01 Apr Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri Recently Awarded $10,000 Grant From Gary G. Taylor Charitable Trust

Girl Scouts of Northeast Kansas and Northwest Missouri was recently awarded a $10,000 grant from Gary G. Taylor Charitable Trust to support the training of nearly 400 Girl Scouts volunteers.

This Gary G. Taylor Charitable Trust grant will be used to underwrite the costs of volunteer training and ongoing support to nearly 400 Girl Scouts volunteers leading troops of nearly 1500 girls in 16 counties of NW MO. The goals of this program are to 1) increase the number of leaders who are trained and supported in this region; and 2) increase the number of girls in Girl Scouts achieving badges in STEM, Outdoor experiences, and Honor Awards of Bronze, Silver, and Gold. This training will include face-to-face trainings in individual and group meetings, telephone support, online support, supplies and materials, and other resources.

Girls cite social barriers to leadership aspirations, such as not wanting to be laughed at, fear of speaking in front of others, and shyness. Opportunities for leadership are scarce. Leadership is not a top goal for girls, as only a third say they want to be a leader. Not all girls have access to and opportunities for leadership enrichment activities outside of school. As the number of girls participating in Girl Scouts increases, the need for positive adult role models increases. Girl Scouts provide girls with positive adult role models and guidance in the three keys to leadership: discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. Adult women who have been Girl Scouts are more likely to attain a college degree (10% more likely), have significantly higher household income ($9,500 higher), and have greater civic engagement (14% higher voting rate and 18% higher volunteer rate).

Girl Scouts is the nation’s premier girl-serving organization focused on building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The North Region of Girl Scouts of NE Kansas & NW Missouri (GSKSMO) successfully served 1572 girls Kindergarten through 12th grade, from all racial, ethnic, religious, and socio-economic populations. Girl Scouts offers a critical youth leadership and development curriculum engaging girls in three key areas of leadership: discovering themselves, connecting with others, and taking action to make the world a better place. The North Region is organized into seven distinct “Service Units” covering the 18 counties. Each Service Unit is led by a team of community volunteers who assist the five staff leaders in implementing the core program and experiences for girls.