First Lady Michelle Obama Highlights the Important Role of Girl Scout Volunteers

First Lady Michelle Obama discusses the important role played by Girl Scout volunteers in a new video released today by Girl Scouts of the USA, for which she serves as Honorary National President. Every First Lady of the United States has served in this post since 1917, when First Lady Edith B. Wilson became the first Honorary National President. Mrs. Obama’s video coincides with the launch of the organization’s new national campaign to increase recruitment of girl members and adult volunteers while highlighting the fun, excitement, and anticipation that are part of the Girl Scout experience.

The campaign captures the fun of Girl Scouting with the theme “I can’t wait to…” and girl-friendly grassroots promotions that will reach every community nationwide. With 3.2 million Girl Scouts and 112 Girl Scout councils across the country, parents, caregivers, and volunteers are vital to the organization’s success.

“Girl Scout volunteers can be moms, dads, aunts, uncles, grandparents, or anyone else looking to help girls in their community fulfill their boundless promise,” said First Lady Michelle Obama. “As a Girl Scout volunteer, you can show girls that anything is possible, and you can inspire them to dream bigger and go further than they ever even imagined.”

Girl Scouts is dedicating the week of September 30–October 7 to getting the word out to adults who care about girls in their communities and want to make a difference. As Girl Scout volunteers, they can help girls make friends, have new adventures, and do great things.

“This campaign brings Girl Scouting to life by highlighting everything our Movement can offer girls, and connecting our mission and values to their interests, energy, and excitement in a way that both girls and adults find engaging and fun,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “We are thrilled that our Honorary National President and First Lady of the United States Michelle Obama has leant her remarkable voice and unique vision to this campaign, helping us reach and recruit more girls and adult volunteers across the nation and around the world. Her enthusiasm for our Movement is helping us shape the next generation of female leaders.”

To view the video, visit http://www.fchiase.com/. For information on “I can’t wait to…” or to find out how to volunteer, visit girlscouts.org/volunteer.

Join the Movement to End Texting and Driving

According to the National Safety Council, texting and driving causes more than 100,000 car crashes on roadways across America each year. These numbers add up to one simple solution: never text and drive…It can wait.

To put an end to texting and driving, AT&T launched the It Can Wait campaign, which Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to be a part of. When it comes to texting and driving, the attitude of “do as I say, not as I do” widely persists. Today, more drivers than ever recognize the dangers of texting while driving, but continue to engage in this risky behavior. Originally introduced in 2009, the program aims to educate millions of wireless users, employees and the general public — particularly teens —about the dangers of texting while driving. In 2012, “No Text on Board” pledge day on September 19th brought consumers, policymakers and companies together to help end this dangerous behavior.

This year, we’re excited to help take the It Can Wait movement one step further with “Drive 4 Pledges Day” on September 19, 2013. On this day, It Can Wait advocates will be asking every driver to join us in making a personal commitment not to text and drive – and recruiting others to do the same. To succeed in making texting and driving a thing of the past, we’re going to need everybody’s help.

Why should you participate? The influence of just one person can have a tremendous impact. If you’re not convinced, consider the results of a recent survey of teen drivers ConnectSafely.org and AT&T conducted. The survey found 78% said they’re likely not to text and drive if friends tell them it's wrong or stupid. Furthermore, 90% say they would stop texting while driving if a friend in the car asked them to and 93% said they would stop if a parent in the car asked.

Visit www.att.com/itcanwaitadvocate for free resources about It Can Wait to educate your colleagues, friends and family and convince them to make a personal commitment not to text and drive. Once you take the pledge online, ask others to vow never to text and drive, or simply share your pledge and what it means to you through your social media channels.

For more ideas on how to get involved and information about texting and driving, visit ItCanWait.com.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Dell Introduce Be the Video Game Developer

Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) has received a two-year, $600,000 grant for its Journey and Connect Through Technology program from the Dell Powering the Possible Youth Learning Initiative and is now releasing Be the Video Game Developer, an interactive experience that puts girls in the driver’s seat of video game development.

Through Be the Video Game Developer, girls consider what they would like to see in video games and make selections accordingly—choosing avatars, storylines, and other video game features. They learn ideation, critical thinking, and teamwork skills to help them feel like creators in the game design process. Girl Scouts and Dell believe that Be the Video Game Developer will encourage girls to consider careers in science, technology, engineering, and math by exposing them to the exciting world of video game development. The program builds on Dell’s commitment to personalized learning for all students to help them to realize their academic goals.

Trisa Thompson, vice president of corporate responsibility, said, “Our partnership with Girl Scouts highlights our commitment to truly ‘powering the possible’ so that girls can succeed in school, work, and life. We believe that Be the Video Game Developer will empower and provide unique opportunities for girls to acquire knowledge and skills to utilize in future STEM careers.”

"We are thrilled to partner with Dell to bring girls a unique and exciting opportunity to design and create their own video game experience," said Anna Maria Chávez, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. "Today’s girls are digital natives, as comfortable in front of computer screens and smartphones as adults. Be the Video Game Developer lets girls delve deeper into the world of technology, learning vital new skills and discovering their own creativity in a manner both engaging and interactive. As we face a future of ever-expanding opportunity in science and technology, Girl Scouts and Dell are partnering to create a girl-led learning experience that will drive more girls into these groundbreaking new fields.”

On September 18, 2013, GSUSA and Dell will convene a think tank on innovation in today’s gaming industry as it pertains to girls, and the key skills girls need exposure to in order to succeed. At Game On: Girls and Technology, a live audience will be treated to an exciting think-tank session of industry insiders and girls discussing the past, present, and future of video games and girls.

There will also be a live, interactive demonstration of Be the Video Game Developer, during which girls and audience members will contemplate what they would like to see in video games and make selections accordingly—choosing avatars, storylines, and other video game features.

Be the Video Game Developer is part of GSUSA’s Journey and Connect Through Technology program, and plays an essential role in introducing girls to ICT concepts and helping them gain skills that promote critical thinking.

Dell has been involved with Girl Scouts for more than 10 years and has worked extensively with the five Girl Scout councils that will receive the game upon launch. Dell team members have provided valuable mentorship, volunteering their time and expertise to these councils, which include Girl Scouts of Central Texas, Girl Scouts of Middle Tennessee, Girl Scouts of the Nation’s Capital, Girl Scouts of Northern California, and Girl Scouts of Western Oklahoma.

GSUSA is the only organization, out of 50 charities managing 34 programs, to receive a two-year commitment from the Dell Powering the Possible Youth Learning Initiative. The initiative provides $2.4 million to charities nationwide.

Girl Scouts of the USA and Nestlé USA Team Up to Relaunch Girl Scouts’ GirlSports Initiative

Girl Scouts of the USA is relaunching its GirlSports initiative and is proud to announce Nestlé USA as the inaugural GirlSports sponsor. GSUSA and Nestlé USA are proud to continue Girl Scouts’ century-long legacy of committing to girls’ leadership by actively engaging millions of girls in sports, nutrition, and healthy living.

Since 1912, Juliette Gordon Low, founder of Girl Scouts, believed that health, nutrition, and fitness were essential to the Girl Scout experience. Girl Scouts hiked, played basketball, went on camping trips, and were encouraged to prepare healthy meals. We recognize now more than ever that we need to engage girls through sports and healthy living. We know that girls who play sports earn better grades, develop more confidence, and get more involved in their communities.

“Today’s youth have been raised indoors, away from the physical activity that was so common just a generation ago,” said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. “GirlSports is about reminding girls of the importance of staying active and staying fit, and teaching them how they can have fun in the process.”

The GirlSports initiative has been around for decades and utilizes the Legacy Athlete badge program to connect girls to health, leadership, learning, and teamwork through sports. Girls also earn five age-appropriate badges that teach them about fair play, practicing with a purpose, good sportsmanship, cross-training, and coaching.

In collaboration with Nestlé USA, we created the new GirlSports booklet, which illustrates and explains the existing sports programming and/or healthy-living initiatives of each council, and provides councils with a turnkey asset to engage donors and recruit girls, parents, schools, and others in the community. This new 12-page booklet also highlights our current program offerings for girls in sports through the five athletic badge offerings, the Make Your Own badge, and online activities on our website ForGirls.GirlScouts.org.

“Nestlé USA is proud to be Girl Scouts of the USA’s inaugural GirlSports sponsor,” says Kenneth W. Bentley, vice president of community affairs & educational programs. “At Nestlé USA, we are committed to delivering ‘Good Food, Good Life’ to communities nationwide. The GirlSports program is one of many ways we support this message. Our partnership will encourage girls to take a holistic approach to health by playing sports, eating healthy, and building self-esteem.”

With GirlSports, Girl Scouts continues the mission of inspiring girls to achieve leadership roles in all aspects of society, helping them get there through sports and the leadership skills they learn in the process—no matter what paths they choose.