20 Mar 2015

MORE THAN 1,200 GIRLS TO EXPLORE WORLD IN FOUR HOURS THIS WEEKEND

By Shelley Skuster

DAVENPORT - The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois, in collaboration with John Deere, Black Hawk College, Tyson Foods, Inc. and the Stanley Foundation, will host its largest council-wide event, Journey the World, this Saturday, March 21, at The RiverCenter in Davenport.

More than 1,220 girls in grades K-12 have registered for their passport to travel through The RiverCenter and learn about cultures from more than 40 countries.

Activities include a community service project to coincide with the council's Year of Service campaign will engage girls of all ages to learn about people and cultures outside of the U.S. by visiting interactive booths hosted by Girl Scout troops and community members.

"Each interactive booth represents a different country. It's an awesome way to open up the world for girls who may not have the resources to literally travel the world," said Emily Droessler, Leadership Experience Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

The schedule of events for Saturday is as follows:

11:30 a.m. - Doors open; popular all-girl band Serendipity performs

12:15 p.m. - Opening flag ceremony

12:30 p.m. - Kalanjali Dance Academy performance

1:00 p.m. - Clogustana performance

1:30 p.m. - WAGGGS Trefoil ceremony

1:40 p.m. - Derek Grant performance (bag pipes)

2:00 p.m. - Mayer School of Irish Dancing performance

2:30 p.m. - Teranga Drum Circle performance

3:00 p.m. - QC Motion Belly Dancing performance

3:45 p.m. - Serendipity concert

4:30 p.m. - Booths close

Girls can register for the event through this Tuesday, March 17, here: http://girlscoutstoday.org/event/journey-the-world-making-it-a-better-place.

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About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls where girls can have fun, make new friends and learn new things in a safe all-girl setting. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves approximately 18,000 girls in 38 counties. For more information, visit GirlScoutsToday.com or call your local Girl Scout Leadership Center at 800-798-0833.

24 Feb 2015

TEEN EARNS AWARD AFTER PUBLISHING BOOK FOR PEDIATRIC PATIENTS

By Shelley Skuster

MUSCATINE, IA - A Muscatine-area Girl Scout has earned the highest award in scouting through her dedication to community service.

Katie Dean of Fruitland earned her Gold Award through Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois after writing a children's book to help pediatric patients realize the hospital is not a scary place.

Dean said she was inspired to write the book after she was hospitalized in fifth grade.

"I know how scary it can be," she said.

Dean partnered with a local art teacher who provided illustrations. She donated 45 copies of her children's book, Healing, Hospitals, Happiness, to three hospitals in her community.

"My books will remain in the hospitals, waiting rooms, doctors' offices and hospital libraries for others to use," she said.

The Girl Scout Gold Award recognizes girls who demonstrate extraordinary leadership by establishing a long-lasting positive impact on their community. Gold Award projects typically take 80 hours to complete.

"The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn," said Korissa Prine, Leadership Experience Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. "Girls recognized with this award are truly our leaders of tomorrow."

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03 Feb 2015

13,000 GIRL SCOUTS GEAR UP FOR COOKIE SEASON

By Shelley Skuster

More than 13,000 Girl Scouts are gearing up for an unprecedented cookie season.

Cookie sales begin Friday, February 13, 2015.

With the addition of cookie sales online, organizers expect this year to be busy.

"Our online sales are a convenient addition to our traditional cookie booths and door-to-door sales. Our customers will now be able to order their favorite Thin Mints or Caramel deLites from the comfort of their own home, or they can depend on local Girl Scouts to sell cookies at their front door," said Nikki Habben, Chief Operating Officer at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

Girl Scouts aren't required to participate in the 100-year old cookie program, but more than 13,000 girls in the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois council have chosen to participate in the largest girl-led business in the world.

"Thousands of girls participate in this program because it really challenges them to learn skills they'll use the rest of their lives like goal setting and money management," said Habben.

Proceeds from each box are used to support local programs offered within the council.

To find your nearest box of Girl Scout cookies, go to www.GirlScoutCookies.org.

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About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls where girls can have fun, make new friends and learn new things in a safe all-girl setting. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves approximately 18,000 girls in 38 counties. For more information, visit GirlScoutsToday.com or call your local Girl Scout Leadership Center at 800-798-0833.
23 Dec 2014

GIRL SCOUTS OF EASTERN IOWA AND WESTERN ILLINOIS SERVES 5,000+ GIRLS IN 100 DAYS

By Shelley Skuster

BETTENDORF, Iowa - The Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois is celebrating one of the highest-attended fall program sessions on record.

In approximately 100 days, the council served more than 5,200 girls through its programs designed for girls to grow and develop leadership skills.

"Serving so many girls in just a few weeks proves that girls really want to experience new things in a fun environment," said Leadership Experience Manager Ashley Arnold of Bettendorf.

Arnold organizes and facilitates events in the Quad Cities area, and she's anticipating winter programs to be well-attended.

"We have so many fun events planned like camping at the Bettendorf Family Museum and learning how to be storm chasers at the Putnam Museum," she said.

"No doubt about it, we are going to have a blast this winter with our girls."

Council records indicate more than 5,200 girls attended nearly 160 programs organized by Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois that were held within 106 days.

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About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls where girls can have fun, make new friends and learn new things in a safe all-girl setting. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves approximately 18,000 girls in 38 counties. For more information, visit GirlScoutsToday.com or call your local Girl Scout Leadership Center at 800-798-0833.
09 Dec 2014

GIRL SCOUTS TO SPEND SATURDAY SPREADING HOPE TO LESS FORTUNATE

By Shelley Skuster

DAVENPORT, Iowa - Area Girl Scouts plan to spend this Saturday, December 13, 2014, handing out donated food and clothes to people who are less fortunate.

As part of the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois' Year of Service challenge, the 12 year-old girls have recognized a need to help people in their community.

Since September, the Bettendorf troop has been collecting money, food and clothes to donate to area families. The girls have spent weeks making fleece pajamas for boys and girls.

This Saturday from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m., the troop will hand out items as part of a Christmas Giveaway at King's Harvest Church located at 824 W. 3rd Street in Davenport, Iowa.

"We are thrilled to showcase the troop and the love and kindness they show to those who come to our giveaway," said Assistant Director of King's Harvest Ministries Margot Hary.

The hours the girls spend with this community service project will be reported online at GirlScoutsToday.org and count toward the council's 100,000-hour Year of Service challenge.

"We believe each hour spent helping others makes our world a better place," said Diane Nelson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois.

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About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls where girls can have fun, make new friends and learn new things in a safe all-girl setting. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves over 17,000 girls in 38 counties. For more information, visit GirlScoutsToday.com or call your local Girl Scout Leadership Center at 800-798-0833.
08 Dec 2014

COMMUNITY PULLS TOGETHER TO BRING CHRISTMAS TO AT-RISK GIRLS

By Shelley Skuster

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - More than 100 at-risk girls had Christmas brought to them early this year.

Ganson's Neighborhood Bakery & Café and members from the Junior League of the Quad Cities have partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois to bring a holiday celebration to girls who otherwise may not have the opportunity.

The annual Christmas program was held on Saturday, December 6, 2014, from 3:30 - 9:00 p.m. at the Girl Scouts' Program Center, located at 2011 Second Ave., in Rock Island.

"Every child deserves to have Christmas," said Senior Membership Outreach Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Missy Sweeney.

Sweeney has spent the past few weeks organizing the free event.

Girls decorated hundreds of sugar cookies, visited with Santa from 6 - 8 p.m., and unwrapped a gift donated by generous people in the community.

"It makes me teary-eyed just thinking about all the smiles on the girls' faces. It's amazing to see the community come together and bring Christmas to these girls," said Sweeney.

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17 Nov 2014

CHRISTMAS GIFTS SOUGHT FOR AT-RISK GIRLS

By Shelley Skuster

ROCK ISLAND, Illinois - More than 100 at-risk girls will have Christmas brought to them in a unique way.

For the fourth year in a row, Ganson's Neighborhood Bakery & Café has partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois to bring a holiday celebration to girls who otherwise may not have the opportunity.

The Christmas program will be held on Saturday, December 6, 2014.

"Every child deserves to have Christmas," said Senior Membership Outreach Manager at Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois Missy Sweeney.

Sweeney works with area schools to determine which girls qualify as the most at-risk and invites them to attend the annual Christmas celebration with Santa, gifts, dinner and cookie-decorating.

"Some of these girls get forgotten about, and we want to make sure they know they're worthy to have an unforgettable Christmas," said Sweeney.

Organizers hope each girl can unwrap a Christmas gift and feel special.

"It makes me teary-eyed just thinking about all the smiles on the girls' faces when they get a present just for them," said Sweeney.

New, unwrapped gifts for girls in grades K-5 can be dropped off before Sunday, November 23, at the Girl Scouts Program Center located at 2011 Second Ave. in Rock Island, or at Ganson's Neighborhood Bakery & Café also in Rock Island.

Financial contributions are also accepted to offset costs for the annual Christmas program which is free for all girls who attend.

"This is a great opportunity for the community to make a difference in the lives of more than 100 girls who deserve to know they're cared about this holiday season," said Sweeney.

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17 Oct 2014

Eleven year-old prepares for heart surgery, asks people to wear red

By Shelley Skuster

CHALLENGE:  GO RED FOR SOPHIA

HENDERSON COUNTY - The family of an 11 year-old Girl Scout is asking people to wear red on Tuesday, October 21, while she undergoes heart surgery.

Janna Carter's daughter, Sophia, was diagnosed with a heart disease over the summer.

Carter created a community Facebook page called, "Go Red for Sophia."

She is challenging people to wear red on the day of Sophia's surgery - October 21 - then take a photo and share it on the Facebook page.

"Part of this is to show support for Sophia, but it's also to spread awareness about heart disease and the importance of women's heart health. Heart disease is the #1 killer of women, even more so than cancer," said Carter.

Sophia appreciates the support, because the surgery is scary for her. She also hopes that spreading awareness about heart disease will help change people's perception that it only happens to people who are unhealthy.

"She eats well and exercises daily. In fact, she'll have the surgery just in time to begin swim season," said Carter of her daughter. "We want people to know this can happen to anyone."

 

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About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois: Girl Scouts is the premier leadership development program for girls where girls can have fun, make new friends and learn new things in a safe all-girl setting. Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois serves over 17,000 girls in 38 counties. For more information, visit GirlScoutsToday.com or call your local Girl Scout Leadership Center at 800-798-0833.

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