Winter 2025 SOAR Magazine

Leaving A Legacy: Jim and Merry Mosbacher

J im and Merry Mosbacher know the value of good leadership and they are on a mission to develop and support leaders in underresourced areas, especially for the benefit of youth across our region. As native St. Louisans, the Mosbachers are passionate philanthropists who purposefully direct their generous giving to local organizations that make a difference in moving the needle on leadership development, including Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri. Jim and Merry want to uplift the young girls of eastern Missouri and help provide them with access to quality education, leadership training, and service opportunities. Merry knows firsthand the power of the Girl Scout leadership experience. She was first introduced to the organization as a Girl Scout Brownie, where she was always the top seller in her troop for the Girl Scout Cookie Program, through which she developed an entrepreneurial mindset and lifelong skills. When Merry retired in 2019, she was the most tenured female partner at Edward Jones, with a career that spanned 38 years—personal growth that she attributes to her earliest years in Girl Scouts. “I applied the skills I learned in Girl Scouts throughout college and my career,” said Merry. “Today I can walk into a room and have a conversation with a perfect stranger, and I think part of that maturity emerged as a young girl because of the opportunities Girl Scouts gave me.” Looking towards the future, Jim and Merry hope that the Girl Scouts of today will make a difference and contribute to society, ultimately benefiting from the impactful programs available to them. They believe the organization’s momentum and evolution will continue to carry Girl Scouts forward as GSEM stays relevant to girls’ needs, shaping a brighter future. “Everything evolves and Girl Scouts has evolved as well, while staying relevant to what the needs of youth are today,” said Jim. “Through Girl Scouting, girls will develop these crucial leadership skills and learn how to appreciate what they have and what they can do for themselves and others.”

Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri 11 I hope that the broader community understands the important role that Girl Scouts play in our society and will continue to invest in the organization that will invest in the lives of girls. -Merry Mosbacher ” “