Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has been selected an
Overall Grand Champion and Category Champion in the Large Business division in non-profit category of the 2012 Social Media Leadership Awards, the first
global competition to honor organizations that have overcome challenges through
the use of social media. The Social Media Leadership Awards, presented by
Knowledge@Wharton and Social Strategy1, and supported by Ernst & Young,
announced the category winners and overall grand champion of the competition,
which honored 18 organizations that demonstrated success in overcoming a
challenge through the use of social media, including Morgan Stanley Smith
Barney, The Vanguard Group Inc., Adobe, and others.
“This award is
wonderful acknowledgement of GSUSA’s increasing efforts to utilize technology
and social media to further engage girls, and I am so proud of our team and
their work,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We know
that girls are deeply invested in the digital space, and social media enables
us to foster a greater sense of community among Girl Scouts around the country and
globe.”

During its monumental 100th anniversary year, GSUSA
has committed itself to building girl leadership in the next century. This
year, GSUSA launched ToGetHerThere,
the largest, boldest advocacy and fundraising cause dedicated to girls'
leadership in the nation's history. To match, Girl Scouts has launched a $1
billion philanthropic campaign for girls to fuel this effort and to fund
opportunities that enable girls to lead.
"In 2012, we decided to step up our
social media strategy," said Philip Bae, director of interactive marketing
at GSUSA. "During our 100th Anniversary year, we consolidated
our efforts, expanded our engagement in the digital space, and used social
media to increase membership and start a national conversation about our girl
leadership program."