Girl Scouts Turns 105 Years Old

March 10, 2017

The month of March commemorates the birth of the Girl Scouts Movement. On March 12, 1912, Juliette Gordon Low gathered 18 girls in Savannah, Georgia to teach them that they can achieve anything for themselves. Now, 105 years later, Girl Scouts has grown to reach nearly three million girls in 92 countries and has more than 59 million alumnae worldwide. In today’s world, it is critical for girls from all backgrounds to have the opportunity to explore their strengths, passions and talents. The Girl Scouts does just that. As written in the mission statement, “Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.”
The Rees-Jones Foundation has approved seven grants totaling more than $1.4 million to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas since 2008. From the Foundation’s inception our Founders, Jan and Trevor Rees-Jones, have had a passion for providing at-risk, underserved girls and boys with opportunities and experiences that teach them strong morals and values. Girl Scouting goes beyond the traditional cookie sales and badge-earning to provide programs for girls who would be unable to participate due to financial constraints. Since low-income girls are often unable to participate in traditional scouting, Girl Scouts removes the barriers and provides them with opportunities to participate in afterschool programs, Girl Scout troops, and Girl Scouts camp. At low-income Dallas ISD schools, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas helps more than 4,000 underserved girls in North Texas through their three Community Outreach programs: Girl Scouts Direct, Las Mariposas, and Girl Scouting.
Girl Scouts has proven to foster individual growth, character and self-sufficiency. The Girl Scouts Promise states, “On my honor, I will try: to serve God and my country, to help people at all times, and to live by the Girl Scout Law.” As Girl Scouts worldwide continue to repeat the Girl Scouts Promise, it is our hope that they carry those impactful words with them as they grow to become our future leaders.
Learn more about the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas and their Community Outreach programs.