COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan (GSHOM) has been awarded a $550 grant from the Branch County Community Foundation, to ensure that girls in Branch County and Colon have the opportunity to participate in Girl Scouts, regardless of their family’s ability to pay. Specifically, the funds will help support girls in Kindergarten through 12th grade from all racial, ethnic, religious, and economic backgrounds to participate in high-quality after school youth development programming with a sole focus on the unique challenges and issues faced by today’s girls.
The goals in Girl Scout programming are designed to bring about equality for girls in the present and the future for each and every woman – no matter her age. These goals move girls to dis-cover their own unique talents and abilities, connect with their communities, locally and globally, and take action to make those communities better places. Program outcomes indicate that Girl Scouts are impassioned by a purpose to directly influence their own futures as well as to create a level playing field for all girls and women – a value shared on behalf of the Foundation and GSHOM alike.
Karen Micklatcher, chief product and development officer at GSHOM said, “We are grateful for the opportunity to reach out to girls in Branch County and Colon, MI in partnership with the Branch County Community Foundation.” In order to operationalize this partnership, GSHOM has designated a full time staff person serving Branch County and Colon, MI, a supervisory Membership Team Leader, adult mentors/Girl Scout Troop Leaders and Co-leaders, meeting space, equipment and supplies including a STEM trailer, Girl Scout handbooks and other program sup-plies, financial assistance for membership fees, program activities and camp, and most of all – girls.
Mike Tighe, the Foundation’s program officer noted, “We are glad we can help support the Girl Scout program and encourage our youth to partake and learn skills to become future leaders today.”
Grant funding for this program came from the Branch County Community Foundation’s Irv and Katherine Harris Fund.
