Connections News for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council supporters
Fall 2026 Save the Date: Feb. 3 Just Desserts Donor Event
State of the Girl Report Today’s girls are navigating a world filled with both tremendous opportunity and significant challenges. The Girl Scouts of the USA State of the Girl 2026 report reveals that while many girls face loneliness, body image concerns, and confidence barriers, they also possess remarkable ambition, creativity, and resilience. Girlhood today can be messy, contradictory, and complex. Girls are struggling in their relationships, in the classroom and internally with their mental and emotional health. By ninth grade, 70% of girls have already thought seriously about their future careers, yet 58% do not believe they are smart enough to achieve their dream job. At the same time, three in five girls say they have lacked confidence at school because of concerns about their appearance. These challenges are why Girl Scouts matters. We help every girl uncover the power that’s already within her by giving her the space, support, and sisterhood to embrace who she is and rise into who she’s meant to become. View the report at gssjc.me/stateofthegirl.
The world deserves to see her full potential — and she deserves to experience it. Your support helps more girls build confidence, develop leadership skills, and discover the limitless potential within themselves.
Mel Underhill Named as New Board Chair Melinda “Mel” Underhill began her three-year term as council president and chair of the board of GSSJC on June 1. Underhill credits her own Girl Scout experience with inspiring her commitment to helping girls build courage, confidence, and character. She has volunteered with GSSJC since 2015 and joined the board of directors in 2016. Since then, she has held several key leadership roles, including Executive Committee member, board chair-elect, board vice chair, and chair of the Human Resources Committee. A native Texan, Underhill earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Texas at Austin. As the chief volunteer and human resources officer for the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, one of the region’s largest volunteer-driven organizations, Underhill brings extensive experience in volunteer engagement, talent development, and organizational leadership to the council. “Mel’s deep commitment to Girl Scouts and proven leadership make her exceptionally well-suited to guide the council over the next three years,” said GSSJC CEO Mary Vitek. “Her passion for empowering girls and her strong governance experience will help us continue to deliver impactful programs to more than 39,000 K-12 girls that we serve.” Welcome to this role, Mel, and thank you for your commitment!
Leave a Legacy with the Juliette Gordon Low Society The tradition of planned giving in Girl Scouts began with our founder, Juliette Gordon Low. Believing deeply in the future of the Movement she created, she left the carriage house of her family home, the first national Girl Scout headquarters, to Girl Scouts through her will. Her vision and generosity continue to inspire supporters today. Today, those who include Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in their estate plans carry forward Juliette’s vision. As members of the Juliette Gordon Low Society (JGL Society), they help ensure that future generations of girls have access to the leadership opportunities, life skills, and sense of belonging that Girl Scouts provides.
“Girls are our future leaders and workforce. This is a program open to girls of all walks of life, and, to me, that’s important.” — JGL Society Member
JGL Society members Nancy McGuire, Tami Swinbank, Genevieve Erdbruegger, Genny Walls, Cathy Wining-Thomas, and Jean Janssen
Creating a legacy gift may be easier than you think. One of the most common options is naming GSSJC as a beneficiary in your will or trust. You can choose to leave a specific amount, a percentage of your estate, or a particular asset. There is no minimum gift amount, and every commitment helps build a stronger future for girls. By including GSSJC in your estate plans, you can leave a lasting legacy for future generations of Girl Scouts and become a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society. To learn more, contact Susan Thraen at sthraen@sjgs.org or 713-292-0331.
ABB and Girl Scouts: Five Years of Inspiring Future STEM Leaders For the past five years, ABB and GSSJC have partnered to inspire girls through hands-on STEM experiences. Through the ABB STEM Patch Program, girls explore engineering, robotics, and electricity while building creativity, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. This year, 2,280 girls participated in ABB-supported STEM patch programming. As part of the Girl Scout Outreach Program, girls from six Title I schools earned the ABB STEM Patch by designing and testing balloon-powered cars. They explored engineering concepts such as friction, motion, and design while discovering the excitement of STEM careers. Troops and individual girls can earn the ABB STEM patch by completing one of three activities (engineering, robotics, or electricity). To expand access to STEM learning opportunities, programming resources are available at gssjc.me/patch. Beyond STEM education, ABB employees also volunteered at this year’s cookie drop events. We are grateful for ABB’s continued partnership and commitment to empowering girls through both service and philanthropy.
“Girl Scouting has offered so much to my own daughters over the years ... It’s been a meaningful way to give back and help girls grow in confidence and maturity.” — Former Troop Leader & Society Member
Thank You, United Way GSSJC is proud to partner with United Way organizations across our 26-county service area to ensure every girl has the opportunity to discover her strengths, build confidence, and develop the skills she needs to lead throughout her life. Support from our United Way partners helps make Girl Scouting accessible to more girls through financial assistance, the Girl Scout Outreach Program, and enriching experiences rooted in the proven Girl Scout Leadership Experience. We are grateful for the support of United Way of Greater Houston, United Way of Beaumont and North Jefferson County, United Way of Greater Baytown Area and Chambers County, United Way of Galveston County Mainland, United Way of Mid & South Jefferson County, and Nacogdoches Area United Way. Together, we are reaching girls who may otherwise face barriers to participation and providing opportunities that help them succeed in school, at home, and in their communities!
The Legacy of Janice McNair Our hearts are with the McNair family as we remember and celebrate the life of renowned business woman and philanthropist Janice McNair, who passed away in July. A steadfast champion of Girl Scouting and an extraordinary community leader, Janice’s generosity and vision created opportunities for countless girls to learn, grow, and lead. Through the support of The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation, GSSJC has expanded access to Girl Scouting for underserved girls, helping more young people develop the confidence, leadership skills, and character that will serve them throughout their lives. Her lasting impact can also be seen at Misty Meadows Ranch through the McNair Infirmary and The Robert and Janice McNair Foundation Equestrian Center. For more than two decades, Janice’s dedication to youth development and community service strengthened the Girl Scout mission and empowered generations of girls. Her legacy will continue to inspire young people to lead with courage, confidence, and character for years to come.
McNair at Misty Meadows Ranch
We are deeply grateful for Janice’s enduring support and friendship. She will be remembered with great admiration, gratitude, and respect.
Thank You, Donors! Contributions made April 1 – June 30, 2026.
$500,000+ – Gold United Way of Greater Houston $100,000-$499,999 – Silver Girl Scouts of the USA $50,000-$99,999 – Bronze Chevron USA Ellen R. DeSanctis Kevin C. and Monica Maby King The Florence and William K. McGee, Jr. Family Foundation NOV The John M. O’Quinn Foundation $25,000-$49,999 – Ambassador Bank of America The Melbern G. and Susanne M. Glasscock Foundation $10,000-$24,999 – Senior Emerson Valve Automation EOG Resources, Inc. Greater Houston Golf Charity John P. McGovern Foundation Memorial Hermann
SheSpace Katherine M. Tamer TDECU Cares Foundation Whalley Foundation Cathy Wining-Thomas and Jim Thomas $5,000-$9,999 – Cadette Tunis and Kevin Deal ExxonMobil Foundation for Southeast Texas Sandra A. Judson Candice E. Koederitz Marty Lundstrom $1,000-$4,999 – Junior American Academy of Dermatology Association Dorothy Autin Roberto J. Bayardo Rachael Cahan Chevron Products Company Chord Energy Kay K. Craig Sara DeJay Willis Deloitte Thea Fabio and Richard Merrill Debbie Goodykoontz Corrie B. Jenkins Jerry L. King Kirksey Architects Ana and Will Kopf Sandy Lenoir Lisa Luton Foundation Macquarie Group Judy Moses
Hy Nguyen Raising Cane’s Restaurants, LLC Robert C. Rice Sally Anne Schmidt Shavonnah R. Schreiber Susan M. Shirley-Menzel STS Industrial, Inc. Troop 20909 Amanda S. Vavilala Genevieve S. Walls $250-$999 – Brownie America’s Charities Carol Bayens Marj D. Bernhardt Jordan Cantu Magna R. Cayll Cy-Fair Women’s Club Karen K. Davidson Darlene and Greg East Renita J. Ferguson Thera Guin Insperity Services LP Jennifer Juarez The Kroger Company Pam Krueger Angela Matula Tricia Moody Teresa and Daniel Peneguy Dolores and John M. Richards, III Linda B. Rosenberg Anita M. Shorosky Eboni Taylor Mallett United Way of Midland County United Way of Northeast Florida
Lisa Walker Danielle Ward
Memorials In Memory of Georgann Barrett Tina Barrett Marj D. Bernhardt Marilyn Christensen Julie M. Deeter Kristen Krueger Pam Krueger Heather McFarlane Susan M. Shirley-Menzel Linda M. Ross Shawn Wick Ginger Winstead In Memory of Shirley Labiosa Tunis and Kevin Deal In Memory of Molly Dewitt Troop 126192 In Memory of Nylda Comeaux Crystal Cove Community In Memory of Marlene Edwards Barbara S. Barnes Linda Sheriff Batasch Debbie Goodykoontz Susan Sheriff Hunter Anne Sheriff Makowski Jeanne Sheriff
In Memory of Lee Lieder John Egbert Fran Manwaring In Memory of Larry Loop Connie Godeaux Genevieve S. Walls In Memory of Adryann Rusty McCrory Gail Berkowitz Susan Busch Judie Collier Kay K. Craig Leah Cross Glenda J. Graves Judi Hoggatt Wendy Hoggatt Roberta Lakavage Carol Levy Michelle M. Longley Janet Lovelady Eleanor Meservey Elizabeth Meservey Emily Meservey Ali Newland Will Newland Melissa Page Cathy Bruce Purdy Linda M. Ross Molly Stein Barbara S. Story
Honorariums In Honor of Stephanie Bazile Martin Biernat
Great care has been taken to ensure the proper recognition of our donors. If an error does occur, we apologize and hope you will bring it to our attention. Email scarmona@sjgs.org.
Tuesday, September 22, 2026 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.
NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID HOUSTON, TX PERMIT NO. 6743 3110 Southwest Freeway Houston, TX 77098-4508 gssjc.org
Hilton Americas Houston 2026 Luncheon Co-Chairs Marty Lundstrom and Cassandra McZeal You are invited to join us at our annual Success to Significance Luncheon! This inspiring event celebrates the enduring legacy of the Girl Scouts’ mission to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. Proceeds from ticket sales and sponsorships directly support the Girl Scouts’ mission of nurturing female leaders of today and tomorrow. Join us for an afternoon of celebration, inspiration, and community. For more information go to gssjc.me/s2s Presented by
Your gift opens doors! gssjc.me/donate
Gold Award Girl Scout, Helps Students Prepare for Emergencies, Earns National Scholarship Sragvi Gireesh has earned a $5,000 Gold Award Scholarship from Girl Scouts of the USA, a distinction awarded annually to one Gold Award Girl Scout from each council in recognition of exceptional leadership and community impact. Combining her passion for technology and service, Sragvi developed an interactive disaster preparedness game that teaches students how to prepare for emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, tornadoes, and severe weather. She partnered with Fort Bend County Emergency Management to ensure the information was accurate and engaging for young audiences.
“The most successful part of my project was connecting with the students. Seeing them apply what they learned and relate it to their own families showed me the information was really sticking.” — Sragvi
GSSJC
What began as a project designed to reach a handful of students grew into 34 workshops serving 784 elementary and middle school students. The game is now available as a public resource, helping families and educators build preparedness skills long after the project’s completion. This fall, Sragvi will attend Texas A&M University to study computer science, continuing her commitment to using technology to solve real-world challenges. Visit gssjc.me/award to read Sragvi’s full story and learn how her Gold Award project is making a lasting impact.
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council
Sragvi with GSSJC CEO Mary Vitek and Board Chair Mel Underhill.
girlscoutssanjacinto