Jennifer Sardone-Shiner Expanding our Ability to Serve Girls
A Lifelong Connection
Rita Case
Long before Rita Case led the nation’s largest female owned and operated automotive dealer group, she was a Girl Scout with a booth—and a plan.
“The Girl Scout Cookie Program was my first sales experience. I have since moved on from selling cookies to selling cars, but that program alone teaches girls what it takes to succeed.”
As a young girl, Rita spent her days at her parents’ Honda motorcycle shop, setting up her Girl Scout cookie table front and center. She greeted every customer who walked through the door. Some said yes. Some said maybe later. And when they did, Rita made sure she was still there— smiling, steady, unmistakable—as they headed back out.
No one left without seeing her again.
Persistence wasn’t something Rita learned later in life. It was something she practiced early. That same quiet determination has shaped everything that came after. In a field long dominated by men, Rita learned how to take up space without apology—how to stay visible, how to build trust, and how to bring others along with her. Today, she is known not only for her leadership, but for the way she builds strong teams and intentionally lifts up women, ensuring they are seen, heard, and positioned to succeed.
Around town, Rita is affectionately known as “the hat lady.” It’s a signature that has followed her for decades. But the first hat she ever wore with pride wasn’t a wide-brimmed showpiece or a power statement—it was her Girl Scout beret. That beret represented belonging, confidence, and the belief that girls could stand tall, speak up, and lead.
Those values never left her.
Rita’s partnership with Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida reflects that lifelong connection. From supporting girls through leadership programs to opening one of her auto showrooms as a meeting space for local troops, she continues to create room for girls to gather, plan, and imagine what’s possible. In spaces where deals are made and decisions are shaped, girls are learning that they belong there, too.
For Rita, supporting Girl Scouts isn’t about recognition. It’s about remembering where it all began—and making sure the next girl with a booth, a vision, and a little courage gets her chance to be seen.
Connecting Girls and STEM
We are grateful for Rita’s authenticity, her steady belief in girls, and the legacy she continues to build—one rooted not in accolades, but in opportunity.
“The Girl Scout Cookie Program was my first sales experience. I have since moved on from selling cookies to selling cars, but that program alone teaches girls what it takes to succeed.”
Girl Scout Camp is more than a place to visit – it’s a home where confidence, courage, and community are built. Join us as we embark on a mission to ensure that future generations of girls can find their home at Girl Scout Camp. See page 3 for more information.
Rita Case
Rita Case, president and CEO of Rick Case Automotive Group, receiving the Lifetime Achievement Award in Philanthropy at the 2025 Emerald Awards in Fort Lauderdale.
The Camp Difference Finding Her Brave
I didn’t know camp would be like this.
The first day, we walked right into the lake—no steps, no dock, just cold water around our ankles and everyone laughing as we figured it out together. I had never been on a paddleboard before, and I didn’t think I’d even stand up. But my counselor said I could try when I was ready. So I did.
I fell in. Then I tried again.
By the end of the week, I was paddling out farther than I thought I could. I wasn’t the fastest. I wasn’t the best. But I was doing something I didn’t think I could do before, and that felt important.
At night, we made s’mores even though some of them caught on fire. We stayed up later than usual, talking about school, friends, and things we don’t always say out loud. It was dark, but it didn’t feel scary. It felt calm.
What Camp Gives Girls
Builds Confidence & Self-Esteem
Outdoor challenges—like hiking, teamwork, and skillbuilding—boost confidence, independence, and a sense of personal capability.
Strengthens Social Skills & Friendships
Camp environments promote cooperation, communication, leadership, and teamwork through shared experiences.
Supports Mental & Emotional Well-Being
Time in nature reduces stress, anxiety, and depression while improving mood and emotional regulation.
Improves Physical Health
Outdoor play increases physical activity, helping girls build strength, coordination, and overall fitness while reducing sedentary behavior.
Develops Resilience & Problem-Solving Skills
Girls learn persistence, adaptability, and creative problemsolving through real-world outdoor challenges.
Camp didn’t make me someone else. It just helped me realize I was braver than I thought.
That’s what Girl Scout camp does. It gives girls a place to try new things, to be outdoors, to learn how to trust themselves—and to come home knowing they can handle more than they imagined.
These camp experiences matter. They stay with you long after the week ends. And when our community comes together to care for these places, more girls get the chance to wade into the water, sit around the fire, and find their brave too.
Because every girl deserves a place to discover what she’s capable of.
With community support, these camp moments—and the confidence they build—can continue for generations of girls.
Today’s girls are growing up in a world filled with screens, stress, and limited opportunities for unstructured outdoor play. Research shows that meaningful outdoor and camp experiences are not just “nice to have”—they are essential to healthy development.
Encourages a Love of Learning
Exposure to nature is associated with higher academic engagement. Nature-based learning improves curiosity, engagement, and hands-on learning beyond the classroom.
Reduces Screen Time & Improves Focus
Camp experiences encourage unplugging, mindfulness, and attention restoration.
Fosters Environmental Stewardship
Time outdoors builds appreciation for nature and inspires long-term environmental responsibility.
Creates Belonging & Community
Camp builds strong peer relationships, mentoring connections, and a sense of belonging that lasts beyond the experience.
Once a Girl Scout, Always a Girl Scout
Jennifer Sardone-Shiner
The lessons learned in Girl Scouts don’t end with the last campfire or final cookie booth—they echo across a lifetime. From building confidence at camp to discovering leadership in a troop meeting, Girl Scouts shapes girls in ways that last far beyond childhood. Meet one Girl Scout alumnae whose story shows how courage, confidence, and character built as a girl continues to guide her path today.
When you think back on your time as a Girl Scout, what moments or experiences stand out most to you now?
I just remember being with my friends from school and what I loved was wearing the sash that went over my uniform as a sign of importance. That is where our badges were displayed that we wore so proudly.
What did cookie sales teach you that you still use today as a business owner?
I learned to put your best effort into everything you do. I still live by this and as a marketing professional I say to always put your best foot forward and do the best you can. I try to always over deliver.
LEAD Program
Building girls of courage, confidence and character has been the foundation of Girl Scouting for more than a hundred years. When a girl has a safe space where she feels like she belongs, access to caring adults, and a supportive peer network, she is poised to thrive.
Through the LEAD (Leadership, Empowerment, Achievement, Discovery) Program, Girl Scouts strengthens life skills and supports mental and emotional well-being for girls in underserved communities where access to enriching afterschool activities is limited.
This donor-supported program utilizes paid facilitators to bring the research-based Girl Scout curriculum directly to girls, with all program necessities - including uniforms, badges, and supplies - provided at no cost to participants. Through structured bimonthly meetings, girls engage in comprehensive programming across four key pillars: STEM, Life Skills, Entrepreneurship, and Outdoors, developing essential skills while empowering girls to become leaders who will change the world.
What keeps you saying yes to Girl Scouts, even with a full career and busy life?
I believe that all girls should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout and to learn all that you can from their programs, and therefore, I try to be involved as a Hispanic female business owner so that I can make a difference in their lives just like people did for me.
What would you want today’s Girl Scouts to know— especially the girls selling cookies or earning their first badges?
I would say to be creative, honest, and to have fun selling cookies. Enjoy the process of learning new skills while selling, be proud about all your accomplishments, and do the best you can.
“Girl Scouts didn’t just teach me how to sell cookies, it taught me how to build a business.”
Leaving a Legacy for Girls
Some of the most meaningful legacies are not written in history books but are carried forward in the lives of girls who grow into confident leaders, compassionate citizens; and bold dreamers who will make the world a better place.
Locally, Camp Welaka, Camp Nocatee and Camp Telogia have served tens of thousands of Girl Scout over more than 75 years.
Immokalee comes from a Seminole word meaning “my home,” a powerful reminder of the deep sense of belonging one feels when they are in a place where they feel like they belong.
Girl Scout Camp is where so many girls have found a second home—a place where they feel safe to explore, to lead, to try something new, and to discover who they are becoming. She might find independence as she navigates a first sleep away from home, explore a newfound love of nature on a hike, or make lifelong friendships around a campfire.
CAMPaign Immokalee is a promise to generations of future Girl Scouts. Through improved cabins, modern program spaces, accessible trails, and safe gathering areas, this campaign will ensure that every girl who arrives at camp finds a welcoming, inspiring, and high-quality environment where she can grow. Your support will create spaces where girls build leadership skills, strengthen resilience, explore STEM and the outdoors, and experience the belonging that defines Girl Scouts. Each gift lays another stone in a foundation that will serve girls and families for decades to come.
Jen received her Brownie uniform at 8 years old.
Girl Scouts from LEAD Troop 20436 at the Palm Beach Maritime Academy enjoyed s’mores by the campfire at Camp Welaka.
Jennifer Sardone-Shiner
The Emerald Awards honor outstanding women who are creating change in their fields and serve as role models to today’s girls.
When Comcast stepped forward as a sponsor this year, they didn’t just write a check—they invested in the future of 500 young women across Southeast Florida. Their generous support made our Badge in a Box program possible; through their funding, this amazing cybersecurity learning experience was created. All 50 boxes sold out in record time, proving just how hungry our girls are for STEM opportunities. From ensuring every girl could access hands-on cybersecurity learning to supporting our most vulnerable troops, Comcast has shown what true partnership looks like.
Friday, May 8, 2026
11:00 A.M. - 2:00 P.M.
Awards – Broward
Awards – Palm Beach
In a world where women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, partners like Comcast are changing the game. They’re not just sponsoring a program, they’re sponsoring dreams, confidence, and the problemsolving skills that will shape tomorrow’s innovators.
The impact of their sponsorship ripples far beyond the numbers. Thanks to Comcast, girls from Kindergarten through 12th grade are now diving into the digital landscape with confidence, earning their Cybersecurity Basics badges while exploring careers they may never have imagined. Each box—serving 10 girls—came packed with everything troop leaders needed, including 9 different engaging activities that continue the learning at home. Most importantly, Comcast’s support allowed us to reserve boxes for grantfunded troops, providing cybersecurity education to 150 girls at no cost, ensuring that every girl, regardless of her troop’s resources, could participate in this transformative experience.
Not only has Comcast provided this program sponsorship, they always participate in our Emerald Awards, this year sponsoring not only Emerald Awards Palm Beach, but also adding Emerald Awards Broward. Thank you, Comcast, for believing in our girls and investing in their limitless potential.
(From left to right) Tammy Stefanovic, Beth Garcia Svopa, Stacey Hetherington, Maureen Cotter
(From left to right) Sophia Eccleston, Wendy Sartory Link, Nancy Brinker, Marti LaTour, Christine DelVecchio
(From left to right) Rebecca Bratter, Cindy Mason, Rita Case, Alisa Bert, Julie Price
Using the Comcast-sponsored STEM in a Box, Girl Scouts from Troop 10112 at Margate Elementary completed their Cybersecurity Basics Badge.
