Guest
Post: A Message from Anna Maria Chávez
A
special message from Anna Maria Chávez, CEO, Girl Scouts of the USA
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I
stand with all Girl Scouts across the country and around the world in offering
my thoughts and prayers to all of those who have been affected by the massive
and devastating tornado that tore through the Oklahoma City area on Monday. As
Oklahoma Governor Mary Fallin said, it was a tragic day for the people of her
state and, indeed, for all of us, as the death toll now stands at 24 and
includes a Girl Scout, who was a member of the Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma
Council.
All
staff members of the Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma Council, which is based in
Oklahoma City, are accounted for and safe. The council appreciates all of the
good wishes, but is unable to handle all of the calls and emails at this time.
We ask that you not call or email the council, but instead check its website or
Facebook and Twitter feeds for the latest information. The council also cannot
accommodate material donations, such as blankets and other goods. Instead, the
council has created the Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma Tornado Relief Fund that
will help get troops back up and running, provide scholarships for program and
camp participation, and offer other support to Girl Scouts in the affected
areas. You can text the word GIRLS to 20222 to make a $10 donation. In
addition, the council is encouraging girls to send messages or art in the shape
of the Girl Scout trefoil that it will present this summer to Girl Scouts
affected by the storm. Send your trefoil artwork to:
Girl
Scouts-Western Oklahoma
Mary
Nichols' Family Leadership Center
6100
N. Robinson Ave.
Oklahoma
City, Okla. 73118
I
want to thank everyone for their thoughtful messages of caring and concern for
our sisters at the Girl Scouts-Western Oklahoma Council. Even as we grieve for
our sister Girl Scout and all those who lost their lives, we are sustained by
the resilience of the human spirit and the knowledge that the people of
Oklahoma will, in time, recover and rebuild. We have endured in the past year a
number of terrible and tragic events, and throughout it all, Girl Scouts have shown
remarkable courage, commitment, and leadership. I know that our girls and adult
volunteers will do so again in the wake of this tragedy.
Sincerely,
Anna
Maria Chávez
Chief
Executive Officer
Girl
Scouts of the USA