Girls Scouts Changing the world

It's January, a time usually set aside for making New Year's resolutions and getting healthy eating habits back on track, and for Girl Scouts of Central Texas (GSCTX) it's the launch of the 2019 Girl Scout Cookie season.

While purchasing boxes of cookies may seem antithetical to making good decisions for the new year, each box of cookies sold supports the largest financial investment in girls annually in the United States and a powerful entrepreneurship incubator for the next generation of female leaders.

For over 100 years, the public has wondered: What makes a Thin Mint so irresistible? How many Peanut Butter Patties are too many Peanut Butter Patties? Can a Caramel DeLite change the world? And the answer is yes. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program®, girls not only discover their inner leadership potential but also use their earnings to power experiences for themselves and their troops, including travel, outdoor adventure, science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) programming.

At a time when girls' needs and issues collect fewer than eight cents of every dollar granted by philanthropic foundations in the country, each and every Girl Scout Cookie purchase is key to supporting the changemakers of today and tomorrow. Given that over half – 53 percent – of female entrepreneurs and business owners are Girl Scout alums, supporting Girl Scouts as they make sales and learn essential business skills is imperative to ensuring our country has a strong workforce and economy.

Girl Scouts of Central Texas is 16,500 girls and nearly 72,000 volunteers strong who believe in the power of every G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk taker, Leader)™ to change the world. Serving 46 Central Texas counties and headquartered in Austin, Girl Scouts of Central Texas has service centers in Brownwood, College Station, Killeen, San Angelo, Stephenville, Temple and Waco. 

Girl Scouts of Central Texas' work began more than 100 years ago with the original G.I.R.L., Juliette Gordon "Daisy" Low. On March 12, 1912, in Savannah, Georgia, she organized the very first Girl Scout troop. These first Girl Scouts blazed trails and redefined what was possible for themselves and for girls everywhere. They played basketball. They hiked, swam and camped. They learned to tell time by the stars. And most importantly, they shared a sense of adventure and a belief that they could do anything. And just like Girl Scouts do across the country and around the globe today, they offered a helping hand to those in need and worked together to improve their corner of the world.

Since the founding of the Girl Scout Movement more than a century ago, the organization has honored Low's vision and legacy, building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.

GSCTX is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls. In Girl Scouting, every day is a different kind of exciting. Girls in grades K-12 enjoy programs focusing on high awards, STEM, camps, outdoor, travel, financial literacy, career and college readiness, digital literacy, health and wellness, and special interest.

Cookie season in Central Texas runs from Jan. 16, through Feb. 24. To locate cookie booths in the area or to volunteer, visit GSCTX's website.