Girl Scouts Seek Singing Superstar with “I Want to Rock the Mall” Contest
Chance to Perform for 200,000 at Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing‐Along

WASHINGTON – Girl Scouts around America are warming up their voices, tuning their guitars and
arranging new lyrics in hopes of become the next singing sensation. Tapping into a tech‐savvy youth
culture, Girl Scouts announced I Want to Rock the Mall YouTube contest sponsored byK12 Inc.,
America’s leader in online learning for students in grades kindergarten through 12. To enter, Girl
Scouts must write an original song expressing what it’s like to be a Girl Scout today. The contest is
part of the 100th anniversary celebration of the Girl Scout movement. The Girl Scout contest winner
will dazzle the stage with a live performance in front of hundreds of thousands at *Girl Scouts Rock the
Mall*:100th Anniversary Sing‐Along, in Washington, DC on June 9, 2012. Plus, she’ll be introduced and
share a stage with “American Idol” finalist and Girl Scout alumna Thia Megia.

Girl Scouts Rock the Mall: 100th Anniversary Sing‐Along is one of several events that will mark the
centennial celebration of Girl Scouts. Hosted by the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital and Girl
Scouts of theUSA, it will be the largest gathering of Girl Scouts with an estimated 200,000 Girl Scouts
from around the world attending. Girl Scouts have been writing, singing, and playing songs that
celebrate sisterhood and the fundamental ideals of Girl Scouting for 100 years.

“We are motivating girls to use their creativity to express what it is like to be a Girl Scout today. Using
social media Girl Scouts can spread the word in song, far and wide, that Girl Scouts is celebrating its
100th anniversary,” said Lidia Soto‐Harmon,CEO of the Girl Scout Council of the Nation’s Capital.

Thia Megia, singer, musician and finalist on the hit FOX series “American Idol,” is lending her talent to
serve as official Ambassador for the I Want to Rock the Mall YouTube contest. While participating in
the “American Idol” live tour across the country, Megia balances her performing career and school
work as student at California Virtual Academies powered byK12. “I know that girls are doing it all
these days, so I can’t wait to see the videos, hear the creative songs and join our talented winner at
Girl Scouts Rock the Mall. It’s going to be truly inspiring,” said Thia Megia.

Ron Packard, K12 founder and CEO, commented, “We are proud to join forces with the country’s
largest girl‐focused organization, Girl Scouts. One of the greatest benefits forK12 virtual students is
that they have the flexibility and freedom they need to fulfill dreams inside and outside of the
traditional classroom. In fact, many of our virtual students participate in Girl Scouts, and the YouTube
contest is a unique platform for them to express themselves and interact with young women across
the country.”

I Want to Rock the Mall YouTube contest will kick‐off November 10, 2011 at the Girl Scouts National
Convention in Houston,TX. All entries must be posted on YouTube by April 20, 2012. The top 10
entries will receive recognition at the event and aGirl Scouts Rock the Mall T‐shirt. The first place
winner will receive a trip to Washington, DC to perform atGirl Scouts Rock the Mall: _100th
Anniversary Sing‐Along_. Contestants must be a registered Girl Scout, in grades K‐12, living in the
United States. The entries must be posted in response to the officialI Want to Rock the Mall YouTube
contest atwww.youtube.com/GSRocktheMall.

During the contest period, girls are encouraged to direct visitors to view their entry to increase the
panel of judges’ interest in their video. The winner will be determined based on creativity, originality,
musicality and the girl’s ability to engage her audience. The contest is sponsored by Girl Scouts of the
Nation’s Capital andK12. For more information visit: www.gscnc.org/youtubecontest.html.

On Saturday, Jan. 21, Pitt women's basketball hosts rival West Virginia for its annual Girl Scout Day. Wounded Warriors in attendance will be honored at halftime and presented with gift baskets prepared by Western PA Girl Scout troops. The individuals participating in the project will receive a merit badge for the activity.

The Panthers and Mountaineers will tip off at 2 p.m. at the Petersen Events Center with check-in for Girl Scouts beginning at 12:30 p.m. in the lobby. Activities will take place on the Concourse and Club Levels. Admission to the game is $1 for this special day.

Pitt hosts ESPN College GameDay at the Petersen Events Center on Jan. 21, as well. Doors will open at 8:30 a.m. Girl Scouts, troop leaders and parents attending the women's game can also attend this special event prior.

On Jan. 6, 2012, girls and young women throughout western Pennsylvania will brave the elements to knock on doors as part of the largest financial literacy program of the year for Girl Scouts.

To celebrate the Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary in 2012, a new cookie has been introduced-the Savannah Smiles. This crisp lemon wedge cookie honors the heritage of Girl Scouts and Girl Scout Cookies. And, when you hold it just right, you’ll quickly be reminded of that world—famous “Brownie Smile.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Program has helped make Girl Scouting the premier leadership development experience for girls. The Program teaches skills—such as financial literacy and responsibility, teamwork and setting goals—that allow girls to realize their full potential and develop their own personal leadership style. Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program, girls develop five essential skills, important ingredients in the Girl Scout Leadership Experience:

• Goal setting
• Decision making
• Money management
• People skills
• Business ethics

Click HERE for more information on how to purchase Girl Scout Cookies, or call 800.248.3355 to be connected with a Girl Scout in your area.

MEDIA CONTACT: Cori Begg
Office: 412.594.2526
Email:cbegg@gswpa.org

MarCom entries come from corporate marketing and communication departments, advertising agencies, PR firms, design shops, production companies and freelancers. The competition has grown to perhaps the largest of its kind in the world. A look at the winners shows a range in size from individual communicators to media conglomerates and Fortune 500 companies. The competition is so well respected in the industry that national public relations organizations, local ad clubs, and local business communicator chapters are entrants.

MarCom Awards is administered and judged by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals. The international organization consists of several thousand creative professionals. The Association oversees awards and recognition programs, provides judges and sets standards for excellence.

Girl Scouts of the USA, which enters its 100th anniversary year in 2012, is rolling out an all-new collection of badges aimed at giving girls the skills they need to succeed.

Girls can still earn popular long-time badges such as Cook, Naturalist, and Athlete − topics as relevant today as they were in 1912 − but now they also have badges such as Product Designer, Digital Movie Maker, Customer Loyalty, and even the Science of Happiness. And new “Make Your Own” badges at every level give girls the opportunity to explore any interest they choose.

“Girls told us they want more challenge, and we’ve responded with substantive, focused, fun new badge offerings that will prepare girls for lifelong success,” said Patricia Burkart, Chief Executive Officer, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania. “What we need today are more adult volunteers to help girls bring these leadership experiences to life.”

Badges now come in categories: Legacy, Financial Literacy, Cookie Business, Skill-Building, and Make Your Own. There are also awards such as a new pin called My Promise, My Faith, which helps a girl celebrate what her faith and the Girl Scout Law have in common. The new badge portfolio, called The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting, also complements GSUSA’s National Leadership Journeys, which help girls explore how to be leaders in their own lives and in the world around them as they take on projects to prevent bullying, protect the environment, and more.

The Girl Scout organization has transformed itself in recent years to focus on leadership development for girls in the 21st century, and the new badge offerings reflect that transformation. “The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting builds the critical thinking, creativity, and entrepreneurship that the next generation of leaders will need to make the world a better place,” said Burkart.

The Girl’s Guide to Girl Scouting has found immediate, widespread acceptance in the Girl Scouting community. The initial press run of 850,000 copies has all but sold out.

Think it’s a full-year commitment? Think again.

Have a busy schedule? No problem. Today’s Girl Scouts offers many flexible ways to participate. Spend a day at a sports clinic improving your soccer skills - or at the zoo learning to care for the animals. Help plant a community garden. Sleep over at the science center. There are so many paths to take and so many friends to meet along the way.

Which path will you take?

What’s so great about today’s Girl Scouts is that there’s no one way to participate. Choose one path or choose them all.

Camp: Like to learn more about nature and the environment? Camp with the Girl Scouts for the day or overnight.
Events: Maybe you have more than one passion. If so, you can attend multiple events throughout the year in the subjects that interest you most.

Series: Love dance? Chess? Visiting an amusement park? Lots of other girls do, too. Why not explore lots of your interests together in a way that fits your schedule?

Travel: Ready to go places? Girl Scouts are on the move! And whether they’re traveling across town, the state or the world, it’s always an adventure of a lifetime.

Troop: Join a troop and meet regularly with other girls to participate in exciting activities, make a difference in your community and have lots of fun!

Today’s Girl Scouts offers more choices and more reasons than ever to join. Join us in 2012, as we launch into the next century of Girl Scouting! Learn more at gswpa.org.

This year, the 24-hour Day of Giving events will run simultaneously for Allegheny and Westmoreland counties – midnight to midnight on October 4 – but as with 2010, each will have its separate match pool. The Community Foundation of Westmoreland County became part of The Pittsburgh Foundation following completion of its merger in the summer 2010.

To be eligible to receive donor contributions which qualify for matching dollars, nonprofits must be located in and primarily serve communities in Allegheny and Westmoreland counties, and all contributions received during the 24-hour giving period will receive an equal pro-rated share of the appropriate match pool.

Mark your calendar for the Day of Giving on October 1.

For this honor, GSWPA will receive a check for $1,250 presented at the October 12 Nonprofit Day in Erie.

Styles, of Windber, PA, holds a dual masters degree in human resources/industrial relations from St. Francis University and public administration from Syracuse University as well as a BA in political science from the Pennsylvania State University. Styles, Girl Scouts Western Pennsylvania’s former Board Chair, has been with Lockheed Martin since 1987 and has served as the president and general manager since 2002. She previously worked with the Department of Defense in Philadelphia, PA.

Styles was selected as a Girl Scout Great because her achievements and legacy, embody the mission of Girl Scouting. She has made significant contributions in her field, elevated the status of women, and, in the process, inspired GSWPA’s membership. Styles will be recognized at a reception held during Girl Scout’s 2011 National Council Session in November.

Anna has been chief executive at the Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas since 2009, and prior to that has had quite an extensive and accomplished career in public service. She served as deputy chief of staff for urban relations and community development for former Arizona governor and current US Secretary of Homeland Security Janet Napolitano. In Washington DC, Anna served as senior policy advisor to US Secretary of Transportation Rodney E. Slater, and has been chief of staff for SBA’s Office of Government Contracting and Minority Enterprise Development. A bio with more information and a press release are attached to this memo.

Kathy Cloninger, our current National CEO, who has led our Movement for the past eight years and prepared us for our next 100 years, will continue in her role through the Girl Scout Convention in November. Anna will assume her role as National CEO on November 14, 2011.

Please join us in congratulating Anna on her new role as we continue to do the transformational work of "building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place."