Now through Memorial Day, customers can donate online to send delicious Girl Scout cookies to men and women serving our country overseas in the U.S. Military.

Anyone who donates online to Operation: Sweet Appreciation can choose a specific Girl Scout troop or individually registered girl (also known as Indie Girls) to benefit from the donation, just as they would through the traditional Cookie Program.

Donations will be collected online now through Memorial Day, May 27, at gswpa.org/military.

Our goal is to send 50,000 boxes of cookies overseas on behalf of Girl Scouts from our council.

We know that Girl Scout cookies are a welcome treat for men and women serving our country. Please click here to help Girl Scouts send more cookies to them by donating today.

Yes!! We love Girl Scout cookies overseas!!
TSgt Kristin Taylor, US Air Force

Girl Scouts offers many ways for girls to participate; in troops, at camp, as and Indie (Individual) Girl, in programs, series or at events. Volunteers are needed so we are able to open the door for all the possibilities a girl can dream of. Volunteering with Girl Scouts doesn’t need to be a long commitment. You can volunteer for a single event, a week at camp, helping an Indy Girl, in an 8 week series, at a cookie booth, chaperoning a trip with the L.I.F.T. program or working with a troop. The possibilities are endless! We will help you find the right opportunity that fits into your schedule and interests. Please consider volunteering today. There is greatness in every girl. YOU can help her find it.

To help find the volunteer opportunity right for you please contact volunteer@gswpa.org or fill out the Volunteer Application Packet to get started today!

You can purchase Girl Scout cookies that will be shipped directly from the baker to troops overseas. Your donation will give troops a taste of home as well as a welcome tasty treat.

You can donate cookies through Operation: Sweet Appreciation at Girl Scout booth sales around your community. To find a booth sale near you, click here.

Here are what some of the men and women who received cookies have said:

"I just want to take the opportunity to thank you for the cookies you sent us here in Afghanistan. The cookies are delicious and put a smile on my face; however, it is more important to know that complete strangers are willing to support us just because we are Soldiers in the United States Army."

"I just wanted to say thank you for taking time to send a box filled with delicious Girl Scout Cookies. It was one of the special moments on deployment that brightened our day."

"I just want to send you a thank you for the Girl Scout cookies! Boy, they are good and well appreciated from everyone here. You ladies are wonderful, and keep us motivated every day, you remind us of who we are fighting for and what makes us proud to be Americans!"

Give our troops a taste of home with Operation: Sweet Appreciation. It’s the perfect way to say “thank you” to the men and women who are serving our country!

If you have questions about Operation: Sweet Appreciation, please contact Susan Jenkins.

The announcement highlights Roxanne's dedication to the Girl Scout Mission, noting that she "works with girls of diverse ages, races and background to instill the courage, confidence and character needed to make the world a better place."

Please join us in congratulating Roxanne on this achievement!

Reprinted with permission from the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, 2013

About the Jefferson Awards:

In 1972, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, U.S. Senator Robert Taft Jr., and Sam Beard founded the Jefferson Awards program to honor the unsung heroes of our country. The program is named after founding father Thomas Jefferson, a man who reflected the spirit of excellence in America as author of the Declaration of Independence, President of the United States, and advocate for a free press and freedom of religion.

Now known as the "Nobel Prize for volunteerism", the Jefferson Awards honors individuals for their achievements and contributions through public and community service.

The Jefferson Awards are presented on two levels: national and local. Past Jefferson Awards recipients on the national level include Oprah Winfrey, Peyton Manning, Bill Gates, Condoleezza Rice, Faith Hill, Lance Armstrong, and Gen. Colin Powell.

In 1976, former Pittsburgh Post-Gazette editor John Craig established a local program honoring Western Pennsylvania's "Community Champions" -- everyday citizens who encountered problems in their neighborhood and created solutions to fix them. Today, the Post-Gazette continues to honor outstanding volunteers each week through the Jefferson Awards program.

All girls ages 14 and older and adult members are encouraged to participate in Town Hall meetings. This important, interactive meeting is your chance to share your ideas and keep up with important council
issues. All meetings are 6:30-8:30 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

Register now

Monday, March 4
Edinboro Office
5681 Route 6N
Edinboro, PA 16412

Tuesday, March 5
Canonsburg General Hospital
100 Medical Boulevard
Canonsburg, PA 15317

Wednesday, March 6
Greensburg Office
126 East Otterman Street
Greensburg, PA 15601

Tuesday, March 12
Johnstown Office
612 Locust Street
Johnstown, PA 15901

Wednesday, March 13
Brookville Borough Complex
18 Western Ave
Brookville, PA 15825

Thursday, March 14
Beulah Presbyterian Church
2500 McCrady Road
Churchill, PA 15235

Monday, March 18
Graystone Presbyterian
640 Church Street
Indiana, PA 15701

Tuesday, March 19
First United Methodist
Church of Aliquippa
2816 Brodhead Road
Aliquippa, PA 15001

Wednesday, March 20
Smethport Office
217 West Main Street
Smethport, PA 16749

Thursday, March 21
Allegheny Intermediate Unit
475 East Waterfront Drive
Homestead, PA 15120

Troop 24186 from Greensburg talked about the Cookie Program on Pittsburgh Today Live.

Learn more about the Cookie Program in your region by clicking these links to local media coverage:

KDKA Pittsburgh Today Live

Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Johnstown Tribune-Democrat

Warren Times-Observer

For more information about the Girl Scout Cookie Program, please click here.

Get ready for adventure this summer!

Horseback riding? Sailing? Backpacking? Adventure courses? Girl Scout camps offer a variety of activities to make summer 2013 your most memorable yet.

You can start on the path to awesome camp fun with three easy steps:

Step 1: Explore the Camp Edition of S'more magazine.

You can browse camp choices online here.

Step 2: Register early.

You can register for camps online at www.gswpa.org starting Monday, January 7 at 6 a.m. Our Help Desk will be available for extended hours that day to assist you with your registration, from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Step 3: Look forward to fun!

Ward off the winter blues by thinking of all the fun you'll have this summer with Girl Scouts!

Lisa Shade
Public Relations Manager
lshade@gswpa.org
1-800-248-3355 X 1472

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Cookies Open Doors For Girl Scouts

For the first time since 1999, Girl Scout cookies have a new look.

Pittsburgh — For the first time since 1999, all boxes of Girl Scout Cookies have a new look and a new purpose: to elevate the significance of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, a $790-million girl-led business.

The iconic Girl Scout Cookie package showcases the five financial literacy and entrepreneurship skills that the Girl Scout Cookie Program teaches girls, skills that will last them a lifetime: goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics.

The decision to update the package came about in 2010 as part of an overall brand refresh in advance of the organization’s 100th anniversary on March 12, 2012. The package needed to be more contemporary to reflect the new brand identity and to embody the spirit of Girl Scouting, while showing customers how they can reconnect with the organization. GSUSA partnered with the New York office of Anthem Worldwide, the brand development division of Schawk Inc., to redesign the packaging to inspire consumers and engage them on the important role that Girl Scouts plays in girls’ lives.

The Girl Scout Cookie package also features the GreenPalm logo, which speaks to the organizational commitment to addressing conservation and sustainability concerns related to Girl Scout Cookies.

Cookie sales will begin January 4, 2013. In February, customers can use their iPhones or Android smartphones to find the booth sale closest to them. The Cookie Locator app is available in the App Store and Android Market.

• Cookie FAQ (148.89 KB)
  Frequently asked questions about the Girl Scout Cookie Program.
• Important Dates (136.85 KB)
  Mark your calendar!
• Cookie PSA (135.09 KB)
  Scripts for creating Cookie Program public service announcements.

Dear Girl Scouts,
What a week it was for the East Coast—and for Girl Scouting. Many people remain displaced and in shelters, while others are left to deal with damage to their homes and communities in the wake of Hurricane Sandy. Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of those who lost loved ones during the storm and with those who continue to struggle in what will be a long road to recovery. Yet with each passing day, the region is getting back on its feet. I am so proud that throughout it all, Girl Scouts in even the worst hit areas have done what they do best: rolled up their sleeves and gone to work serving others in a time of need.

I can report that we at Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) are up and running after our facilities lost power last week. (Our apologies to those of you who tried to reach us.) Not only are we back, but we are supporting our Girl Scout councils in the affected areas and throughout the country. Eight councils bore the brunt of Hurricane Sandy, four councils in New Jersey and four in New York. Councils, like GSUSA, are still in the midst of assisting staff members who have been affected by the storm and assessing damage to their facilities. It has meant so much to us that many of our Girl Scout sisters and friends have taken the time to reach out to us from around the country and throughout the world to ask how they can help. In initial response to those inquiries, we are activating a plan based on prior regional disaster efforts that had an impact on girls and Girl Scouting.

To ensure that the councils are getting the kind of support that they need, we will be lifting fundraising restrictions to enable girls to raise money for Girl Scouting recovery efforts in the eight councils. We encourage you to give to Girl Scouting for recovery in these eight councils. Contributions may be directed to a specific council or councils through their online giving sites. GSUSA also will establish a Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund to help address the needs of councils affected by the storm, and these funds will be directed to those councils once they have assessed their needs. To give, go to donate.girlscouts.org/hurricanerecovery where you will find links to the online giving sites for all eight councils, as well as the giving form for the Hurricane Sandy Recovery Fund.

We and the councils thank everyone for the outpouring of support. For now, the affected councils ask for time to assess and focus on their specific needs and to get back up and running. Although material donations and troop offers of assistance are appreciated, the councils are not currently in a position to process and organize them. Rest assured that you will hear very soon how you can further assist our councils in their recovery efforts. Girl Scouts have displayed tremendous courage, confidence, and character during this trying time, and I know they will continue to do so as the region continues to recover from Hurricane Sandy.

Sincerely,
Anna Maria Chávez
Chief Executive Officer
Girl Scouts of theUSA
© 2012 Girl Scouts of the United States of America.
All Rights Reserved. 420 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018