 counties in GSHPA’s council footprint. This year’s class demonstrated a variety of passions and pursuits and proved that when girls go for gold, they can accomplish anything. Here is a sampling of some 2022 projects.
Katherine Copper
Hummelstown, Dauphin County
Hydroponic Victory Garden
Katherine addressed food insecurity in urban areas and pollution runoff. She created a hydroponic garden display at Hershey Gardens to demonstrate how to have an effective and efficient garden in any space. Her display is used to educate visitors.
Jane Corbin
Bloomsburg, Columbia County
Healthy Recipe Cookbook for Food Banks
Jane focused on addressing poverty, health, and education. She created a cookbook using ingredients patrons receive at her local food bank. She included starters and will have a highlighted recipe each month so families can be inspired to make family meals.
Rebecca Diaz
York, York County
The Death Penalty: Not in My Name
Rebecca led an educational online discussion available across Pennsylvania concerning capital punishment. She encouraged her peers to take action and continue asking questions, as well as offered practical tips to address this issue across the country.
Madeleine Haley
East Berlin, Adams County
Educate the Park
Madeleine wanted to educate her community on the Chesapeake Bay watershed and its many local waterways and wetlands. She created educational signage to show how community members protect their local waterways. She also made a QR code and a geocache.
Cali Moore
Hughesville, Lycoming County
Richart’s Grove Schoolhouse Preservation and Beautification
Cali restored and preserved a one-room schoolhouse in her local community to share with future generations. She cleaned and painted the building, created a digital tour of the schoolhouse and started a tour program to educate visitors about its history.
Abby Musser
Lititz, Lancaster County
One Swing at a Time
Abby is passionate about inclusion for children with disabilities having accessible playground equipment in her community. She installed two adaptive swings in her local park. This created space for future swings to be added and will allow growth.
Hannah Shriver
Beaver Springs, Snyder County
Starting a Food Pantry in My Community
Hannah identified there were many families in her community who struggled with food insecurity She decided to create a place where families could pick up free food. The food pantry will be continued by the host church and the church’s youth group.
Brianna Weghorst
Wilkes Barre, Luzerne County
Wood Duck Nesting Boxes
Brianna saw a large decrease in local wood duck populations in her area. She worked with local environmental groups and the Pennsylvania Game Commission to create 10 wood duck boxes that will be maintained by the commission in the future.
GSHPA provides opportunities for girls to earn their Bronze Award, the highest award a Junior can earn, and their Silver Award, the highest award a Cadette can earn. In 2021, 594 girls completed 101 Bronze award projects, and 345 girls completed 136 Silver Award projects. Scan
about our Gold Award Girl Scouts!
Impact Report 7
to read
Membership numbers bloom
From marketing to in-person events and roundtables, GSHPA found recruitment success.
We had an outstanding membership year in 2022 with a variety of initiatives that engaged 9,958 girls and 2,991 volunteers. In addition to many recruitment events throughout the year, GSHPA reached girls through campaigns such as our Kindergarten Readiness program, Bee a Friend Challenge, and Juliette roundtables.
We connected our volunteers to crucial resources through our Virtual Volunteer Conference and gsLearn trainings and courses. And the future looks bright after GSHPA experienced a wildly successful Early Bird Renewal campaign in the spring that saw 54% of our total membership renew for another year of Girl Scout fun!
Membership at a Glance
6,953 adults registered 2,991 volunteers registered 16,911 total individuals registered
9,958 girls registered
Early Bird Renewal Campaign
9,115 participants renewed their memberships
54% of our total membership renewed during this time period
Continued on Page 9
Cumberland County
Impact Report 8
“Reflecting back to my childhood … I want to provide my child the same (Girl Scout) experience. To be with her from kindergarten to fourth grade … it’s something she and I will remember forever. The girls need us. They want us there.”
Carrisa Burgett Volunteer
gsLearn
1, 859 courses completed
Top courses included Fall Product Troop Manager Training, Troop Finances, Introduction to Overnight Stays on GSHPA Properties, and New Troop Leader Training Part 2
Kindergarten Readiness Campaign
25 girl participants in five counties
Recruitment Events
More than 50 events
October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022
All GSHPA staff attended and assisted with recruitment events
Virtual Volunteer Conference
101 registrants
January 15, 2022
Top sessions included a main stage speaker, Meet the Program Team, Keeping Girls Engaged, and Outdoor Events
Juliette Engagement
327 Juliettes registered
October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022 Monthly Juliette specific emails and bi-monthly Juliette virtual roundtables were held throughout the year
Bee a Friend Challenge
28 new Girl Scouts participated in the fall of 2022 and were empowered to recruit their friends to join Girl Scouts
“I could see how much she had grown, matured, and learned how to be part of a team. The Destinations are organized so well and give rare opportunities for girls to participate in activities they wouldn’t do anywhere else.”
Centre County mom Michelle Varrassa on the experience her daughter, Josephine, (pictured) had while participating in a Girl Scout Destination.
Impact Report 9
Continued from Page 8
2022 marked a busy year of Girl Scout activities
Follow the map to read our Mission Moments throughout the year.
Our Facebook Impact
Total Followers: Just over 10,000 Posts: 672
Engagement: 27,000
Post Clicks: 18,000 Followers gained YOY: 654
Media Outreach
Press Releases
164 press releases distributed regarding news of our council. More than 300 news stories featured Girl Scouts in our council.
Impact Report 10
Troop 40418 created and donated beanies to kids in need.
Troops 10495, 10479 and 10481 held their bridging ceremony.
Troop 20443 innovates to sell cookies.
Troop 81010 helped a nonprofit summer camp.
2022 Gold Award Ceremony occured at Bucknell University on June 10.
70304
70416
Spreading the Word
GSHPA Blog
Our blog features news stories about GSHPA members, alumnae, and Girl Scout connections in our communities.
105 posts 14,485 views
Mission Moments
Mission Moments are stories shared by troops across our council about events, projects, and completed activities.
129 Mission Moment submissions
Top 10 counties for Mission Moment submissions: Lancaster, 21 York, 17 Dauphin, 14 Centre, 12 Cumberland, 12
Lackawanna, 8 Monroe, 7 Luzerne, 6 Lycoming, 5 Perry, 5
Impact Report 11
Troops
and
made no-sew pet beds.
Troop 33265 went backpacking program at Camp Archbald.
Scan to read about Girl Scouts in our blog!
Troop 52282 held their bridging and badge ceremony.
GSHPA properties provide limitless opportunities
We had great outdoor engagement at all four camp properties.
Although GSHPA’s headquarters are based in Harrisburg, reach our across the council is far with the help of our camp properties in Adams, Dauphin, Lancaster, and Susquehanna counties. Camp Happy Valley, boasting multiple year-round lodging options, offers visitors an outdoor experience near many south central Pennsylvania attractions. Camp Small Valley, GSHPA’s largest property, provides visitors 792 acres of fresh air surrounded by picturesque mountains. Camp Furnace Hills, home to 19th century Foxfire House, delivers a variety of unique historical programming. And Camp Archbald, the second-oldest Girl Scout camp in the
country, serves as the perfect location for a northeastern Pennsylvania getaway in the outdoors.
GSHPA spent the past year preparing to make some big moves – including relocating to a new headquarters in Hampden Township! We are looking forward to welcoming council members to our new home. The new building is set to open in the spring of 2023 and will provide a great space for girls, volunteers, and staff to continue fulfilling the Girl Scout mission.
Most Rented Units
Camp Small Valley Mattis East at 65 nights
Camp Happy Valley Skyloft Sunrise at 46 nights
Camp Archbald Treetops at 54 nights
Camp Furnace Hill Foxfire Program Center at 26 nights
Most Property Rentals
Camp Small Valley 400 nights
Camp Happy Valley 184 nights
Camp Archbald
269 nights
Camp Furnace Hills
67 nights
Impact Report 12
“I honestly love everything about (Camp Small Valley). I never tried the giant swing before and I’m usually afraid of heights, but I tried it and I loved it.”
Sonia Girl Scout Dauphin County
Mammals, STEM and adventure for all ages
GSHPA programming attracts girls to Life Skills, Girl Scout Night Out and the Outdoors.
Getting girls outdoors is a priority in Girl Scouts. Through a variety of programs, events, and activities, GSHPA worked to get as many girls as possible outside to learn, grow, and explore the world around them. With programs like Amazing Mammals, Outdoor Art and Adventure, and Get to Know the World Around You, girls of all ages had opportunities to explore the outdoors through Girl Scouts. GSHPA hosted unique events like STEM in the Outdoors and Girl Scout Tree Promise tree plantings. We once again brought girls back together in the summer for GSHPA resident, mini, family, and day camps at all four of our camp properties.
Impact Report
Girl Scout Tree Promise
1,475 trees planted during 2022
1,453 total girls participated in the Girl Scout Tree Promise
Outdoor Program Participation
1,601 girls participated in outdoor programming
69 outdoor programming events hosted
Summer Camp Participation
410 girls participated in Summer Camp
Suzanne Fishermother of Juliette Girl Scout Freyja (pictured) Wyoming County
“She continues to grow in confidence through Girl Scouts – this is a sisterhood of people who she knows will work together and be thinking of each other, even if it’s a single Juliette she meets online or at an event.”
Programming attracts girls to hands-on experiences
STEM and Life Skills appeal to members’ desire to learn.
Over the past year, we were finally able to start transitioning from virtual to in-person programs and activities. Troops were able to gather for STEAM Saturdays, learning about topics such as forensic science, robotics, culinary arts, and more.
Girls and families were able to overcome obstacles to participate in Girl Scouts through GSHPA’s Academic Edge Outreach program. They were encouraged to get outside through initiatives like the GSHPA Outdoor Challenge, Girls Go Summer Club, Girl Scouts Love State Parks, and STEAM Summer Kickoff.
Troops connected with many GSHPA Program Partners for events like Girl Scout Night. GSHPA’s program team hosted a variety of programs throughout the year to keep our girls engaged, no matter what their interests were.
STEM Program
3,273 girls participated in STEM programming 301 girls from other councils participated 84 STEM programming events held
Life Skills
217 girls participated in life skills programming 29 girls from other councils participated
Entrepreneurship/Financial Literacy
72 girls participated in entrepreneurship/financial literacy programming
Coming together at PA State Capitol for Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania joined Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania and Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania to kick off the Troop PA Girl Scout Caucus in Harrisburg on Nov. 9, 2021.
State Representative Karen Boback (pictured at right) hosted the event, along with Girl Scout leadership representatives and the governor’s office in an effort to share how female members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly can support and join Girl Scouts.
The Troop PA Girl Scout Caucus will be a bicameral caucus comprised of female members of the General Assembly who have served as Girl Scouts and/or support Girl Scouts. The purpose of the caucus is to bring together legislators of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and reinforce and promote Girl Scouting.
“Girl Scouts definitely had an impact on me in terms of helping me develop leadership and people skills, as well as my teaching and training skills that serve me so well now.”
Janelle Almond
Gold Award Girl Scout and alumnae
Impact Report 14
Cumberland County
Girl Scouts overcome obstacles to find success
Our entrepreneurs excelled during Product Program seasons.
Our Girl Scout Product Program seasons bring sugar, spice, and a wealth of opportunities for girls to hone their entrepreneurial skills and financial literacy!
From September through November 2021, girls got their first taste of business success through the Fall Product Program when they sold delicious nuts, candy, and magazine subscriptions to consumers. Girls had the opportunity to earn proceeds for their Girl Scout experience as well as exciting rewards. Girl Scouts were also able to take their business ventures a step further by creating their own personalized avatar and customizing their selling platforms. Despite the many pandemic-related restrictions still in place, our girls emerged successful having sold more than 116,000 items.
Girl Scouts were back at it again in January when Girl Scout Cookie Season officially kicked off in the New Year. With the new Adventurefuls cookie added to the lineup, our savvy marketers and entrepreneurs were ready to tackle any obstacle thrown their way to reach their cookie goals. Residual pandemic restrictions didn’t keep our girls from finding ways to connect with customers. Supply chain and inventory issues experienced by our cookie baker didn’t stop our girls from making sales. And a snow storm failed to keep GSHPA staff and volunteers from distributing and picking up cookies at the annual Mega Drop event.
Girl Scouts not only persevered through all these challenges, but exceeded their goals and increased their total number of packages sold from the previous year!
Fall Product Program
3,731 girls participated in Fall Product Program
Girl Scout Cookie Program
7,633 girls participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program 46,000 boxes were donated through Operation Gratitude initiative
Brylea Girl Scout Lycoming County
“The cookie program has really given me a self-confidence boost. The support system I now have through the Girl Scout Network is huge and growing by the day. It has truly changed my life.”
Impact Report 15
Girl Scouts celebrate 110 year milestone
This anniversary highlights the adaptibility of this girl-focused organization.
On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low made her dream of bringing girls together to adventure, persevere, and lead, a reality. Low called girls across the world to action to join Girl Scouts, a girl-led group focused on inclusiveness, the outdoors, selfreliance, and service.
Not long after Low first founded Girl Scouts, many councils established early roots around 1917 in Scranton, Harrisburg, Milton, and Philipsburg, eventually becoming Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania. The council also includes Camp Archbald in Susquehanna County, which still stands as the second oldest, continuously-running Girl Scout camp in the United States.
Throughout the following decades, GSHPA proved its worth as it faced some of history’s biggest challenges head on. Girl Scouts contributed to the war effort in the 1940s with local Harrisburg Girl Scouts knitting socks, rolling bandages, planting Victory Gardens, and selling war bonds. They took a stand against racial prejudice in the 1960s when a predominantly white Girl Scout troop met with a Black Girl Scout troop from Mount Union to discuss and better understand racial issues. And Girl Scouts crossed international borders in 1991 when they sent a delegation of girls from Penn Laurel Girl Scout Council to Kenya to work on a community development project.
What began as a collection of troops across the Keystone state more than a century ago has evolved into a celebrated organization that serves girls across a 30-county footprint. GSHPA’s longevity and relevancy is a direct result of the success brought by its unique girl-led programming. Through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE), girls are encouraged to face challenges head on and learn how to take action to positively impact their communities and even the world.
More than a 100 years later, Girl Scouts continues to call all girls to action – to embrace who they really are, challenge themselves, and grow and lead others in making the world a better place.
On March 9, 2022, GSHPA met with Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to celebrate this incredible milestone. GSHPA President and CEO Janet Donovan, along with three Girl Scouts, presented the governor with a 110th Girl Scout birthday card to sign. Girl Scouts also created a limited edition 110th anniversary patch for girls to wear and 110th anniversary activity sheets and coloring pages for girls to complete. And to close out yet another successful year of Girl Scouting, more than 100 people gathered this past fall at the Pennsylvania State Capitol to watch the lights on the Lt. Governor’s Balcony turn green in honor of Girl Scouts’ 110th anniversary.
“Girl Scouts gives girls the opportunity to use their voice. It’s that sisterhood we talk about. Girl Scouts is 110 years old now – they’re doing something right.”
Lynn Bixler
Impact Report 16
Lifetime Member and long-time Girl Scout volunteer and supporter York County
Remembering 2022 in photos
Girls making friends, having fun and trying new things.
Impact Report 17
Celebrating women in honor of Girl Scouts
Hundreds of supporters came out to celebrate and raise awareness of our mission.
The Country Club of York was filled with excitement and gratitude on Sept. 14 as GSHPA hosted its Women of Distinction Celebration event which raised over $150,000 for Girl Scouts.
More than 200 guests attended the celebration to support Girl Scouts and honor five outstanding women who represent the foundation of Girl Scouting. GSHPA recognized Marion Nivert as this year’s recipient of the GSHPA Generational Award which celebrates those who have lived by and shared the values of Girl Scouts with their community and future generations. Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, president of York College, was recognized as the STEM honoree; Kim Lemon, former senior anchor for WGAL, was recognized as the life skills honoree; Betsy Hamm, CEO for Duck Donuts, was recognized as the entrepreneurship honoree; and Shannon Gority, owner and principal consultant for Raindrop to River Consulting, was recognized as the outdoors honoree.
JGL Luncheon
Oct. 26, 2022
STEM, life skills, entrepreneurship, and outdoors are all components of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. As champions of women in leadership roles, Gunter-Smith, Lemon, Hamm, and Gority each embody a component of Girl Scouting and serve as positive role models and figures of inspiration to girls and women in our local communities.
Camp Appreciation Days
July 21, 2022 (Camp Small Valley)
John Wright Restaurant, Wrightsville
During the JGL Luncheon we celebrated and thanked the dedicated members of our Juliette Gordon Low Society. Like Juliette, Society members have chosen to include Girl Scouts as part of their legacy and as beneficiary of their estate The luncheon also allowed us to share recent updates and explore new ideas on how we can further the reach of GSHPA.
Aug. 2, 2022 (Camp Furnace Hills)
GSHPA invited donors and supporters to join them for two hours at a summer camp of their choice. Guests received a tour of the camp and learned about new plans and renovations. They also had the chance to see Girl Scouts in action as they participated in camp programs.
“When I think of the characteristics of an ideal Girl Scout, Miss Marion (pictured) pops into my head instantly. She cared so deeply about the Girl Scouts. Miss Marion was truly a Girl Scout mover and shaker in the Girl Scout community.”
Nikki Morristell, SOCA President, on Marion Nivert’s selection for the Women of Distinction Generation Award (photo of Nivert, at left)
Lackawanna County
Impact Report 18
The evening’s honorees, from left, Betsy Hamm, Dr. Pamela Gunter-Smith, Shannon Gority, and Kim Lemon
Financial Report
Thanks to generous donors, GSHPA awards scholarships and financial assistance.
Through a generous donation by a GSHPA supporter, GSHPA is able to award Gold Award Scholarships to girls who did outstanding work on their Gold Award projects. The scholarships are awarded by GSHPA and recipients are selected by the Gold Award Scholarship Committee comprised of women of influence within GSHPA’s footprint. Applicants are required to share their Gold Award project details, academic achievements, Girl Scout journey, and additional accolades.
Our Class of 2022 GSHPA Gold Award Scholarship recipients were Katy Schon, of Williamsport; Kaitlyn Hillenbrand, of Harrisburg; and Rachel Thornton, of Mechanicsburg.
Katy Schon
Lycoming County
Kids Korner by Katy | $5,000 Katy wanted to create more opportunities for children at the James Short Park. She created a GaGa pit, a four square court and a maze. Katy refurbished the recreation area by adding outdoor games, planting bushes to attract butterflies and adding hand sanitizing stations.
Kaitlyn Hillenbrand
Dauphin County
Food Pantry to Fight Hunger in Students | $3,000 Kaitlyn saw students struggling with food insecurity outside of school, so she created a food pantry at her school to combat the issue for low-income families. The pantry will be maintained in future years by the National Honor Society at her school.
Rachel Thornton
Cumberland County
Mobile Food Pantry for Middlesex | $1,000
Rachel addressed food insecurity in her school district by creating a safe way for students in need to get access to food through mobile food pantries. She hosted two events a month for families to get food that will be continued by the school district in the future.
The 2022 Girl Scout year afforded more opportunities to re-engage with the public following two years spent in a pandemic.
Fundraising surpassed 2021 total contributions by $527,000.
Product Program Net Revenue
Net revenue from the Fall Fundraiser and Cookie Programs increased 29.5 % compared to the prior year. This can be attributed to our membership growth, and an increase in Girl Scout participation.
Financial Assistance
GSHPA granted 1,067 members a total of $88,981 in financial assistance in 2022.
Impact Report 19
“Right is right, even if no one else does it.”
Juliette Gordon LowGreen Lighting Ceremony at Pennsylvania State Capital Building, 2022