Girl Scouts Of Eastern PA, Largest Girl-Serving Organization In Pennsylvania, Appoints Kim E. Fraites-Dow As CEO

PHILADELPHIA, March 15, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) is pleased to announce that its Board of Directors has appointed Kim E. Fraites-Dow as Chief Executive Officer effective today. A seasoned non-profit leader, Fraites-Dow, who has served as COO of GSEP for the past 21 months and as acting CEO for the last four months, has demonstrated her commitment to the mission during her five years of service on the senior management team, previously as Chief Development and Marketing Officer. 

"Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania is the premier leadership organization for girls, with a pioneering legacy that spans 104 years," Fraites-Dow said. "While only 1 in 10 girls are Girl Scouts, 80 percent of women leaders were Girl Scouts.  Our alumnae are today's leaders, and our girls' accomplishments and potential are inspiring.  I plan to tell their stories and expand our organization's reach by empowering girls to take the lead in their personal lives and make a difference in our community and our world."

The appointment of Fraites-Dow to CEO will help to solidify and grow GSEP's position of strength. Today, GSEP stands in the Top 10 largest Girl Scouts councils out of more than 100 councils nationwide, and is the largest council in the Northeast region. Last Tuesday, GSEP celebrated the 30^th Anniversary of Take the Lead Philadelphia, which raised more than $325,000 for the council. In October 2016, the council will host the annual national Girls Scouts CEO/Board Chair Meeting.

"Over the past five years, Kim has demonstrated her commitment to the mission of the organization. She has taken the time to learn the inner-workings of GSEP and build relationships with business and community leaders throughout the nine-county footprint," said Board president Mary Stengel Austen. "I along with the rest of the Board have total confidence in her ability to continue to advance our mission of empowering girls in this region."

The GSEP Board conducted a comprehensive executive search led by former Board Chair Ann Thornton Field to fill the position permanently and concluded unanimously that Fraites-Dow was the best candidate. She was able to build confidence among her GSEP staff and volunteers as they witnessed first-hand her ability to serve as both acting CEO and COO during the four month search.

The announcement comes in the midst of GSEP's "Campaign for Girls," a $9 million investment project to support leadership development, under-served communities and outdoor programming. As part of the investment, GSEP will be making significant capital investments to enhance and expand camp properties, while providing greater access to ongoing innovative outdoor experiences.

About Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania (GSEP) is the largest girl-serving organization in Pennsylvania and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  GSEP serves close to 40,000 girls in partnership with more than 15,000 volunteers in Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Montgomery, Northampton and Philadelphia counties. Today, 80 percent of women in leadership and executive roles in the U.S. were Girl Scouts.  Girl Scout alumnae comprise 70 percent of women in the U.S. Congress.  For further information about Girl Scouting, how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, call 215-564-2030 or visit www.gsep.org. Follow @GirlScoutsEPenn on Twitter and like us at www.facebook.com/GirlScoutsEPenn!

GSEP Board of Directors Executive Committee Members:

• Mary Stengel Austen (Chair), Tierney
• Anne Baum, Capital Blue Cross
• Christopher Cashman, Independence Blue Cross
• Michael Hanlon, Esq., Buchanan Ingersoll & Rooney PC
• Maria Kraus, BioClinica
• Julia Rafferty, Stradley Ronon Stevens & Young, LLP
• Leslie Stiles, PA Conference for Women

For more information, contact:
Jennifer Richards
Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania
215-564-2030 ext. 1035
[email protected]

SOURCE Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania

Related Links

http://www.gsep.org