December 2022 Our Promise

Our Promise Dec. 2022

A Legacy of Leadership After more than a decade, Bonnie Barczykowski, CEO for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, will leave the organization this winter. Since joining Girl Scouts in 2012, Bonnie has helped expand membership opportunities for girls across the region, transform program experiences and engage community partners—all to match the dreams and ambitions of girls with the resources they need to be successful. “On behalf of the board, GSEM staff and our girls and volunteers, I want to thank Bonnie for her decade of energetic leadership and strategic vision,” said Dawn Kotva, Board Chair. “She has challenged us to move ‘at the speed of a girl’ and has led us through critical times, including a global pandemic. During her tenure, she remained focused on increasing the organization’s ability to reach all girls throughout eastern Missouri with our leadership development programming. She has a great team in place who will continue to develop girls of courage, confidence, and character, who will make our world a better place.”

“I am proud of all we do to help girls build the skills they need to lead in their homes, in our workplaces and in our communities. While I will miss working with my GSEM colleagues and volunteers to advance our mission, the time has come for me to pass the baton of leadership.” -Bonnie Barczykowski, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri CEO

We invite the community to join us in honoring Bonnie’s decade of leadership with a gift to the Bonnie B. Endowment Fund, as part of the Her Future is Our Future campaign. This permanently restricted fund will help ensure that GSEM will be serving girls in our region for generations to come. As part of the campaign, all gifts and pledges (up to $500,000) will be generously matched by the Nance Frost “Dreaming Green” Challenge Match.

Entrepreneurial Pillar

Across eastern Missouri, thousands of girls each year are able to “see what they can be” through Girl Scouts. Girl Scout programming connects them to industries and experts who broaden their horizons and expand their worlds. According to a recent study by the Girl Scout Research Institute, 92 percent of girls think they’re smart enough to be entrepreneurs and nearly 80 percent say they’re interested in careers in the business world. Yet, one in three girls feels the risk of failure makes it not worth the effort and a majority think their gender would make it harder for them to succeed as entrepreneurs. Connecting girls to female role models and programming designed to build their confidence and spark their curiosity lays the foundation for future success in the business world and beyond. Girl Scouts’ approach is proven to work. In fact, an astonishing 80 percent of female business owners were Girl Scouts

in their youth and many credit the Girl Scout Cookie Program® as their first foray into entrepreneurship! This year alone, more than 8,200 Entrepreneurship badges were earned by Girl Scouts of all ages through activities such as the Girl Scout Cookie Program® and the Treats & Reads Fall Product Program, the Live from Girl Scouts program series, the Daisy Drop Box, troop meetings, and more.

Meet the Program Manager! Hannah Dailey is the Program Manager for Entrepreneurship and Outdoors at Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri where she engages with girls about money management and business practices and encourages them to go outside their comfort zone on outdoor adventures. As a former Girl Scout and now a lifetime Girl Scout member, she believes in the Girl Scout mission and loves to help the next generation of girls become more confident in themselves and their abilities.

“Discovering more about entrepreneurship makes girls more confident and excited about the possibilities for their future,” said Dailey. “Entrepreneurship encourages girls to think for themselves, and push limits and expectations. These skills also translate to any other field they choose to enter–new ideas, initiative, and proactive thinking are qualities appreciated in many industries.” Her background is in human interactions with natural resources, with both a Master’s and Bachelor’s degree in related fields. Before Girl Scouts, she was with the Sustainability Departments at Furman University and the University of Missouri helping advance sustainability goals through programming, including social innovation.

Supporter Spotlight: Charles Schwab

Committed to preparing the next generation to achieve financial freedom, Charles Schwab has been a natural Girl Scout partner in the areas of financial education and entrepreneurship this past year. Like Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, Charles Schwab recognizes that a lack of financial literacy has real consequences in people’s lives, from limiting access to college, housing, and good jobs to causing stress and anxiety, it also contributes to bigger social issues like poverty, a growing wealth gap, and racial inequity. Through its MoneyWise America curriculum, Charles Schwab levels that playing field by mobilizing and equipping its employees to advance financial literacy within younger generations with confidence and empathy. Through a unique collaboration this fall, Schwab’s MoneyWise America curriculum was adapted and integrated into Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s Junior Budgetmaker program, hosted live at the Berges Family Girl Scout Program Center on October 5. “Schwabbies” Danny Shaver and Jennifer Lane helped Girl Scout Juniors (grades 4-5) develop spend-save share budgets while challenging them to distinguish between their wants and needs when making significant financial investments. Charles Schwab’s support of Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri has also gone beyond the classroom, providing key support in other areas of Girl Scout programming. As part of the company’s official Volunteer Week in April of this year, Charles Schwab brought 15 “Schwabbies” to Camp Fiddlecreek in Labadie, Missouri for an extensive clean-up effort in advance of the 2022 summer camp season. After a full day of hard work, Schwab volunteers and Girl Scout staff were able to clear hiking trails and even restore a functional, outdoor picnic space for those attending camp this summer. We are grateful to Charles Schwab and the “Schwabbies” for their partnership.

Earlier this year, Girl Scouts of the USA unveiled a new offering of financial literacy badges for all levels of Girl Scouting. For each level, one badge delivers fundamental financial awareness and one shows how to apply money sense toward future goals. By earning any of the 13 new financial literacy badges, Girl Scouts are empowered to take money matters and dreams into their own hands! Financial Literacy Badges

Trail Restoration Project Ribbon Cutting Celebration

On September 19, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and community partner, Spire, cut the ribbon on Camp Fiddlecreek’s Trail Restoration Project, made possible through Spire’s support of the Her Future is Our Future Comprehensive Campaign. To help celebrate the special day, volunteers from Spire performed routine maintenance on the trail, and will continue to do so as part of their commitment to ensure the sustainability of the trails for girls today and long into the future. As part of the trail restoration project, 12 trail segments have been integrated into the total trail system at Camp Fiddlecreek and will provide Girl Scouts of all abilities and skill levels the opportunity to experience the outdoors at camp.

Women’s Leadership Network: Networking Reception

When women come together in support of a common goal, they are unstoppable. Through the Women’s Leadership Network, members uplift girls’ big dreams and bright futures.

Members of the Women’s Leadership Network (WLN), St. Louis’ premier women’s network, gathered at the Saint Louis Club on November 16 to engage in meaningful conversation during the annual Networking Reception. Attendees heard from an esteemed panel of women while participating in table conversations centered around the theme of Resilience. Panelists for the event included, Amber Overton, GSEM’s Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Colonel Laurel “Buff” Burkel, retired from the US Air Force and GSEM Board Member and Jennifer Bardot, publisher and author of the “Deconstructing GRIT Collection.”

Scan the QR code or visit girlscoutsem.org/wln to join today!

Trefoil Talk

DEI Update from Amber Overton, Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri

Increasing access, removing barriers.

At GSEM, we commit to building a council where more girls and families believe Girl Scouts is for them, and our girls are empowered leaders who make the world a better place for all. Over the past year, we have made strides in our commitment to removing barriers to our programs for all girls, including girls with disabilities. We have revamped our accommodations process, making GSEM programs and activities more accessible for girls and families of all abilities. Through formalized partnerships with disability-centered organizations, we continue to expand our capacity to support and empower girls with physical and intellectual disabilities, and/or neurodivergence. Thanks to the generosity of former GSEM Board Chair, Cynthia Heath, we are proud to share that Claire Bear Camp, GSEM’s first week-long day camp for Girl Scouts on

the autism spectrum, will be launched in the summer of 2023. We celebrate, welcome and affirm people of all abilities and backgrounds. The momentum around this work continues to grow stronger every day. As we close out 2022, we are inspired to continue to support girls through our disability inclusion work, our racial equity plan, and much more. Learn more about diversity, equity, and inclusion at GSEM by scanning the QR code or visiting vr.girlscoutsem.org/DEI .

Gifts for Girls Annual Fund

At Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, we believe in every girl’s potential to meet today’s problems with bold solutions and create a better, brighter tomorrow for her community and the world. Each year, more than 41 percent of Girl Scouts in the region need financial assistance to make their full participation in Girl Scouts possible. Your annual contribution to Gifts for Girls directly supports their leadership journeys! Gifts for Girls is a fund designed specifically to make sure every girl in eastern Missouri has the chance to show that she is an innovator, a change-maker, a dreamer, and a doer! A gift to Gifts for Girls provides: • Membership & Uniform Assistance : A gift of $50 can make all the difference, supporting one Girl Scout’s membership and uniform fees for one year. • Scholarships: Program scholarships for girls help them explore ALL that the Girl Scouts has to offer including: Camp, Live from Girl Scouts, Robotics, travel experiences, Council-led programming, and much more. A gift of $375 can cover a week at summer camp. • Equitable Program Costs: Your support allows GSEM to significantly underwrite program costs, reducing member pricing and making these experiences accessible to girls across our region. All gifts are welcomed and appreciated. Donors who make a gift of $1,000 or more will be recognized as a member of GSEM’s 2023 Giving Circles. To make your gift today or learn more about GSEM’s Gifts for Girls Campaign and Giving Circle levels and benefits, visit supportgirlscoutsem.org/annual-giving .

A special THANK YOU to our July—October grant funding partners for bringing the Girl Scout Leadership Experience to life!

• • • •

AT&T

Blues for Kids Foundation

Charles Schwab

Cuivre River Electric Community Trust Edward Chase Garvey Memorial Foundation Enterprise Holdings

•

• •

E. Reuben and Gladys Flora Grant Charitable Trust Gertrude and William A. Bernoudy Foundation ICL Specialty Products Jefferson Foundation Lutheran Foundation of St. Louis Tracy Family Foundation

•

• • •

•

Memorial and Tribute Gifts

With sincerest appreciation and gratitude, we recognize those who made a memorial or tribute gift to Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri from July 1, 2022 to October 31, 2022. In Honor of Bonnie Barczykowski Susan Barley Laurel “ Buff” Burkel Julie Cubbage Donna and Eric Doerhoff Laurna C. Godwin John Hoesli In Honor of Kathy Costello Jeffrey and Sue Mason Laura Gubera Joe Gottlob Cheryl Haney Linda and Thomas Reis Nancy and John Russo Frances Kister In Memory of Dorothy J. Krehbiel (cont.) Barbara Griffin Cathy & Gary Gutjahr Melissa Hoskins Linda Kammerer

In Honor of Carolyn Losos Ann Ruwitch and John Fox Arnold

Barbara Jacobsmeyer Julie and Glen Leverenz Carolyn W. Losos Shertina Mawuenyega Susan McCollum Kim and John McCurdy Kathy Osborn Penny Pennington and Mike Fidler Regional Business Council Sarah Siegel

In Honor of Kathy Crown Kathy Dabrowski

In Memory of Suzanne V. McSwain Gloria H. McSwain

In Memory of Ruth Johnson Nancy Stough Hillhouse

In Honor of Mary Roth Michael Naccarato

In Honor of Jo Ann Taylor Kindle Logan and Adela Finerty

In Memory of Elsie Jean St. Cyr Katherine St. Cyr

In Memory of Dorothy J. Krehbiel Gwen Behrens Dorothy Brennecke

Alicia and Ellie Skroska Annie and Joe Schlafly Katherine St. Cyr Jessica Willingham

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 2300 Ball Dr. St. Louis, MO 63146 314.592.2300

PLEASE JOIN US TO CELEBRATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF CHANGE-MAKERS AT

FIRST THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2023 Dessert tasting and cocktails beginning at 6 pm CHASE PARK PLAZA ROYAL SONESTA 212 Kingshighway Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63108

2023 Scholarship Recipients Coumba Diallo Mira Iyer Gracie Steinmeyer

Individual Legacy Builder Jo Ann Taylor Kindle

Corporate/Foundation Legacy Builder William T. Kemper Foundation

Presented by

Community Legacy Builder FIRST® In Missouri

girlscoutsem.org/dessertfirst