(PHOENIX – Sept. 14, 2021) – Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) is delighted to announce the receipt of a $2 million grant from Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust. Announced on Monday, Sept. 13, the Now is the Moment Grants Commemoration awarded a total of $123 million to 71 nonprofit organizations across Maricopa County in one day. The grant, which will be used to support GSACPC's programs and volunteer training and increase access to Girl Scouting for more girls in Arizona, is the Council's second-largest single gift ever and the most significant one-time gift from Piper Trust, a long-time supporter.
Despite a tumultuous year due to the global health crisis caused by COVID-19 and economic uncertainty across all sectors, many individuals and institutions with large investments in the stock market experienced extraordinary growth in the value of their holdings. Piper Trust reported its endowment grew by $123 million in the 15 months following the start of the pandemic. With these two opposing forces at work, and as stewards of the Trust's founder, Virginia Galvin Piper, Trustees felt compelled to share all of the earnings with the community.
"We are deeply grateful to the Trustees of Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust and their ongoing support of and belief in our efforts to introduce more girls to Girl Scouting," said Tamara Woodbury, CEO of GSACPC. "Every girl deserves the opportunity to be a Girl Scout, which we know is proven to have a positive impact in girls' lives and their surrounding communities."
"Girl Scouts has been a consistent force for good in our community for many years and for our resilience through this pandemic. The program impacts our community in ways that matter today and tomorrow," said Mary Jane Rynd, President and CEO of Piper Trust.
"Everything girls do in Girl Scouting is designed to help them grow into well-rounded adults prepared to meet the future successfully," says Woodbury. "Girl Scouts helps girls navigate our changing world and build the futures they want to see. Through collaborative, experiential learning, access to caring adults and mentors, badge experiences and activities and service programs, girls build essential skills, explore and connect with their community, and become leaders who take action to make a positive difference in their communities."
According to Woodbury, amid seismic shifts in technology and culture brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic, Girl Scouts are constantly evolving and innovating their programs and offerings to address girls' evolving needs and interests in ways that resonate with them.
"Girl Scouts has been a source of connection, support, and joy for girls throughout the pandemic and is addressing current issues girls, parents, and caregivers care about," says Woodbury.
With some girls back to school, some girls still learning from home and others doing a hybrid of both, the Council is innovating ways to make Girl Scouting flexible and accessible at every level and turnkey for parents and caregivers to take part in, leading their girl through the experience in whatever way works best for them. This grant will directly support this mission.
"We love the work GSACPC does in our community and are proud to invest in the future of Arizona. Girl Scouts represent the next generation of social, civic, philanthropic, and economic leaders," says Rynd.
To celebrate what is quickly becoming one of the most significant years in our Council's history, GSACPC is actively recruiting new Troop Leaders and forming new troops to allow more girls to participate throughout the region. Joining the movement today is easier than ever. Girls can join a troop this new school year – right now! – and entire families can be part of the Girl Scout experience. Even dads/male caregivers! GSACPC is hosting fun, free events and programs for families new to Girl Scouts or who have not yet joined but want to learn more through the end of the year. Among the free virtual and in-person events are:
- Make New Friends, a four-part online series designed to boost your girl's social skills and self-confidence while she learns to focus and thrive in a virtual group setting.
- Animal Dance Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to have fun, meet new friends, and learn about Girl Scouts. After the physical dance party ends, the girls are encouraged to work on an independent activity. During this time, grown-ups are invited to join us for a quick overview of Girl Scouts.
- Robot Building Parties, an interactive Zoom party for girls to work together – albeit virtually – on "building their own robot at home" while learning about all of the other adventures, science experiments, and outdoor activities they can participate in as Girl Scouts.
- In-Person Events throughout the Valley and northern Arizona, families are invited to learn more about Girl Scouts at one of the local open-houses-style events closest to them. View the interactive map and calendar to find a location and time that works best for you.
For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org/join.
We Are Girl Scouts
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.
About Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,000 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 11,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org, like us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram.
About Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust
Virginia G. Piper Charitable Trust supports organizations that enrich health, well-being, and opportunity for the people of Maricopa County, Arizona. Since it began awarding grants in 2000, Piper Trust has invested more than $644 million in local nonprofits and programs. Piper Trust grantmaking areas are healthcare and medical research, children, older adults, arts and culture, education, and religious organizations.. For more information about Piper Trust, visit pipertrust.org and/or its Piper Fellows program, visit pipertrust.org/piperfellows. @PiperTrust | Facebook.
