Connections News for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council supporters Summer 2019 Your Support Makes Robotics a Huge Success for Girls Our annual Success to Significance luncheon may have been postponed in May due to inclement weather, but our Girl Scouts brightened the day of patients at Ben Taub Hospital by delivering the beautiful flower centerpieces from the event on Mother’s Day. Contact Princess Zambrano at [email protected] for information on the luncheon. Sponsorships are still available for the previously sold out event. Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council’s robotics program celebrated a huge milestone during the 2018-19 membership year. Our total teams grew to 33, with about 200 girls and more than 60 coaches participating in the program. This follows a year where competition teams doubled and the Robotics special interest group (SIG) was revitalized. Robotics consists of three different engagement opportunities: competition teams (primarily active August-February); the SIG, which is active year-round and focuses on leadership and non-competitive skill-building; and robotics workshops, hosted by the SIG during select months as a council-wide activity or completed independently by troops. Each opportunity is unique and allows members to grow into G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers and Leaders). The skills girls gain in innovation, leadership, coding, engineering and beyond have translated into tangible changes over the course of their participation. The program continues to be fast-growing! In just five years, the council has expanded our competition teams from four teams at one level of competition to 30+ teams across three competitive levels, re-launched the SIG and expanded workshop opportunities. Each year, we are amazed and humbled by the outstanding girls that participate in our program as well as the everlasting dedication and support of our robotics volunteers. In April, three of the seven Texas-based robotics teams that competed in the FIRST World Championship were from GSSJC, and each received an award for their work. The Lunacorns received the Explore and Design Award. The UNIbots received the Cooperative Model Award and the Sonic Leopards of the Galaxy received the Discover and Program Award. These awards show the breadth of the program, as they showcase the inquisitiveness, sportsmanship and technical skills of the teams. We are lucky to be able to facilitate this program through generous assistance from corporate supporters, as well as a dedicated and passionate volunteer corps who make it possible for us to make a lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of girls. Each year, girls gain invaluable skills and most teams typically do well in competition. In the past few years, we have had teams advance all the way to the world championship, where they have been granted awards for the past two years. Rescheduled for the Fall 2019
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ConnectionsNews for Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council supporters S
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Your Support Makes Robotics a Huge Success for Girls
Our annual Success to Significance luncheon may have been postponed in May due to inclement weather, but our Girl Scouts brightened the day of patients at Ben Taub Hospital by delivering the beautiful flower centerpieces from the event on Mother’s Day. Contact Princess Zambrano at [email protected] for information on the luncheon.
Sponsorships are still available for the previously sold out event.
Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council’s robotics program celebrated a huge milestone during the 2018-19 membership year. Our total teams grew to 33, with about 200 girls and more than 60 coaches participating in the program. This follows a year where competition teams doubled and the Robotics special interest group (SIG) was revitalized.
Robotics consists of three different engagement opportunities: competition teams (primarily active August-February); the SIG, which is active year-round and focuses on leadership and non-competitive skill-building; and robotics workshops, hosted by the SIG during select months as a council-wide activity or completed independently by troops.
Each opportunity is unique and allows members to grow into G.I.R.L.s (Go-getters, Innovators, Risk-takers and Leaders). The skills girls gain in innovation, leadership, coding, engineering and beyond have translated into tangible changes over the course of their participation. The program continues to be fast-growing! In just five years, the council has expanded our competition teams from four teams at one level of competition to 30+ teams across three competitive levels, re-launched the SIG and expanded workshop opportunities. Each year, we are amazed and humbled by the outstanding girls that participate in our program as well as the everlasting dedication and support of our robotics volunteers.
In April, three of the seven Texas-based robotics teams that competed in the FIRST World Championship were from GSSJC, and each received an award for their work. The Lunacorns received the Explore and Design Award. The UNIbots received the Cooperative Model Award and the Sonic Leopards of the Galaxy received the Discover and Program Award. These awards show the breadth of the program, as they showcase the inquisitiveness, sportsmanship and technical skills of the teams.
We are lucky to be able to facilitate this program through generous assistance from corporate supporters, as well as a dedicated and passionate volunteer corps who make it possible for us to make a lasting difference in the lives of hundreds of girls. Each year, girls gain invaluable skills and most teams typically do well in competition. In the past few years, we have had teams advance all the way to the world championship, where they have been granted awards for the past two years.
Rescheduled for the Fall 2019
Girl Scouts and Pink PetroSpecial thanks to Katie Mehnert and Pink Petro for inviting GSSJC to host a booth during the Pink Petro HERWorld Conference on March 6 and 7. The event allowed us to share the Girl Scout story and connect with female leaders who are blazing trails in the energy sector. It came as no
surprise that when the audience was asked to raise their hand if they were once Girl Scouts, most women raised their hands. Girl Scouts prepares girls with experiences and leadership skills to enter and successfully navigate fields where women are traditionally underrepresented – like energy. But when it came to the cookie booth hosted by Girl Scout Troop #126146 at the conference, women and men alike raised their hand to support our cookie entrepreneurs. After all, who can resist a Girl Scout with cookies?
RSM Gives Girls a Dream LifeAbout 200 girls attended the My Dream Life program in February presented by GSSJC and RSM US LLP, a global financial firm.
Girl Scouts enjoyed being adults for one day as they tried out different careers like a NASA employee who works on the space station, a TV meteorologist, a food supply chain manager or zoo veterinarian. The girls experienced earning a paycheck, saving, and spending “money” on a dream vacation all in the Dream Life world we created! Fortunately, the line for girls to obtain an RSM driver’s license was short that day. Thank you, RSM, for investing in girls’ futures through Girl Scouting!
GSSJC’s Emerald Circle recognized 22 graduating seniors with a total of $27,000 in scholarships to Girl Scouts who have earned the Gold Award, the highest award in Girl Scouting. Recipients were required to submit a scholarship application, including a resume, essay and description of their Gold Award project.
The Emerald Circle Gold Award Scholarship for $1,500 was awarded to Allison Goodfriend. The Emerald Circle Gold Award Scholarships for $1,000 were presented to Adele Cooper, Jennifer Duran, Emily Fritsche, Vanshika Jhonsa, Sophia Kontos, Beyza Kural, Sarah Littell, Katherine Matthews, Brianna Nealy, Tara Neigut, Elizabeth Ragan, Abby Spicer, Sarah Stout and Reagan Willmon.
Stephanie Buschhorn, Annika Gallaway and Autumn Jackson were designated as Goodykoontz Scholars with a $1,000 scholorship. This special recognition is given to recipients whose Gold Award projects exemplify the Girl Scout Promise and Law. The designation honors lifetime Girl Scout Dorothy Goodykoontz, founder and past president of The Emerald Circle.
The Judy Kunkel Memorial Scholarship for $3,000, presented in memory of Judy, a long-time Girl Scout volunteer and professional, was awarded to Haley Goodrow who was also designated a Goodykoontz Scholar. The Albert and Margaret Alkek Foundation Scholarship for $2,500 honoring the Alkeks, Texas philanthropists involved in various community issues, especially in support of education, was awarded to Alexandra Wolff.
The Robert H. and Joanne M. Williams Family Scholarship for $2,000, funded since 2002 by a GSSJC family with three daughters, all of whom earned the Gold Award, was awarded to Tiffany Kottukkal. The Ervan Chew Memorial Scholarship for $1,000, funded by the GSSJC Board of Directors to honor former board member Ervan Chew, a prominent community leader and volunteer who passed away in 1999 while serving on the board was awarded to Mathilda Kloepping.
Join the Alumnae AssociationGSSJC Alumnae Association members gathered at Crisp in early June for a summer happy hour event. Members networked with fellow former Girl Scouts, learned about what current girl members are doing and more. They also supported a camping supply service project by donating travel size toiletries, stuffed animals and water shoes benefiting our resident summer camps.
Our Alumnae Association is free to join for anyone who has been involved in Girl Scouting. Learn more at gssjc.org/alum.
Gold Award Girl Scouts Receive Scholorships
Thank You, Donors!$25,000 + AmbassadorGirl Scouts of the USASusanne M. GlasscockThe Hamill FoundationThe Vivian L Smith FoundationUnited Way of Greater Houston
$10,000-24,999 SeniorLeah BennettConocoPhillips CompanyHarriet and Joe Foster FoundationThe Friedkin GroupGeorge and Mary Josephine Hamman FoundationFred and Mabel R. Parks FoundationSave the ChildrenWells Fargo
$5,000-$9,999 - Cadette Clark Hill StrasburgerThe Community Foundation of Brazoria County Lowrey GrantMarathon Petroleum CompanyOCuSOFT IncShell Oil Company
$1,000-$4,999 JuniorBaker Hughes, a GE companyBP Energy CompanyChevron Phillips Chemical CompanySally A. ClarkDeloitte & Touche LLPCorrie B. JenkinsKey Impact Sales & Systems, Inc.Michelle LewisThe Lubrizol CorporationM2 Media GroupMemorial HermannMutual of AmericaNational Christian Foundation HoustonNational Oilwell VarcoNorthern Trust BankMichelle and Joseph RaabDolores and John M. Richards, IIIJayne and Paul RobertsRotary Club of North ShoreDonna S. SisakSmart Financial FoundationUnion Pacific FoundationUnited Way of Galveston IncThe Woodlands Development Company LP
$250-$999 BrownieJill AlmaguerAT&TTerrie Bean-MineroVincent BerendStacey L. BergJane M. BrownleeCarMaxColony Creek CommunityKaren K. DavidsonRudy T. DismukeKatie Beth GottliebClaudia W. HayslipDoris E. HillK. Daniel and Delores James HinkleHouston Diamonds & Dollars IncHouston Museum of Natural ScienceValerie JalufkaJust Her SportsKroger Company
Great care has been exercised to ensure the proper recognition of our donors. If an error or omission does occur, we apologize and hope you will bring it to our attention. Contact Suzanne Boak at 713-292-0273 or [email protected]. Honorariums listed are $250 and above. (Contributions made March 1 – May 31, 2019)
GSSJC thanked and honored members of the Juliette Gordon Low Society who have made GSSJC a beneficiary in their estate plans at an appreciation luncheon April 16. Joining this legacy society is easy.
Kuraray America, Inc.Kym Coleman Education Foundation, Inc.Katherine P. LaveryMarathon Oil CorporationIda Pearl McDonaldCassandra McZealJudy MosesLauren OstrowskiPepsi CoLinda B. RosenbergSafeway Inc.Kathryn SandersDarleen M. SchauerRonak ShahTexas Instruments FoundationNacogdoches County United WayUnited Way of Brazoria CountyUnited Way of Midland CountyNatalie WeaklyCathy Wining-Thomas and Jim ThomasJanet E. WolfMarguerite Woung-Chapman
MemorialsIn Memory of Penny HarpTerrie Bean-MineroBarbara S. Story
In Memory of Judy KunkelTerry E. Kite
In Memory of Anjanette SeipelTroop #112015
In Memory of Kimberly VaughanAnne BaumgardnerJune DowdyAnne FurseJennifer HoppeEmily HoppelShelley HubbleJulie MarinucciHolly NovakJohn David Suayan
HonorariumsIn Honor of Katie BerendVincent Berend and Rene Bozak
In Honor of Dee HinkleCharlene Pate
In Honor of Leslie Siegel LejmerSteve Jackson
In Honor of Troop #142147, Sunshine Stars CommunityLisa Hasch
In Honor of Isabel Smith WillhouseIda Pearl McDonald
Sample clause to name Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council in your willOne of the simplest ways to make a deferred gift is to include Girl Scouts as a charitable beneficiary in your will. The following is a recommended clause for making this legacy gift:Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council is to receive [the sum of [specific amount] or [percentage] percent of the rest, residue and remainder of my estate]. This bequest is unrestricted, and the board or other governing body may use and expend the bequest in any manner it deems appropriate.
For more information about the Juliette Gordon Low Society, contact Diane Pavey at [email protected] or call 713-292-0277.
Planned Giving, Helping Girls in the Future
Jennifer Arnold Speaks at Girl Scout CenterJennifer Arnold, MD, from TLC’s “The Little Couple” reality TV series, visited GSSJC in mid-May to give a talk called “Think Big”. Girl Scout alum Dr. Arnold inspired an audience of Girl Scout donors, sharing her fascinating life story and encouraging us to reach for our dreams, no matter what obstacles we may face. Dr. Arnold is currently an attending neonatologist and Medical Director of the Simulation Center at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital.
To learn about upcoming donor events, email Princess Zambrano at [email protected].
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Thank You, ExxonMobil!ExxonMobil received the Walnut Plaque at GSSJC’s Adult
Recognition Event on April 6. This award is given to
businesses to recognize them for several years of service
to Girl Scouting. ExxonMobil received the Walnut Plaque for
the 2,600 volunteer hours more than 380 employees gave to
complete 35 projects in October 2018 at Camp Agnes Arnold
and Misty Meadows Ranch.
GSSJC Hosts Day Camp Through Education Collaboration with United Way of Greater HoustonThanks to a $25,000 grant from the United Way of Greater Houston, Girl Scouts of San Jacinto Council was able to provide a week of day camp experiences to more than 50 girls in the Houston area served by other United Way agencies who would not otherwise have had access to day camp.
The focus of this education collaboration was STEM, or science, technology, engineering and math. This is a space where Girl Scouts have had a heavy focus in recent years, including the introduction of several new badges in areas such as engineering and space science. During the day camp, girls designed and built their own race cars in pairs or small teams, experimented with making silly putty, engineered ways to cross the Grand Canyon, used forensic skills and explored outer space by learning about constellations.
Girls also enjoyed traditional day camp activities, such as field trips to the Children’s Museum of Houston and Levy Park, an introduction to the traditions of Girl Scouting and the opportunity to make new friends.
“We know that summer camp is beneficial for all girls,” said GSSJC CEO Mary Vitek. “Recognizing the uniqueness of every girl, camp gives girls a chance to discover more about who they are and what they can become. In the camp environment, girls are encouraged to take healthy risks and experience new things as they build essential life skills, such as interpersonal and social skills, conflict resolution and collaborative teamwork, critical thinking and problem solving and a sense of confidence and independence.”
To learn how you can give to camp initiatives, visit gssjc.org/donate.
