Christian Science Monitor Columnist Reflects on her Girl Scout Experience

In today's issue of the Christian Science Monitor (circulation 700,000), columnist Marilyn Gardner reflects on a poignant moment that occurred when she was a Girl Scout and the impact it had in her adult life. We found the article touching, and hope you do as well.

Do you have any special memories of the holiday season as a time of generosity? We'd love to hear some of them.

Patricia Diaz Dennis Being Honored with Multiple Awards!

We are thrilled to announce that our Chair of the National Board of Directors, Patricia Diaz Dennis, is being honored by some of the most prestigious organizations in the country for her work in Girl Scouting and her professional success.

Patricia was presented with the Hispanic Women's Corporation Latina Excellence Award in recognition for excellence in her professional and volunteer work and the difference she makes in the lives of so many. Founded in 1981, the Hispanic Women's Corporation is a non-profit corporation known for being a proactive leader in the development of Hispanic women. Their annual conference has grown to be the largest gathering of Latina women in the nation.

MANA will present Patricia with the Community Service Award at the 2007 Las Primeras Awards in Washington, D.C. MANA is a nonprofit, advocacy organization established in 1974 to empower Latinas through leadership development, community service and advocacy.

Patricia will also be honored by the Association of Fundraising Professionals for her ongoing commitment and focus on volunteerism and philanthropy. She is being recognized for her leadership in helping to create a culture of philanthropy in Girl Scouting.

Please join us in congratulating Patricia!

Whose video is this?

In our quest to track down all things Girl Scouts, we came across a pretty neat video on You Tube. Does anyone know the author, "vickeycarusso"? If you do, tell her we love her video!

Troop Groovy Girls Now Available!

Girl Scouts and Manhattan Toy Company have teamed up to design Camp Groovy Girls, the latest offering in the wildly successful Groovy Girls line. This critically-acclaimed product line of dolls and accessories is inspired by the Girls Scout mission to build girls' of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

Camp Groovy Girls are available for purchase at select specialty retail outlets, Target and through Girl Scouts Council shops .

National S'mores Day

Did you know that today is National S'mores Day? Did you also know that Girl Scouts is credited with inventing the recipe? In fact, the original S'mores campfire delicacy was first introduced to the world 80 years ago in the 1927 Girl Scout Handbook.

For more details on S'mores and some recipe ideas, check out this article from Slashfood. Do you have a favorite S'mores recipe?

Kathy Cloninger in Readers Digest

Our CEO, Kathy Cloninger, is the focus of a fantastic article featured in the August issue of Readers Digest. Read it today to learn how our own "Head of the Troops" is "revitalizing an icon and turning young girls into leaders."

Francis Hesselbein Lauded in Business Week

The author of the article, "What Drives Our Greatest Leaders," which appears in the latest issue of Business Week, singles out our legendary former CEO, Francis Hesselbein, for her exceptional leadership skills.

Francis is now the Chair of the Leader to Leader Institute, where she continues to do amazing work in the strengthening of leadership in the social sector.

Dolly Parton Dubbed New Girl Scout

On Friday, June 15, 2007, in front of a crowd of more than a thousand fans, country music legend and philanthropist Dolly Parton became a lifetime Girl Scout. Dolly Parton, 60, raised her right hand and recited the Girl Scout promise with Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council.

Read the full story here.

Ugly Betty Guest Stars..... the Girl Scouts!

If you haven't managed to catch ABC's new, hit show Ugly Betty yet, now is the time. Girl Scouts will be featured as a special part of the hilarious story line in this weeks episode.

Tune-in to ABC on Thursday, May 17th at 8pm/7c and let us know what you thought!

2007 National Young Women of Distinction

Girl Scouts of the USA has named 13 Girl Scout Gold Award recipients as its 2007 National Young Women of Distinction for extraordinary leadership demonstrated through their remarkable community service projects.


Ladies and gentlemen we please to introduce the 2007 National Young Women of Distinction.

"Smart Cookies"

Kathy Cloninger and Girl Scouting are the cover story of the April Issue of Fundraising Success magazine. This multi-paged article, titled "Smart Cookies," discusses our organizational transformation, our leadership philosophy and renewed commitment to fundraising in partnership with councils.

Rachael Ray = Girl Scout!

Rachael Ray became a Girl Scout (again) in a very special airing of the Rachael Ray Show.  During yesterday’s show, Rachael taught Troop 468 of Saratoga Springs, N.Y., how to make turkey tacos – and received a very important visit from Kathy Cloninger herself!

Interested in becoming a Girl Scout?  Join today!

Champion Ski Racer Powered by Girl Scout Cookies

World Cup ski racer Resi Steigler has interesting theory on why she raced to victory in the US Alpine Championships this past weekend. (Hint: it wasn’t a can of spinach.)

The answer appears in this Associated Press story which appeared in the Rocky Mountain News on April 3, 2007.

That ’70s Show

Yes, that could very well be Ashton Kutcher from the classic Fox network sitcom That ’70s Show in the opening scene. This historic volunteer PSA is definitely a must-see.

Laugh if you will, but it would be hard to deny that this was successful—today, Girl Scouts has over one million volunteers.

Rachael Ray Is Cooking with Cookies…Girl Scout Cookies!

Three words: Thin. Mints. Pizza.

Former Girl Scout, Rachael Ray, dishes up a truly original recipe in the April edition of Every Day with Rachael Ray.
Dare we say YUM-O?

We love our Thin Mints blended in a milkshake. Have you ever used Girl Scout cookies in a recipe?

CNN Money Salutes the Girl Scout Cookie Program

Check out this fabulous article which appeared today on CNN Money. It takes a closer look at the Girl Scout Cookie Program as an avenue for young girls to learn the finer points of sales marketing. Tell us what you think!

Oxygen Network features Girls Scouts Beyond Bars Program in New Prime Time Special

Lisa Ling, a former Girl Scout and Oprah’s favorite investigative reporter, is partnering with the cable network Oxygen to launch a new documentary series, Who Cares About Girls?

The debut episode, "Mothers in Prison—And the Daughters Left Behind," aired Sunday, March 25.. The series takes an in-depth look at what happens to girls when their moms are incarcerated.

During the epsiode, which will rerun throughout April, Lisa will explore the highly successful Girl Scouts Beyond Bars program.

Gas Station Convenience Store Owner Caught Reselling Girl Scout Cookies

See what happened when 19 Action News, a CNN News affiliate in Cleveland, sent an investigative reporter to a gas station in Parma, Ohio.

VIDEO CLIP

Has this happened in your neighborhood? What would you do?

Girl Scout Cookie Program Highlighted in Newsweek

Hot on the heels of the tremendous coverage the Girl Scout Cookie Program received from the New York Times comes this amazing two-page spread in Newsweek...

"My Turn: The Cookie Hustler," which appears in the March 19, 2007, issue of the magazine, is the first-hand account of an eight-year-old Girl Scout, Lilya, who is learning some incredibly valuable business skills at a very young age with the help of her father.

Ellen Degeneres is Knocking on Your Door

Girl Scout cookies made a surprise appearance—in all their delicious glory—with the stars of NBC’s The Office on the red carpet at this year’s Golden Globe Awards.

And no, that isn’t a real Girl Scout on the carpet. And double no, Ellen is not really selling cookies. No matter who you are, you still have to find a real Girl Scout to get yours.

Video of Girl Scout cookies on red carpet (Ellen DeGeneres with the stars of The Office)

"Are Ex-Girl Scouts The New Swing Vote Bloc?"

This was the question posed by a recent newspaper article of the same title when presidential candidate Hillary Clinton recalled her time as a Girl Scout at a campaign stop in Concord, New Hampshire, to the delight of the women in attendance.

As a woman, Clinton is in a unique position to reach out to this audience. And with 50 million former Girl Scout members, she may be on to something.

Read the full article as it appeared in the February 11, 2007, edition of the Austin American-Statesman.

Are you a former Girl Scout? Join the Girl Scout Alumnae Association today!

"We Sell Only By the Case"

You heard right. The Girl Scout seen on this Fox News interview only sells by the case.

Much like entrepreneurs in the real world, these Girl Scouts are thinking “outside the box.” As Denise Pesich, Vice President of Communications at GSUSA, points out, Brownie Girl Scouts (those small, cute darlings) still sell door-to-door, but the older girls are learning really valuable business skills.

"PowerPoint?" exclaims the Fox reporter. "I don’t even know how to use that!" He obviously wasn’t a Girl Scout.

New York Times Celebrates Girl Scout Cookie Program!

In its 2007 Cookie Report (PDF), Girl Scouts proudly stated, for the first time, that the Girl Scout Cookie Program is not only a $700 million (who knew?) business, but the nation’s leading economic literacy program for girls…and the New York Times ate it up.
The article, "Girl Scout Cookies in Bulk," which appeared on the front page of the business section of the March 1 edition of the newspaper, reported on girls who were targeting local businesses and selling by the case, not the box. These creative young entrepreneurs are going for “volume and bulk,” the article said, and using PowerPoint presentations to reel in the big fish.