 
October 2015 Drumming up excitement San Diego Police Chief Shelley Zimmerman took the stage at our Urban Campout fundraiser to rock out on bongo drums. The “beat cop’s” impromptu performance — and her cameo appearance in a fun video — inspired revelers to lift their auction paddles high to help fund a state-of-the-art cabin at our Balboa Campus. Board member Julia Brown jumpstarted the paddle raise with a $25,000 contribution, which instantly doubled, thanks to Katie and Dan Sullivan’s offer to match donations up to a total of $50,000. By evening’s end, donors collectively raised $387,000 for year-round Girl Scout programs and activities, with $150,000 earmarked for the cabin. Urban Campers also enjoyed games, archery, s’mores, and dining and dancing under the stars. Thank you to all our guests, donors, sponsors and volunteers — including committee Co-Chairs Karen Benito and Denise Scott — for making a big splash in the Girl Scout world. Mark your calendar for Urban Campout 2016 on Friday, Sept. 9!
Jo Dee C. Jacob
Buckets of planet-loving fun Hundreds of Girl Scouts took part in I Love a Clean San Diego’s 31st annual Coastal Cleanup Day. Girls earned patches for spending a September morning beautifying our beaches, bays, rivers, parks and canyons. Together, participants collected a record-breaking 104 tons of debris! Many, like Point Loma Brownie Troop 6143 (pictured) carried reusable containers they decorated as part of a “Bling Your Bucket” art contest. Coastal Cleanup Day is part of a global campaign.
Financial education luncheon for women Learn “What Every Financially Savvy Woman Should Know” during a dynamic discussion and luncheon on Wednesday, Oct. 7, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Held at the Leichtag Foundation at the Farm in Encinitas, the event will be sponsored by Bank of the West and BNP Paribas Group. A panel of accomplished professional women will lend its expertise about women and money, and share actionable steps for gaining greater control over finances and making the most of philanthropic gifts. Limited seating; RSVP by noon on Monday, Oct. 5 to Barbara Kramer, (619) 610-0704.
KPBS spotlights Troop 4307 Girl Scout Daisy Asiyah doesn’t know what the future holds. She just knows Girl Scouting will get her there. “I want to be six things … a ballerina teacher, a gymnastics teacher, an orthodontist, a dentist and a talent show teacher, and a singer,” the ambitious 6-year-old announced during a KPBS interview. She’s among the 45 members of Troop 4307, which meets at the East African American Community Cultural Center in City Heights. Troop leader Bethlehem Degu’s mission is to open doors to Girl Scouting for girls from refugee families while acknowledging their cultural heritage. Bethlehem and her team of volunteers partners with community advocates like Sahra Abdi, who started the troop last year. Sahra first learned about Girl Scouts when she was named one of Girl Scouts San Diego’s Cool Women of 2012. Asiyah (above left) and her sister Azizah love being Girl Scouts.
Go nuts for a great cause! Holiday shoppers, call your favorite Girl Scout: Starting Friday, Oct. 2, they’ll be selling treats like Mint Trefoils, Cranberry Trail Mix, Dark Chocolate Sea Salt Caramels and Whole Cashews to friends and family. These and six other irresistible offerings from our Fall Sale will help Girl Scouts raise money for their fall and winter service projects and adventures. Troop 7003 of Imperial Valley used last year’s proceeds to earn the Home Scientist and Potter badges, decorate a float for the El Centro Christmas Parade and serve the community. The girls donated $250 of their earnings to the San Diego Humane Society and purchased music CDs and winter accessories for a caroling performance at a retirement home.
Friends of Balboa Park honor Diane Vogan Longtime volunteer Diane Vogan has directed Girl Scout day camps for 34 years. She is known for immensely popular camps such as “S’mores,” as well as her dedication to ensuring all girls can go to camp, regardless of any disability or other challenge. As she prepares to retire from that role, Diane is training and supporting new volunteers to take up where she left off. In tribute to her invaluable service, Friends of Balboa Park will present Diane with an Inspiration Award during the Millennium Luncheon celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 13, noon-1:30 p.m. We hope to see you there! Above, left: Diane, whose camp name is Beaver, met a real one for the first time during a 1912 Girl Scout camp session at SeaWorld. Right: S’mores day campers in action.
Special gathering for Promise and Legacy Circle members Rebecca and Craig Irving will host our annual Promise and Legacy Circles recognition celebration at their lovely Point Loma home on Sunday, Oct. 25. This year’s honoree is The Ellen Browning Scripps Foundation. Sarah Wheeler and Jennie Deuprey Stanchak will share how earning the Gold Award, along with their many other Girl Scout experiences, has influenced their lives. Promise Circle members donate $1,000 or more per year to Girl Scouts San Diego, while the Legacy Circle welcomes supporters who include us in their wills, living trusts, IRAs and other life-income gifts. For further information, contact Chief Development Officer Debbie Rider, (619) 610-0735.
October is national Cyber Safety Month: Adults are invited to join Girl Scouts San Diego for a revealing Conversation of Consequence event. Learn about potential threats to cyber safety and how to protect children who use smartphones and social media. Discuss online awareness and preparedness with representatives from Securing our eCity Foundation, and the San Diego Police Foundation’s Safety Net program. Cox Communications will sponsor this free session at our Escondido Program Center on Thursday, Oct. 22, 6-8 p.m. Space is limited; RSVP to Imelda Castaneda, (619) 610-0723.
College prep 101 More than 30 girls in grades 8-12 recently gathered to plan their futures. We hosted a “Road to College” workshop with help from members of San Diego Rotary Club’s Girl Scout Committee. Girls received tips about which college admission test to take and how to pay for their education (through resources such as Scholarships for Girl Scouts). They also explored strategies for adding a Gold Award project to a rigorous school and extracurricular schedule. In addition, participants discovered how to transform lessons learned inside and outside of the classroom into career opportunities.
Girl Scouts parade their water smarts During the 51st annual Poway Days Parade last month, Girl Scouts from our Blue Sky Service Unit took the prize for best representative of the parade theme, "Water Wise in Poway." They chanted “Water, water, save each drop .… There’s no more so waste must stop!” while waving pompoms and carrying WOW! Wonders of Water Girl Scout Journey books, a banner, handmade signs and umbrellas decorated with water drops. According to Blue Sky’s Service Unit Manager Jamey Tobin, the drought-knowledgeable girls also apply their water conservation skills in their homes, neighborhoods and schools. Featured events:
Juliette Low Birthday Bash — Saturday, Oct. 31 |
