2019 Report to the Community

St. Louis County

Every Girl Scout goes above and beyond to make a difference in her community and the greater world. Those who earn the Girl Scout Gold Award are taking it a step further, flexing their leadership muscles by completing a sustainable project.

“I feel like the book brings people together,” she said. “Everyone I interviewed was local, yet they all have similar experiences. When someone reads it, they can see someone has been in the same spot and survived. I think during this trying time it’s important to remember you’re not alone.” Two years after Lauren was initially recognized by Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri for her extraordinary leadership, she was chosen as a National Gold Award Girl Scout. This honor is only awarded to 10 girls across the country who have taken matters into their own hands, generating much-needed change. “There’s not just one story, one cancer,” Lauren said. “I wanted to ensure everyone was represented in this book. One person I interviewed, Becky, was so willing to share and believes deeply in giving back to those who were with you during your hardest times. While everyone’s story is their own, I like how there is the similar thread of hope and strength.” After graduating high school in 2019, Lauren started her freshman year at University of Mississippi where she plans on combining her passion for philanthropy with business. She still travels around the state and country, sharing the mission of A Million Letters.

of encouragement can submit a request. Lauren’s A Million Letters was just the beginning for her. In 2017 Lauren earned the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest community service award a young woman can achieve within the organization. To earn this prestigious award, Lauren authored and distributed a book called Stories of Hope: Be the Light which includes 10 individuals’ stories and advice for those looking to inspire a loved one with cancer. “The reason I decided to call my book, ‘Stories of Hope: Be the Light,’ was because of a girl named Arianna who I met when I was an active volunteer in the cancer community,” Lauren said. “She passed away when I started working on my Gold Award, so I wanted to do this in honor of her. Everyone talked about the light she had around her. Her mother wrote the forward of the book too.” Lauren began her project by interviewing cancer survivors, she wanted to know what advice they would give to newly diagnosed patients and what encouraging words they felt needed to be shared. From there, she transcribed their conversations, researched publishing platforms and eventually printed dozens of hard copies which she later distributed to local oncologist centers and hospitals. Lauren’s book is available on Amazon and she’s using the proceeds to print and share even more copies nationally.

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auren Vanlandingham was three years old when her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer though she wasn’t the first in her family. Years before, her grandfather had undergone treatment for colon cancer. During these times, the Vanlandingham family turned to their community of neighbors, friends and fellow cancer patients for a sense of comfort and peace. Driven by the compassion, kindness and strength her family was shown during these times, Lauren was determined to figure out a way to positivity impact the mental and emotional health of cancer patients and their caregivers. For Lauren, her journey of giving began at a young age when she joined Girl Scouts in first grade. As she progressed through the organization, she used the leadership and entrepreneurial skills she developed to take action and generate the change she wanted to see in the world. At 13-years-old, Lauren established her own organization, A Million Letters. It’s mission—to deliver one million letters of hope to those affected by a cancer diagnosis. To do this Lauren created a website—those wanting to send a positive message can do so, and those wishing to receive some words

7 2019 Report to the Community