2018 Annual Impact Report

All about the

2 0 1 8 I M PA C T R E P O R T

Susquehanna Wayne

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Wyoming Lackawanna

Sullivan Lycoming

Pike

Clinton

counties Served

Luzerne

Union

Centre

Mifflin

Monroe

Montour Columbia Carbon

Snyder Northumberland Schuylkill

Juniata Perry

Dauphin

Lebanon

Huntingdon Cumberland Lancaster

Fulton Franklin

Adams

Northeast Region

North Region

West Region

GSHPA Headquarters

Area Service Center

Mobile Programming Vehicle

York

South Central Region

South Region

Mission

Girl Scout law

Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

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.

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.

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Dear friends and supporters of GSHPA: The whirlwind that was 2018 has come and gone, leaving in its wake

Board Of Directors 2018–2019 BOARD OFFICERS Kathryn W. McCorkle Chair Wormleysburg, PA Deborah A. Kolsovsky Vice Chair Scranton, PA

much to celebrate! Will you take a moment and join us? This year was one of accomplishment, achievement, recognition, growth and most important of all, enriched experiences for girls throughout GSHPA. Thank you for your commitment to embrace change and envision new possibilities ensuring that truly exceptional programming surrounds girls.

None of the work of this year was possible without the support of our donors—individuals, foundations and corporations. From growing financial aid, to investing in mobile programming and expanding the

Melinda C. Ghilardi, Esq. Secretary Dunmore, PA

reach of program partners, each donor, every volunteer and scores

Stacy Klann Treasurer Mechanicsburg, PA

better place.

of friends actively bring the mission of Girl Scouts to life…to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a

In this annual report, we share stories of the impact of what so many of you have made possible through your donations of time, resources

M E M B E R S - AT- L A R G E

and talent. Please take a moment to be inspired and to take pride in

Lynn M. Bachstein Trucksville, PA

what you make possible for every girl member, every day…the best girl leadership program in the world!

Karen D. Best Lemoyne, PA Amy Brayford Berwick, PA Danna Rich-Collins Williamsport, PA Karen K. Deklinski Wormleysburg, PA Stacey O. Irwin, PhD Lancaster, PA Betsy Keefer York, PA Jeshanah McLeod Dillsburg, PA

Ellen M. Kyzer, MPA

Kathryn W. McCorkle

President & CEO

Chair, Board of Directors

Nancy J. Tulli Hummelstown, PA Deborah Vereen New Cumberland, PA Adrienne M. Vicari Enola, PA 3

Because of you—GSHPA’s donors —girls of all ages experience an ever-expanding world of learning and leadership.

2 017 – 2018 COR PORAT E AND FOUNDAT ION PART NERS • API

• Hershey Entertainment and Resorts

• PNC Financial Services Group

• The Anne Brossman Sweigart Charitable Foundation

• Highmark Blue Shield • John Crain Kunkel Foundation

• S. Wilson and Grace M. Pollock Foundation

• Armstrong Flooring

• John Family Foundation

• PPL Corporation

• Arthur J. and Lee R. Glatfelter Foundation

• Karns Quality Foods

• The R. Dale and Frances M. Hughes Foundation

• William and Jemima Brossman Charitable Foundation

• Kenneth Bankert Foundation, Inc.

• Repsol USA

• Josiah W. and Bessie H. Kline Foundation

• Roundtop Mountain Resort

• Central Penn Business Journal

• The G. Dewey & Mary J. Krumrine Foundation

• Scranton Area Community Foundation

• Chris Dawson Architect

• Larson Design Group

• Willis and Elsie Shenk Foundation

• Dauphin County Commissioners

• Libhart-Dyer American Legion Post 197

• Snayberger Memorial Foundation

• Capital Blue Cross

• The Dime Bank • Dominion Energy Charitable Foundation

• Lower Allen VFW Post 7530

• The Donald B. and Dorothy L. Stabler Foundation

• M&T Charitable Foundation

• Standing Stone VFW Post 1754

• East Stroudsburg University

• The Magee Foundation

• Edwards Business Systems

• Stewart Gilbert II, LLC, A Stewart Company

• The Mattioli Foundation

• Elmer Naugle Foundation

• McCormick Family Foundation

• Exelon Generation

• McKonly & Asbury

• T. Luke and Elizabeth H. Toomey Fund of The Foundation for Enhancing Communities

• Ferree Foundation

• Members 1st Federal Credit Union

• UGI Utilities, Inc.

• John and Sarah Bruch Fund in Memory of Grandparents at First Community Foundation Partnership

• Millersville University

• UPMC Health Plan

• MotorWorld Toyota

• UPMC Pinnacle

• First Energy Corporation

• Muncy Bank & Trust Company

• Weis Markets, Inc.

• First Federal Charitable Foundation

• Mutual of America

• First National Bank

• The Natalie and Maynard Smith Fund of The Pittsburgh Foundation

• Franklin H. and Ruth L. Wells Foundation

• Gannett Fleming, Inc. • Geisinger Health System • Giant Food Stores, LLC • Anne M. and Philip H. Glatfelter III Family Foundation • Glatfelter Insurance Group

• West Pharmaceuticals

• PennEast Pipeline Company

• Whitewater Challengers

• Pennsylvania College of Technology

• Woodlands Bank

• Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency

• York County Community Foundation Eleanor and Daniel G. Meckley III Fund

• Peoples Security Charitable Foundation

• The Hershey Company

• Dr. Hermann & Mary J. Zwerling Community Trust

GSHPA strives to present the highest level of accuracy in our recordkeeping. If we’ve made an error, please accept our apology and reach out to the Fund Development office at 800.692.7816, so we may correct it.

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2 017– 2 0 18 CIRCL E OF FR IE N DS DIAMOND

• Bill Hoffmann

• Katherine Bishop

• Kyle Kauffman

UNIT E D WAY PART NERS

• Betsy Keefer

• Deborah Kolsovsky

• Centre County United Way

• Robert and Donna Pullo

• Dolly and Rocky Lalvani

• Clinton County United Way

• Michael and Karen Leader

• Greater Susquehanna Valley United Way

EMERALD • Mimi Barash Coppersmith • Brendan and Karen Degenhart • Sidney J. Prejean and Melinda C. Ghilardi

• Bernadette A. Lear

• Huntingdon County United Way

• Barbara Lyman • Kathryn and David McCorkle • Jeshanah McLeod

• United Way of Columbia and Montour Counties • United Way of Franklin County

• Tom and Mary Jane Kistler

• Allison Meckley

• Ellen M. Kyzer

• J. Michael and Wendy Melhorn

• United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties

• Senator Patricia Vance

• Suzanne Moore

• United Way of Lebanon County

• Paul W. and Judy S. Ware

• William M. and Jane E. Murray

• United Way of the Capital Region

• Coni Wolf

• Barbara R. Palmer

• United Way of York County

• Neal and Linda Rhoads

• Wyoming County United Way

TO U R M A L I N E

• Mary Root

• Marion C. and William Alexander

• Bob and Georgie Sibert

• Kimberly Amsler

• Jack F. Snider

• Patricia and James Apple

• Dianne Steimling

to visionary donors who, through estate gifts, leave a lasting legacy.

• Lynn Bachstein

• Barb and Steve Taylor

• Eleanor Allen

• Joanne and Stephen Bankos

• Milicent and Edward Treat

• E. Louise Hepschmidt

• Lee and Bill Beard

• Nancy Tulli

• Mary Louise McDowell

• Karen Diener Best

• Adrienne M. Vicari

• Frances Skory

• Janice R. Black

• Michael Watson, MD

• Janet Straw

• Amy Brayford

• Jennifer Will

• Doris White

• Louise Brown

• Hattie Woods

• Cornelia Wolf

T HANK YOU

• June Brown • Linda and John Davis • Mary Dearden • Karen and Joseph Deklinski • Galen and Nancy Dreibelbis

GSHPA also would like to recognize those donors

• John and Eleanor Fogarty

who give generously…and anonymously.

• Linda and Blake Gall • Virginia Goodrich

GSHPA strives to present the highest level of accuracy in our recordkeeping. If we’ve made an error, please accept our apology and reach out to the Fund Development office at 800.692.7816, so we may correct it.

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Sisters in Life

Sisters in Girl Scouts Twin sisters Hattie and Mattie didn’t have the opportunity to be Girl Scouts. They were the youngest of 11 children and their family simply couldn’t afford the dues. Yet, neither girl let this dampen her enthusiasm. In adulthood, both became Girl Scouts with the intention of giving younger girls the experiences they had missed.

family. When Mattie got sick with a debilitating disease, it was natural for Hattie to step up and care for Mattie.

Hattie

Mattie

On the one year anniversary of Mattie’s death, Hattie decided to honor her sister’s memory. With deep emotion, Hattie says, “She’s at peace. Now I’m just trying to follow in her footsteps. I will keep her memory alive as long as I can.

She deserves it.” Thinking back on Mattie’s fondness for Girl Scouts and commitment to empowering young Hattie girls, Hattie knew a donation to GSHPA would be just what Mattie would have wanted.

When she wasn’t working as a librarian at Harrisburg Area Community College, Mattie Mattie served as a Brownie troop leader in the 1980s. Like all troop leaders, she was very busy with Mattie service projects (often incorporating her love of sewing), Black History Month educational activities and selling cookies at the Colonial Park Mall. Mattie worked hard to ensure that girls in her inner-city troop had a well-rounded Girl Scout experience including outdoor activities—her troop regularly hiked, took trips to camp and visited Knoebels Amusement Resort. As a librarian, Mattie knew first-hand the importance of applying literacy education into everything the troop did. The girls adored Mattie; her co-leader praised Mattie’s creativity. Mattie received a certificate of merit from the former Hemlock Council in 1986, recognizing contributions to her girls and the council.

Community leader and longtime Girl Scout volunteer Marion C. Alexander says, “Hattie and Mattie have been committed to serving the community for decades. It is heartwarming that Hattie has chosen to continue their shared passion for supporting girls with this gift in Mattie’s memory.”

Hattie’s story has come full circle. With her donation in Mattie’s honor, she will ensure that all girls can be Girl Scouts. Thanks to Hattie, Mattie and other donors to the financial assistance fund, no girls are turned away from life-changing Girl Scout programming because of family circumstances.

Hattie and Mattie embody the best of Girl Scouts.

Describing Mattie, Hattie says, “She just enjoyed helping people and giving back to the community.”

Hattie says “I know Mattie would be happy that she is still making a difference in the community.

These girls…they’re our future. And, in Girl Scouts, they have all of these areas that they can follow once they leave. The sky is the limit!”

Mattie and Hattie were devoted to each other. When not at work or busy volunteering, they spent all of their time together shopping, going to the theater, traveling and spending time with their extended

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Pursuing Dreams Through

Program Partners Like all Girl Scouts, the girls in Troop 60359

Melinda notes that, since her troop is from a rural area, finding experts to help girls earn their badges sometimes presents a challenge.

from Union County are quite busy. Between building a butterfly garden to brighten the community center where they meet, to bringing together their entire Service Unit to provide meals for multiple families in the local area, the girls are always focused on activities to earn badges and complete journeys.

Fortunately, because of generous support from PPL Corporation, PPL Foundation and Pennsylvania College of Technology, the STEM Mobile has solved this problem for Troop 60359 along with thousands of girls across GSHPA’s 30 counties. These program partners are deeply committed to empowering girls and have provided both funding and expertise to ensure that all girls have access to high quality, hands-on STEM education.

Once the girls pick the badges they want to earn, troop leader Melinda seeks community partners which can complement the experience, providing new insights into the topic. Melinda is especially passionate about finding professional experts to help girls earn the new STEM badges.

The STEM Mobile has visited Troop 60359 twice.

Girls rode virtual roller coasters and learned about positive self-esteem with Science of Happiness.

When asked about the STEM Mobile visit, Maggie, a Cadette, says “I LOVED it! It was so much fun.”

Melinda appreciates the STEM Mobile because it brings expertise right to their regular troop meeting, led by women who her girls can relate to and admire.

For example, many girls from Troop 60359 recently attended a Women in Medicine event at Williamsport Hospital, where they scrubbed up and took a behindthe-scenes tour of an operating room. Other girls attended an event hosted by the Bucknell University Engineering program, building and launching rockets. Melinda Program partner, AIA, at a STEM expo. and her daughter attended the STEM Expo at Pennsylvania College of Technology and learned to write computer code.

Girls have heard often this message from Melinda, “If you can dream it, you can do it. The only person holding you back is you.” With the support and investment from generous program partners, Girl Scouts from Troop 60359 are learning about all of the ways they can pursue any dream they choose!

Program partners like these enhance the Girl Scout experience for girls by providing unique insights and access to experts in different technical fields.

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Gold to Great!

Every May, a remarkable group of young women

and a Leader—a G.I.R.L.—who identified a problem, built an action plan, led a team and implemented her plan to make a positive, lasting difference.

gather to be recognized for a pinnacle achievement… the Gold Award. In 2018, 60 Gold Award Girl Scouts seized this honor and with it, attained the culmination of a life’s experience as a Girl Scout.

Their projects tackled themes both local and global, focused and vast, across 15 unique categories ranging from children’s issues to poverty.

Learn more about two Gold Award Girl Scout projects by watching Kaitlyn’s and Nicole’s stories at gshpa.org, featured in videos underwritten by our generous partner, UGI.

Gold Award Girl Scouts, Class of 2018

On their journey from Gold to Great, these 60 Gold Award Girl Scouts demonstrated to the world what it means to be a Go-getter, an Innovator, a Risk-taker

Every Girl Scout tells a story

Kaitlyn Baldwin York, PA

Nicole Pandolfi State College, PA

Excellence in Action!

about a volunteer who made her experience special…unique…a lasting memory. A troop leader on a camping trip helped a girl feel confident about being away from home for the first time. Or a parent who chaperoned a troop activity provided an extra word of encouragement. Each story confirms that volunteers create the Girl Scout experience in ways that affect girls for a lifetime.

Both awards recognize the deep commitment these volunteers express by providing their girls with challenges, fun, learning and exposure to new activities.

Brenda Crosley and Lesley McDermott

“We try to think outside the box with what we can do with them,” says McDermott. “There’s just so much that Girl Scouts offers,” Crosley adds. “It’s so nice to give the girls different experiences.”

Brenda and Lesley’s volunteer excellence has motivated others to give significantly towards financial assistance, for girls who need help to participate in Girl Scout activities. Most of all, both Brenda and Lesley embody all of the best qualities that Girl Scouts builds in girls.

Co-leaders of GSHPA Troop 30363 in Luzerne County, Brenda Crosley and Lesley McDermott, give their very best as volunteers and were honored for their outstanding service with the Volunteer of Excellence Award and the Appreciation Pin. 8

S’mores to Service GSHPA’s S’mores Executive Club launched

Mackenzie proudly casting her mascot name ballot!

its inaugural year in 2018.

The initiative is designed to celebrate girls for exceptional efforts in the combined Fall Product and Cookie Programs.

By reaching at least $650 in Fall Product sales and 625 packages of cookies, girls earned membership in the S’mores Executive Club, received special rewards, were invited to attend a lunch given in their honor, and were offered the opportunity to serve a one-year term on the Girl Product Program Advisory Board.

participate, in the “behindthe-scenes” action keeps her engaged with Girl Scouts and excited about learning how the world’s largest girl-led entrepreneurial program happens!

Mackenzie and her troop members have clung tightly to one particular line of the Girl Scout Law: to help others at all times.

Mackenzie’s desire to reach her Product Program goals not only helped her get into the S’mores Executive Club and fill up her uniform with patches—“so many that I ran Junior Girl Scout out of room!”

Mackenzie is she exclaims Mackenzie and other members of the S’mores Executive Club at their luncheon. bubbly with proudly—it also excitement for the 2018–2019 Product Programs allowed her troop to complete a meaningful service to begin so she can try to make it into the S’mores project. Together, the girls created activity bags filled Executive Club for the second time. However, the with games, crafts, snacks, puzzles, and more. They 2017–2018 Cookie Program never really ended for personally delivered the bags to a Ronald McDonald House, which connected them with a local children’s Mackenzie, as she’s been reaping the benefits of hospital. Knowing that the activity bags brought the S’mores Executive Club since the program smiles to the faces of children who are fighting began. Though the nuts, candy, and cookies have battles against severe medical ailments warmed been eaten, Mackenzie is particularly motivated Mackenzie’s heart. It made exceeding her Fall to practice her leadership skills all year long by Product and Cookie goals that much sweeter. being part of Product Program decisions—especially naming the mascots! Getting to not only see, but

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The Circle

that Strengthens Girl Scouts Surrounding girls with high quality programs and distinctive learning opportunities is what made 2018 such an impactful year for our members. Girls attended not only one, not just two…but three STEM Expos hosted at higher education institutions throughout Pennsylvania. Girls also had the opportunity to experience programs right where they live, as a result of the visits made by the fleet of STEM Mobiles that traveled throughout our 30-county service area. In response, membership levels reflected our girls’ positive experiences with GSHPA by meeting and exceeding several key benchmarks.

STEM EXPOS February – Pennsylvania College of Technology 5 00 G I R L S AT T E N D E D

MOBILE PR OG R AMMING

March – East Stroudsburg University 5 00 G I R L S AT T E N D E D

M O R E T H A N 11,30 0 G I R L S C O U TS experienced hands-on STEM activities delivered through our fleet of STEM Mobiles. In fact, STEM Mobiles provided learning and fun at 280+ events during the past year.

May – Millersville University 600 G I R L S AT T E N D E D

2018 STEM Expo series sponsored by

ME MBE R SHIP HIG HLIG HT S G S H PA R A N K E D # 1 O U T O F 11 2 G I R L S C O U T C O U N C I L S across the nation for its 15.33% increase in girl members, year over year from 2017 to 2018 Girl membership goal for 2018 of 17,504 was met (and surpassed!) reflecting the highest girl membership since 2015.

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2018

Financial Highlights F I NANC I AL T RANS PAR E NCY • GSHPA publishes three years of independent audit reports and related IRS Form 990 online at G S H PA .O R G • Financial statement presentation was simplified to allow for greater insight into operating results • The Board Designated Fund was established to highlight how non-operating income is being used

$ 5 4 6,0 0 0 year over year increase

DI R EC T PROGRAM SUPPORT • Fundraising surpassed 2017 total contributions by $5 4 6,0 0 0

• $ 26 4,0 0 0 I N F I N A N C I A L A S S I S TA N C E provided directly for girls; represents an increase of $146,000 compared to 2017 total

G I R L P R O G R AM S • Added T H R E E F U L L -T I M E P R O G R A M S TA F F P O S I T I O N S AND two mobile programming vehicles

PR ODUC T P RO G RAM • Cookie program N E T R E V E N U E I N C R E A S E O F 6% compared to 2017, due to more girl members and more participation • I N C R E A S E O F $ 10 0,0 0 0 for troop proceeds and sales incentives

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‌a circle of friendships united by ideals.

Ju l i e t t e G o r d o n L o w

350 Hale Ave, Harrisburg, PA 17104 Phone: 800.692.7816 or 717.233.1656 Fax: 717.234.5097 MemberServices@gshpa.org www.gshpa.org