Jane Leitzman is a lifetime Girl Scout member and donates through Daisy’s Circle, Girl Scouts River Valleys’ monthly giving program. In this Supporter Spotlight, Jane shares about her Girl Scout experience and why it is so important for her to support the Girl Scout movement. Above (from left to right), Jane Leitzman, Karen Klose, Karla Leitzman, and Bonna Scherer at the 2017 Juliette Gordon Low Luncheon.
"I initially got involved with Girl Scouts as a second-grader when my mom and a friend started the Brownie troop that I was in. I moved in 4th grade and joined the troop in my neighborhood—enjoying camp and many good times until our troop disbanded in eighth grade. When my daughter Karla was in kindergarten, I helped form her Daisy troop and remained with that troop until she graduated from high school. In that period of time I served as co-community coordinator for several years. And I got involved with Girl Scouts again when my daughter went to work for the organization—a circle complete.
I'm motivated to give as much as I can to Girl Scouts because of the wonderful opportunities it provides for girls to plan, work independently and with their communities, and learn leadership skills. My co-community coordinator and I took Girl Scout trips to New York City and to the 95th and 100th anniversary celebrations in Washington DC. She took her troop of older girls to California—examples of the furthest but definitely not the only travel opportunities for girls in our community.
I'm so impressed with the initiatives of the ConnectZ program, which brings a culturally relevant Girl Scout Leadership Experience to girls with diverse backgrounds throughout the Twin Cities metro area and southern Minnesota. The world has definitely grown more complicated and challenging since my involvement in Girl Scouting as a youth, and it's vital to bring opportunities to girls who would not otherwise experience the richness this organization has to offer.
We need Girl Scouts today to help girls grow and expand in our increasingly complex and challenging world. For many girls, it is their main opportunity for friendship and positive activity. Two recent examples serve as perfect illustration. At the national convention, I was so impressed by the involvement of Daisies (girls in grades K-1) as well as young women. Girls and young women were the introducers and moderators for all of the events. I had the privilege to listen to a young woman who had earned her Girl Scout Gold Award. Completion of the Gold Award is a significant accomplishment for any young woman, but this girl had been sold into human trafficking by her mother in South America. She credited her arduous journey toward a better life and earning her Gold Award to her troop leader.
Last fall, at the Juliette Gordon Low luncheon, we had the opportunity to hear from another Gold Award Girl Scout. Entering high school, she was having difficulty making friends and was lonely. At one point, she tried giving up her hijab and letting her hair down in an attempt to fit in. It was not until she was befriended by a group of Girl Scouts that she found a place to belong. Her Gold Award project was a creating a robotics club for elementary girls. She will attend college in the fall to prepare for a STEM career."
Ways to Give
Like Jane, you can help us ensure that we can continue to provide high quality programming to all girls. When you contribute to Girl Scouts River Valleys–no matter the amount–you make an immediate difference in the lives of girls. Every dollar you give stays right here in our communities, bringing Girl Scouting to more than 30,000 girls. Explore all the different ways to give and invest in girls.
