Girl Scout Week Kicks Off in Good Faith

Across the Country, Girl Scouts Celebrate Strong Ties to Faith-Based Communities

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Mar 11, 2014, 12:50 ET

NEW YORK, March 11, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This year during Girl Scout Week, Girl Scouts of the USA will celebrate its rich history of partnership and collaboration with faith-based communities by highlighting the My Promise, My Faith pin girls can earn that complements existing religious recognitions and allows all girls to further strengthen the connection between their faith and Girl Scouts.

Everything in Girl Scouting is based on the Girl Scout Promise and Law, which include many of the principles and values common to most faiths. Thus, while a secular organization, Girl Scouts has, since the Movement began, encouraged girls to take spiritual journeys via their faiths' religious recognitions.

"The motivating force in Girl Scouting is spiritual, and I am proud to lead an organization that places individual faith at the center of its mission," said Anna Maria Chávez, CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. "We encourage and support every girl to grow in her religion, and we work to foster an environment that celebrates a girl's spirituality, even as we champion inclusion and mutual respect for all religious beliefs. As a mother, a woman of deep faith, and a female leader, I am so proud of our legacy of close collaboration with religious institutions across the world, and I look forward to continuing to work with faith-based communities to help girls earn their My Promise, My Faith pin."

Every time a girl makes the Girl Scout Promise, she is promising to "serve God." One way she can do this is to participate in the religious award program of her faith-based community and wear the recognition proudly on her uniform.

Faith-based awards include religious recognitions as well as the My Promise, My Faith pin. In addition, many faith-based communities offer programs, in conjunction with Girl Scouts, that recognize local girl members. Adult volunteers from faith-based organizations partner with girls by connecting the My Promise, My Faith pin to their faith's own religious recognitions, guiding girls through their personal faith journey and helping them understand their faith intellectually and spiritually.

While the design of the My Promise, My Faith pin seeks to accommodate girls of all faiths, Girl Scouts' 100-year partnership with the Catholic Church is one powerful example of how Girl Scouts partners meaningfully with faith-based communities.

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries. For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, call 800-GSUSA-4-U (212-852-8000) or visit www.girlscouts.org.

Contact:
Bret Arnold
[email protected]
212-852-5731

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA