Download the 2012 Annual Report.

When Sara brought home a Girl Scout flyer, she was excited but afraid she wouldn’t be able to join because money had been tight. Even so, Sara and her mother attended the sign-up event at her school and discovered that Girl Scouts is available to all girls because of generous supporters like YOU!

As a Girl Scout Brownie, Sara now has the opportunities to develop leadership skills, connect with the community and celebrate accomplishments; all while earning badges in math, health, cultural literacy and more.

After joining Girl Scouts, Sara’s spark returned. She now giggles with her new friends at lunch and leads the Make New Friends song at her troop meetings. The new friendships, self-confidence and valuable skills that Sara gains from Girl Scouts are life-long benefits generated through caring donations.

Recent research* shows that girls who participate in Girl Scouts are more likely to complete college, form positive relationships and feel optimistic about their future. Donations not only help girls like Sara join a troop, they also grow new programs, train leadership and cover fees for girls who are unable to afford them.

Thanks to supporters like you, more than 9,000 girls were able to join Girl Scouts this year. With your help, we can meet our goal of raising $750,000 and have a positive impact on thousands of girls who are struggling, feeling isolated and alone, just like Sara.

It only takes $333 per year to pay for uniforms, membership dues and Girl Scout programs for girls just like Sara. Give today!

* Statistics are from Girl Scouting Works: The Alumnae Impact Study, by Girl Scouts of the USA. Read the full study at GirlScouts.org.

Please join us for the luncheon in November to honor new members and remember members who passed away this year, including Deloris M. Kanten, Anna Marie Sandberg and Catherine O’Keefe.

Saturday, November 3, 10:30 am–2:30 pm
Burnsville Performing Arts Center

If you would like to attend the luncheon, please reply by October 22 to Cora Heras at 800-845-0787, ext. 1237 or 651-251-1237. If you have any questions about the Juliette Gordon Low Society or would like to become a member, please contact Stephanie Pommier at 800-845-0787, ext. 1265.

When making a charitable gift, donors may have questions about the financial health of an organization. For basic information on River Valleys’ operations and finances, you can check out our pages on GuideStar.org, CharityNavigator.org and BetterBusinessBureau.org.

Charity analysts give high marks to River Valleys in the categories of financial health and return on donors’ investments. In 2011, River Valleys’ program costs were 81 percent of our total expenses, greatly exceeding the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Alliance standard of 65 percent or more. In fact, River Valleys meets every financial and administrative standard set by the Wise Giving Alliance, which assesses the nation’s charities to determine if benchmarks are met on matters like finances, donation appeals and governance. And Charity Navigator gives River Valleys four stars—its highest possible rating.

While River Valleys measures up well in assessments performed by charity watchdogs, criteria set by these organizations provides just a small part of the whole picture. While we are proud of our ratings, they do not capture how we impact the life of each and every Girl Scout.

River Valleys serves 45,000 girls each year and provides over $500,000 in financial assistance for girls whose families cannot afford Girl Scouts. Program staff arrange and promote more than 1,100 programs throughout our council area, not including the camp programs offered year round. And council facilitators provide access to training for over 18,000 volunteers, who are integral to delivering Girl Scout programming across our region.

When looking at charities, find out what kind of impact they are making to the populations they serve. By investing in River Valleys, donors help us prepare girls to be courageous, confident and thoughtful leaders, who will make a difference in our communities. Make a donation today!

The event was emceed by Robyne Robinson and featured speakers including River Valleys’ CEO Linda B. Keene, River Valleys’ Board Chair Deb Wilkinson, Distinguished Alumna and Centennial Champion Marilyn Carlson Nelson, and Dr. Delores Henderson. Honoree categories were presented by IBM, 3M, Andersen Corporation, General Mills and Clear Channel Outdoor. Guests enjoyed incredible performances by Norah Long (as Juliette Gordon Low), Jearlyn Steele, Patty Peterson and Lexi Johnson. A group of River Valleys’ Girl Scouts also surprised the crowd by performing the Girl Scout flash mob dance following dinner. The girls then presented each of the honorees with a specially-designed pendant, created for the event by Jostens.
As we honored the achievements of the Centennial Honorees, more than $100,000 was raised for Girl Scouts ConnectZ, River Valleys’ initiative to deliver Girl Scout programming to girls who traditionally lack access.

If you weren’t able to attend the Centennial Awards Gala, you can still support Girl Scouts ConnectZ by joining the Centennial Club. Your gift of $100 or more to this special campaign provides resources for more girls to become Girl Scouts through grants and financial aid. If you have any questions about the Centennial Club, please contact Stephanie Klenk, annual giving officer, at 651-379-4773. You can also make your gift online or by phone at 800-845-0787.

Help commemorate 100 years of Girl Scouts by joining the Centennial Club!

A portion of the proceeds from any item purchased from the March CRAVE CARES menu will be donated to Girl Scouts River Valleys. Local Girl Scouts recently visited KARE 11 with CRAVE Executive Chef Eli Wollenzien to unveil the special Girl Scout Cookie Crème Brulee featured on the March CRAVE CARES menu. The dessert is made with this year’s special 100th Anniversary cookie, Savannah Smiles.

Visit any of the CRAVE restaurants in March to try the Girl Scout Cookie Crème Brulee and support Girl Scouts as we continue to build girls of courage, confidence and character over the next 100 years.

Overall Numbers

• $13,559,530 was raised on one day
• 3,978 Nonprofits participated
• 47,537 Donors contributed

River Valleys Numbers

• $24,185 was raised to support Girl Scouts- Contributions DOUBLED from last year!
• 61st on the main leader board (criteria was by amount of donations)
• 368 donors contributed
• We made our $10,000 matching grant!

Thanks again to all of you!

Your gift provides important resources to help a new generation of girl leaders connect with others in healthy relationships, cooperate in teams, advance diversity, attend camp, and make differences in their communities.

Help us build a community of support for River Valleys.

Donate Today!

Tomorrow is GiveMN.org’s Give to the Max Day. Remember to support Girl Scouts. Every donation makes a difference in the life of a girl.

Thank you for helping build girls of courage, confidence, and character!

Thank You

New in 2010:

• A $20,000 and $10,000 prize grant will be awarded to the two nonprofits that attract the largest number of individual donors on Give to the Max Day.
• Throughout the event, an individual donor will be randomly chosen every hour to have an additional $1,000 given to the charity that received the donor’s original donation.
• Give to the Max Day was very successful for River Valleys in 2009. We had approximately 257 donors and raised more than $23,000. We hope to continue our success on November 16, and you can help.

Donate to River Valleys on November 16, and spread the word to friends, family, service units, and troop leaders. Every donation, whether $10 or $500, helps.

Thank you for your support of River Valleys!