Girl Scouts Announces Finalists in Contest to Tell Presidential Candidates Why They Need to Support Next Generation of Leaders

News provided by

Oct 22, 2012, 08:30 ET

NEW YORK, Oct. 22, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) today announces the finalists for "Dear Mr. President Girl Scouts Speak Out" PSA Contest in which girls of all ages were invited to make public service announcements to tell the presidential candidates about the importance of supporting girls and the next generation of leaders.

The videos, slide shows and other material submitted by girls across the country drew more than 10,000 votes and dealt with issues ranging from business to bullying. "Dear Mr. President" is part of "Girl Scouts Speak Out" series in which GSUSA asks girls to submit PSAs on an important national or global topic.

Submissions were posted on the GSUSA website in May and voted on through October 15. The winner of each "Girl Scouts Speak Out" has her submission made into a professional PSA. To view the submissions by the finalists, go to http://speakout.girlscouts.org/.

The top themes that emerged from the materials the girls submitted included the need for more role models, equality in pay, bullying and the negative images in the media.

The finalists are:

Hareem, 14
Girl Scouts of the Nation's Capital
Title: Girl Scouts of the USA, Celebrating 100 Years of Girls' Leadership
As the top vote-getter with 3,465 votes, Hareem focuses on the nation's need for leadership. She reminds the presidential candidates that girls have great things to offer, but are opting out of leadership positions, and expresses an emphatic call to action to support girls now.

Northern Jersey Girls Teen Group
Girl Scouts of Northern New Jersey
Title: Girls are now the future!
Dear Madame President – This group of Northern Jersey girls envision that we already have a female president. They address their video, a series of girls writing to 'Dear Madame President,' imagining a woman president who wants to support girls to become leaders. The girls state that a girl is capable of fulfilling leadership expectations.

Troop 6655
Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
Title: Do A Good Turn Daily
Girls hold the president to the standard of the Girl Scout Law. They want a president who is honest, has honor and courage to be more responsible for water and air pollution, create more jobs, stop budget cuts to education, and ensure equal pay.

Girl Scouts Colonial Coast College Group
Girl Scouts of the Colonial Coast
Title: Dear Mr. President, the children of America need your help to stop bullying
This video by a large group of teen girl scouts asks the president to stop bullying, saying that as a country we are becoming intolerant of those different from us which results in bullying. The girls make suggestions as to how the president can help, such as having schools take on anti-bullying pledges.

Amanda
Girl Scouts of Central Illinois
Title: What do YOU see?
Amanda takes a humanitarian approach, asking the presidential candidates to see each individual not as composite of labels or stereotypes, but as a whole person. She creates imagery around stereotypes, and poses the question: What do YOU see?

The winner of the contest will be announced Nov. 1.

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3.2 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 or visit www.girlscouts.org.

SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA