A LEGACY OF LEADERSHIP

Gabriella GrowMiller has a family legacy of involvement in the Pennsylvania Masonic Youth Foundation (PMYF). As a proud new member of Rainbow Girls, she is excited to continue the tradition of self-realization and caring for her community.

Gabriella is a sixth grader at Abington Middle School in Montgomery County, where her favorite subjects are social studies, math and science. In her free time, she enjoys listening to Olivia Rodrigo and skateboarding. She took an interest in Rainbow

Girls, one of PMYF’s organizations for young women aged 11 to 20. The group promotes leadership, effective communication and service to others, as well as the ideals of friendship, love and charity.

Gabriella was supported by her family, especially her father, Louis “Lou” GrowMiller, who also has a history with PMYF. A Senior Deputy Executive Officer for DeMolay, 32° Mason, Grand Steward for the Grand Lodge of Pennsylvania and past State Master Councilor of Pennsylvania DeMolay, Lou was thrilled to share the experience with Gabriella. From planning chapter events to working with diverse individuals from around the state and country, Lou has experienced firsthand how PMYF organizations help prepare young men and women to be resourceful, responsible and independent.

“I know how much it did for me as a young person starting out shy, not really able to communicate with people, then being able to speak publicly and independently plan events,” Lou said.

“It’s a wonderful teaching opportunity that many people don’t know about or take advantage of, so I’m excited to see the different ways in which Rainbow Girls benefits my daughter and vice versa.”

Since her initiation in June 2022, Gabriella has enjoyed the curriculum and community that Rainbow Girls has provided. Even in such a short time, Lou has already noticed changes in Gabriella’s confidence and initiative, including watching her study her ritual book before bed.

“The fact that she is able to stand up in the middle of a room during a meeting and introduce me is a win,” Lou said. “She’s just a little shy and quiet, but she still stood up and said who I was. It was a proud ‘Dad’ moment. I’m really excited to see how Rainbow is going to help her grow into an amazing young woman.”

Their shared experience has only brought them closer together as Gabriella gets more involved with Rainbow Girls, and subsequently Lou as an adult volunteer.

“It’s a way for me to give back. I think community service is really the footprint of Masonry and DeMolay,” Lou said.

Self-realization and caring for the community are just two of the benefits of belonging to a Masonic youth organization in Pennsylvania, which include DeMolay, Job’s Daughters, Knights of Pythagoras, Rainbow Girls and Ruth Mitchell Tucker Girls Youth Department. Each group fosters the values of Freemasonry and gives youth a place to develop and succeed.

Through donors’ contributions, PMYF provides resources and tools to the youth groups and awards scholarships to help students achieve their education and professional goals.

PMYF also uses your support to develop adult leaders in the community through bullying prevention workshops and to teach youth skills to enrich their communities through the LifeSkills Conference.

You make these life-changing opportunities possible, shaping the present and future of Pennsylvania Freemasonry one child and adult at a time.

• Granted $35,500 to youth-led service projects throughout the Commonwealth

• Trained 1,455 INDIVIDUALS at virtual and in-person Educational Institute workshops

• Awarded $177,500 in scholarship funds

• Empowered 580 YOUTH through leadership development programs