Monumental investment in women and girls will advance the organization’s mission to reach all Orange County girls with life-changing experiences, mentorship, and programming
OC Register IRVINE, Calif. (October 18, 2022) – Today, Girl Scouts of Orange County announced a $2.8 million donation from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. The donation is part of an $84.5 million donation awarded to Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) and 29 local councils selected by Ms. Scott, making this unprecedented investment the largest donation from a single individual in the national organization’s history.
Building on Girl Scouts of Orange County’s All-Girl Initiative announced in early 2020, the $2.8 million gift will power the vital work underway to ensure that every girl across Orange County – from every social, cultural, economic, and developmental sector and those with emotional, physical, and or cognitive needs – has access to the life-changing experiences Girl Scouts provides her to take the lead in her own life and the world.
“We are deeply grateful of MacKenzie Scott’s gift to Girl Scouts. Locally, this is a vital accelerator for Girl Scouts of Orange County’s ongoing efforts to help all girls cultivate the skills and connections to live their best lives,” said Vikki Shepp, CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County. “In today’s complicated world, Girl Scouts is an essential force in girls’ lives as they explore their ambitions, realize their dreams, and become leaders in our communities and their own lives. Add to that, the lifelong skills girls develop in Girl Scouts – like confidence, resilience, problem solving, and decision-making, and it is clear why we are so passionate about serving all girls across Orange County.”
Grant Impact
This important gift will power leadership opportunities for Orange County girls in several ways.
- Reach more Orange County girls in communities that have been under-engaged. This includes reimagining the troop experience model to break down accessibility barriers and partnering with families and communities to holistically support the wellbeing and development of all girls.
- Foster meaningful program innovation informed by the current interests and needs of girls to prepare them for leadership, including an expanded focus on career readiness, mental wellness, the arts, STEM, and local outdoor opportunities.
- Bolster the “foundations” of the Girl Scout movement in critical areas such as research and staff and volunteer training. This investment will provide the ability to be visionary about the role Girl Scouts plays in the lives of girls and women and shape the health and wellbeing of communities the organization supports.
- Future-proof its facilities, including expanding accessibility and high adventure elements at Girl Scouts of Orange County’s cherished Camp Scherman, located in Idyllwild.
Nationally, this donation will enable Girl Scouts to expand its investment in girls and advance the organization’s recovery from the effects of COVID-19; build upon GSUSA’s vision to empower all Girl Scouts and its 700,000+ volunteers as they pursue their dreams; and accelerate movement-wide initiatives that give girls the tools to become the next generation of powerful female leaders.
The Girl Scouts Difference – Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow
Today’s challenges are complex, interconnected and more than ever, global. Solving them will demand collaborative leadership and innovative perspectives. Girls represent humanity’s greatest untapped talent pool and investing in them will produce the greatest return in economic development, social progress, and public health, improving not only individual lives, but the fabric of society overall.
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About Girl Scouts of Orange County
We are the Girl Scouts of Orange County. We are 25,000 strong – nearly 15,000 girls and 10,000 adults who believe that every girl can change the world. Girl Scouts began over 100 years ago with one woman, Juliette Gordon “Daisy” Low, who believed in the power of every girl. Today, we continue her vision of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, by helping girls discover their inner strength, passions, and talents. With programs in every zip code in Orange County, there are opportunities for every girl to do something amazing. To volunteer, reconnect, donate, or join, visit www.GirlScoutsOC.org.
