By Jerilyn J. Hickey, CFRE, Chief Development Officer

Girl Scouts of Western New York has touched the lives of thousands of young girls and adult volunteers through its mission to help foster their courage, confidence, and character. Last year, girls made new friends, went rock climbing, learned new skills, and embarked upon new adventures, all due to the generosity of Western New Yorkers who are committed to making a difference in their lives.

Donating to the Girl Scouts is more important than ever this year, because doing so directly supports programs that empower young girls in a rapidly changing world. Here’s why your support matters now more than ever:

  1. Bridging the Leadership Gap – Women remain underrepresented in leadership roles across industries. Girl Scouts provides leadership training and confidence-building experiences to prepare young girls for future success.
  2. STEM Education for Girls – With the growing importance of STEM fields, Girl Scouts offers hands-on experiences in science, technology, engineering, and math, ensuring equal opportunities for girls to excel in these high-demand careers.
  3. Mental Health and Resilience – The pandemic and social pressures have impacted youth mental health. Girl Scouts provides a supportive environment where girls can build self-esteem, resilience, and coping skills.
  4. Community Impact and Volunteerism – Girl Scouts leads service projects that address real-world issues, such as environmental conservation, food insecurity, and social justice. Donations help fund these impactful initiatives.
  5. Inclusivity and Access for All – Many families struggle to afford extracurricular activities. Donations help make it possible for all girls, regardless of background or financial ability, to participate.
  6. Supporting Small Business Skills – Programs like the Girl Scout Cookie Program teach entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and goal setting, preparing girls for future careers and financial independence.

Thus, we are reaching out to let you know that any help you provide helps ensure our ability to reach girls and families most in need of these opportunities. Can you provide help to our girls and families? Can you help ensure that Girl Scouts remains an opportunity for families across Western New York, regardless of a family’s ability to pay? Your support is critical in enabling us to provide opportunities that translate into life-long benefits.

Last year, Western New Yorkers helped send 119 girls to camp, enabled 1,000 girls to attend an after-school program, and provided 29 girls with scholarships totaling $40,000. Your gift, no matter the size, helps Girl Scouts move one-step closer to achieving its goals, and creating lasting change for girls in our community.

Make a difference today by donating at https://www.gswny.org/en/support-us.html, or mailing your donation to Girl Scouts of Western New York, 4433 Genesee St., Ste. 101, Buffalo, NY 14225.