Girl Scouts will use the occasion of its 100th birthday to incite a monumental shift in the way we support girls in this country and seek to get the issue of girls’ leadership on the national agenda. The cause—ToGetHerThere—will help break down societal barriers that hinder girls from leading and achieving the highest ranks in all fields and industries, from science and technology to business and government. 

 

Both Girl Scouts’ own research, as well as a third-party study by GfK Roper demonstrates that despite advances by women in business, politics, arts, law and medicine, girls opt out of leading: one in five doesn’t believe she has what it takes to lead, and 61 percent of girls are either deeply ambivalent about leadership or say it’s not important to them at all. If this continues unchecked, millions of girls in our country may not reach their full potential as leaders in our society. Our cause will seek to alter this pattern. 

 

At the helm of the initiative, which has as its goal the creation of balanced leadership in a single generation, is Girl Scouts’ new CEO, Anna Maria Chávez. Anna, a Yale graduate and the daughter of migrant farm workers in the Southwest, understands that girls need critical support at a young age to become the future leaders of society. 

 

To provide this support, we must start with all girls now—not just girls involved with Girl Scouting—and ask all adults to help girls achieve their full potential, in any way they can. 

 

 

 

The ToGetHerThere Campaign kicked off formally on January 31 in New York with a panel event at the TimesCenter. GSUSA’s CEO Anna Maria Chávez and female and male leaders from a variety of fields—including media, finance and sports—discussed leadership issues facing girls today, as well as the new research findings. Girl Scouts is taking the ToGetHerThere Campaign to Washington, D.C. tomorrow (Feb. 1) and will ask Congressional leadership to get involved with the ToGetHerThere Campaign and to stand with Girl Scouts in support of girls. These national events are just the start of Girl Scouts’ larger cause effort. 

 

GSUSA has also started an online initiative for those who want to help girls achieve their leadership potential or wish to have more information. This exciting new website is: ToGetHerThere.org.

 

Barbara J. Bonifas, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western Ohio says, “The time is right for this imitative. It is imperative that girls have more opportunities to learn how to lead. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience provides this opportunity and we hope that others—both individuals and organizations—will offer resources, coaching assistance and support to girls for the ToGetHerThere Campaign.” 

 

About Girl Scouts of Western Ohio

 

In partnership with nearly 14,000 adult volunteers, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio serves 50,000 girl members in 32 counties throughout western Ohio and southeastern Indiana.  Chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA, Girl Scouts of Western Ohio builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  For more information, to volunteer or make a donation, call 513-489-1025 or 800-537-6241, or visit our website at www.girlscoutsofwesternohio.org.   

 

About Girl Scouts of the USA

 

Girl Scouts of the USA is the premier leadership experience for girls and is the leading authority on girls' healthy development. The 3.5 million member organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. GSUSA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information call 800-GSUSA 4 U (800-478-7248) or visit www.girlscouts.org.