November | 2015

YOU!because of

Girl Scouts of Black Diamond CouncilPO Box 507

Charleston, WV 25322304.345.7722 or 800.756.7616

www.bdgsc.org

Your Support At Work: Girl Scouts, the New Generation of Leaders!

How to Double Your Money!Girl Scout troop gives cookie proceeds to help those less fortunate.Investing in Girl Scouting doubles your money. That’s because, when you give, you teach girls to give. Troop 8317 from Hurricane, WV, led by Melissa Oxley, is a perfect example! For the second year in a row, these young girls have put their own wants aside in order to use their cookie proceeds to help others. Unanimously, the girls voted against a big splurge trip to King’s Island and a shopping spree at the mall in favor of using their $700 in cookie proceeds for their local church’s Backpack Buddies program instead.

Some may not see purchasing a box of Girl Scout cookies as being a donor, but try to tell that to these girls! Each box of cookies sold translates into money that is used to do wonderful things in your communities, such as the Backpack Buddies Program. Melissa says of her troop that they still got their shopping spree; it was just for other people instead of themselves. The girls loved racing through the store, filling up four carts with items for the less fortunate!

Troop 8317 was able to “race” through the store because of the troop meetings Melissa spent planning the experience

with her girls. Through these financial literacy lessons, Melissa taught her girls about how to plan, save and shop for the best value. They also concentrated on buying food items that would keep and that young children could make by themselves.

When asked about her girl’s sacrifice, Melissa simply said, “They do this because they can. Not for an award. They know its right to give back to your community.”

Bravo, Melissa! You have done such great work with your troop! And bravo to you, Donor! Troop 8317 is just one of the many examples of the ways your money doubles when you invest in the life of a girl.

Because when you give to Girl Scouts, your investment doesn’t just support them, but it supports the amazing work they are doing in the communities they love.

Troop 8317 trounced through the snow all winter, selling cookies, so that they could buy four carts of food for other children in need.

“I was excited to be invited to the breakfast and be around a diverse group of women that empower each other. The breakfast was a great way for us to network with each other, but, more importantly, gave me reason to believe that we need more women mentors in this valley, educating and mentoring our young ladies. I love seeing women supporting each other, and we need to show our young girls how to support each other, as well. Thank you so much for including me in a great event!” - Meghann Ferrell

STAND BESIDE HER BREAKFAST- ATTENDEEWV Radio CorporationOwner/Operator- BeautiFULL, LLC.Charleston, WV

They do this because they can. Not for an

award. They know its right to give back to

your community.

“

“Girl Scout Gold Award Project Combats Growing Obesity Epidemic,Page 2

Giving Tuesday, Page 2

She Stayed Calm in a Tragic Situation, Page 3

Youngest Representative in History is Girl Scout Alumnae, Page 3

Ponies for Literacy, Page 4

Three Easy Ways You can Give to Girl Scouting, Page 4

2

Through donations from you and other generous supporters, Amy Davis, understands that she is responsible for making her own dreams come true. In her words, Amy, now a junior studying nursing at West Virginia University, gives this advice to other young girls, “You are the one who chooses your destiny in life. Do not let others define your fate for you.”

A Girl Scout since Kindergarten, her troop experience taught Amy how to handle any situation she was in, knowing when to be assertive, when to step back, when to speak out and when to listen. Armed with these invaluable skills, Amy knew she needed to use them to combat the growing obesity epidemic in West Virginia. The state she loves so much currently has the second highest obesity rate in the nation. Recognizing that healthy habits started, or didn’t start, in childhood, Amy wanted to be proactive by teaching children how to obtain and maintain a healthy body.

Because of you, Amy did just that! With the help of extraordinary donors like you, Amy raised the funds to educate hundreds of children about healthy food choices and exercise through fun games and physical activities and by leading gym classes at local elementary schools. As a culmination of this exceptional Gold Award project, Amy was able to donate a large trophy case to the elementary school that could highlight the children’s accomplishments and serve as a lasting incentive to inspire children to be active. She also established a pep club at the

school so that the children could cheer each other on in their efforts to stay fit!

Amy’s Gold Award project helped her earn a $2,000 college scholarship from West Virginia University, but Amy says the best part of completing her important work was receiving the hugs from the children who benefited from it. The smiles and hugs made her so happy and she felt that if she was able to change the life of even one child, all of her hard work and efforts were worth it. When asked to sum up what her years in Girl Scouting taught her, Amy stated, “The knowledge that you can accomplish anything. And, that you are the only person who can hold yourself back.”

Every dollar given by donors makes a difference in the life of a girl. Funding from you goes into an immense effort to cultivate girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

You are the reason that Amy was able to make it this far. So, when Amy says thank you, we couldn’t agree more!

Amy Davis, a lifelong Girl Scout and Gold Award Recipient, is now studying nursing at West Virginia University. She is originally from Weirton, WV.

Giving TuesdayDecember 1, 2015Looking for an opportunity to help make more AMAZING stories like these happen? December 1st is #GivingTuesday and by helping us reach our goal of raising $2000, you will help more girls like the ones featured here succeed. Black Friday and Cyber Monday kick off the holiday buying season, and #GivingTuesday is a time to give the gift of opportunity to girls through Girl Scouts. More communities will be improved, more groups of girls will bond and form friendships, and more high school seniors will go for the Gold thanks to you.

To support Girl Scouts in your community on #GivingTuesday please visit our website: www.bdgsc.org/give

Because of YOU!Girl Scout Gold Award project combats growing obesity epidemic.

You are the one who chooses your destiny in life. Do not let others define

your fate for you.“ “

The knowledge that you can acomplish anything.

And, that you are the only person who can hold

yourself back.

“ “

3

You may not see how your contributions would be critical for things like First Aid and Safety Training. However, Jade Neubauer and her family would beg to differ. Bolstered by your support of Girl Scouting, Jade’s troop was able to participate in both training opportunities. Then, the unthinkable happened. Tragedy hit Jade’s family when her father found her brother, Trevor, under the water in the bathtub. He had suffered a seizure. Jade’s training kicked in and she was able to stay calm and react to the situation in a helpful, efficient manner.

Hearing her father yell for her, Jade found her father’s cell phone and dialed 911. She told them the address and described what was going on to the dispatcher. She asked them to send someone quickly. When she was off the call with 911, Jade then called her grandmother and explained there was an emergency and she needed to come to the house. When the ambulance arrived, they worked diligently on Trevor. Heartbreakingly, he did not survive.

Jack Neubauer, Jade’s father, said of his daughter, “I’m very proud of the way she handled everything, not many adults could have handled a situation like that as calmly as she did. She amazes me every day. There is no doubt that her training in Girl Scouts helped

her tremendously when it came to this situation, as Jade had completed First Aid and Safety training through Girl Scouts prior to the accident.” For her courageous efforts, Jade received the prestigious Medal of Honor award from Girl Scouts of the United States of America and she was also honored by Governor Tomblin as a Junior Mountaineer.

Jade, a Cadette Girl Scout from Elkins, WV is a perfect example of what a Girl Scout should be. She says, “My main goal as a Girl Scout is to inspire girls as far as possible to be the best that they can be, and continue to inspire and help others to do the same.”

Because of you Jade received very important training. Thanks to your generous donations girls all over the region have access to the same types of training.

She Stayed Calm in aTragic Situation

Jade Neubauer- Medal of Honor recipient, Elkins, WV

When you think of the House of Delegates you probably have an idea in your head of what a person will be like that serves this entity. Saira Blair from Martinsburg, WV blew the status quo stereo-type out of the water! Little do you know, your contributions to Girl Scouts helped Saira become the youngest elected state lawmaker in the country.

Crediting Girl Scouts with her success, Saira said, “I’d say that the greatest skill I gained from my participation in Girl Scouts was the desire to set goals and do everything it took in order to achieve them. Our troop would decide on a badge and follow through on the steps to learn a new skill or help someone out.”

All girls dream. But utilizing your donations, girl scouts discover how to turn their dreams into attainable goals and make plans for reaching those goals. Now, Saira’s dream isn’t a dream anymore. It’s her life! And you paved the way for that with your donations.

Not only is Saira the youngest Representative in history, she is also currently a sophomore at West Virginia University, studying Finance. It is obvious by her achievements that when Saira puts her mind to something, there is no stopping what she can do.

Thanks to you another girl has exceeded everyone’s expectations, maybe even her own!

Saira Blair, 59th Seat in the WV House of Delegates.

Youngest Representative inHistory is Girl Scout AlumnaeSaira Blair

My main goal as a GIrl Scout is toinspire girls as far as possible to be the best that they can be, and continue to

inspire and help others do the same.

“ “

I’m very proud of the way she handled everything, not many adults

could have handled a situation like that as calmly as she did.

“ “

I’d say that the greatest skill I gained from my participation in Girl Scouts was the desire to set goals and do everything

it took in order to achieve them.

“ “

4

What do you have in common with ponies and reading? Well, it turns out, a lot! It is because of YOU that Junior troop 4522 was able to share their love of reading with Skyview Elementary school and motivate other young children to read, as well.

Amy Robbins, troop leader in Morgantown, WV, knows the secret to motivating girls. Ponies! Wanting to get the girls excited about working on a Take Action Project for their Girl Scout Bronze Award, Amy arranged a visit with On Eagle’s Wings, a therapeutic riding school. There, this Junior troop learned how to groom and care for the horses. They also learned about a special initiative Carol Petitto, owner of the school, was trying to get off the ground.

Carol talked to the girls about how 73% of West Virginia’s third graders couldn’t read at or above the appropriate grade level. For a troop that has bonded through the years over their mutual love for reading, this fact hit home. Carol explained that she wanted to use her miniature horses to help excite young children about reading by bringing them to elementary schools. The girls knew just how to help! They would attain box sets of The Horse in Harry’s Room, a book pre-approved through the Monongalia County Board of Education, and they would purchase special shoes for the horses so they could come to the elementary school.

But where to start? This is when you stepped in and helped through your donations! The troop worked diligently all summer,

holding lemonade stands and hosting read-a-thons to get donations. With all of the money donated, the troop was able to purchase four sets of shoes for the horses and 75 sets of the special book. On September 15th, Skyview Elementary School hosted their first equine guests, Tinkerbell and Tiger Lilly, two rescued miniature horses . With wide-eyes and excited giggles, all 75 first-graders got to pet the animals and take home their very own copy of The Horse in Harry’s Room. The children were instructed to read the book as homework and as motivation, anyone who completed the “homework” will be invited to visit the horses again at the riding school in the spring.

As Amy stated, “Your monetary donations were the key for this project. While the girls LOVED spending time at the farm and getting to know the horses, the real pay-off was in getting to share their love of reading with other kids.”

Ponies for Literacy

Three Easy Ways You Can Give to Girl Scouting Amazon Smile ProgramSupport Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council while you shop! AmazonSmile has the same products, same prices and save service as the Amazon you know and will donate 0.5% of your purchase to our council. Just make sure to start shopping through www.smile.amazon.com and designate our council as your charity of choice. Simply click the link to begin your shopping adventure.

Kroger Community Rewards ProgramDid you know that you can support Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council just by shopping at Kroger? Simply register online

at krogercommunityrewards.com. Be sure to have your Kroger Plus card handy. Once you are logged into your Kroger Plus card account, simply click on My Account, and click Edit Kroger Community Rewards information. You can either type in Girl Scouts of Black Diamond and search or use our Kroger Rewards #94879 in the search field. Once added, every time you shop at Kroger, THEY will donate a portion to Girl Scouts!

Planned Gifts Leave a legacy by including Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council in your estate plans. We invite you to join the Juliette Gordon Low Society of Girl Scouts of Black Diamond Council. As a JGL Society

member, you will be invited to attend special recognition and educational events. Other benefits include a subscription to the GSUSA society newsletter, listing as a society member in select publications, access to digital resources and a special membership lapel pin.

If you have already named us as the beneficiary of a planned gift, please let us know and we will welcome you as a JGL Society member. If you would like more information about how you can become a member - in a manner that benefits you, your heirs and Girl Scouts - please contact contact Jennifer Brown at (304) 345-7722.

73% of West Virginia’s third

graders couldn’t read at or above the appropriate

grade level.

“

“