[RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA], October 18, 2022 - Today, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines announced a $2.4 million gift from philanthropist MacKenzie Scott. This generous gift is part of an $84.5 million donation awarded to GSUSA and 29 local councils selected by Ms. Scott, making this unprecedented investment the largest donation from a single individual in the organization’s history. This gift is a testament to the life-enriching impact of the Girl Scout program and will serve as a catalyst for continued investment in girls and their leadership as they become the next generation of transformative leaders that our world needs.
“We are excited and honored to accept this generous and transformative gift and want to extend our deepest gratitude and appreciation to MacKenzie Scott for recognizing Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines’ impact in our communities and in the lives of thousands of girls and their families in central and eastern North Carolina,” said Lisa Jones, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines CEO.
The Impact
This gift to Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines will power leadership opportunities for girls through the advancement of the organization's mission. This donation will enable Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines to expand its impact and advance the organization’s recovery from the effects of the pandemic. This includes, fostering meaningful program innovation, making facility improvements at our iconic Girl Scout camp properties to complement year-round utilization while expanding accessibility and program elements at camps and service centers, and creating more equitable membership opportunities in communities that have been under-engaged.
The Girl Scouts Difference – Developing the Leaders of Tomorrow
Today’s challenges are complex, interconnected and more than ever, global. Solving them will demand collaborative leadership and innovative perspectives. Girls represent humanity’s greatest untapped talent pool and investing in them will produce the greatest return in economic development, social progress, and public health, improving not only individual lives, but the overall fabric of society.
“We are committed to diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging by creating a safe and welcoming environment for all through a shared responsibility of each and every member,” said Jones. “Investing in Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines provides the resources necessary to serve the complex needs of girls and their families. With this generous transformative support, we can scale and deepen our efforts.”
“I am deeply appreciative for the generosity of Ms. Scott and all who support Girl Scouts – together we are investing in girls and their future. This gift will further propel our efforts to deepen the impact of our program and enhance our inclusion efforts to reach girls and families in our communities.” said Valerie Quiett, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal
Pines, Chair Board of Directors. “Together, we will continue to develop girls of COURAGE, CONFIDENCE and CHARACTER who are prepared and committed to making our world a better place.”
“We are grateful for this gift from MacKenzie Scott. Every investment in Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines will help provide the resources necessary to serve the needs of the girls and their families,” said Lisa Jones, Girl Scouts – North Carolina Coastal Pines CEO. “It is an investment worth making as we prepare Girl Scouts to be leaders in a future that will be full of change, challenges, and opportunities.”
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.
With 111 councils nationwide, GSUSA has a presence in every zip code. Each new investment enables Girl Scouts to become a unifier at the broadest level, harnessing the leadership skills of generations to come and ensuring a future that is inclusive, empathetic, united, and equitable.