WHEREAS, On March 12, 1912, the first Girl Scout meeting was held in Savannah, Georgia; and

WHEREAS, The first Girl Scout meeting was led by Juliette Gordon Low who founded the Girl Scouts of the USA after meeting with Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides; and

WHEREAS, In order to launch the Girl Scout Movement in 1912, Juliette Gordon Low sold her valuable necklace of rare matched pearls to support the organization and to pay the rent at the Girl Scout national office in Washington, D.C. She was quoted as saying, “Jewels are not important but my Girl Scouts are, they need the money more than I need pearls.”; and

WHEREAS, In 1917, the Girl Scouts sought a way to financially support their objective of building girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place, and the first cookie sale began in the kitchens and ovens of Girl Scouts members, with moms volunteering as technical advisers; and

WHEREAS, In 1935, the Girl Scout Federation of Greater New York raised money through the sale of commercially baked cookies. Buying its own die in the shape of a trefoil, the group used the words “Girl Scout Cookies” on the box; and

WHEREAS, In 1936, the national Girl Scouts organization began the process of licensing the first commercial bakers to produce cookies that would be sold nationwide by girls in Girl Scout councils; and

WHEREAS, In 1951, Girl Scout Cookies came in three varieties: Sandwich, Shortbread, and Thin Mints. The door-to-door sales strategy was the cornerstone of the approach to selling Girl Scout Cookies, but with the advent of the suburbs, girls at booths began selling cookies in shopping malls; and

WHEREAS, In 2014, the Girl Scout Cookie Program launched the Digital Cookie, that introduced vital 21st century lessons about online marketing, app usage, and e-commerce to Girl Scouts, while still maintaining the door-to-door and booth sales; and

WHEREAS, Girl Scout Cookie sales teach five skills that are essential to leadership, to success, and to life: goal setting, decisionmaking, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girls learn that there is no limit to their success and that any goal they set is achievable, as they utilize the skills they learn selling cookies; and

WHEREAS, Juliette Gordon Low gave so much of herself to others that Girl Scouts has continued to grow from the first 18 Girl Scouts in Savannah in 1912 and it has been the power of the Girl Scout Cookie Program, the largest girl-led entrepreneurial program in the world, that has created a sisterhood of courageous, confident women of character throughout our nation; and

WHEREAS, Since the first meeting, more than 59,000,000 girls have participated in the Girl Scout Movement during their childhood, and that number continues to grow as Girl Scouts of the USA continues to inspire, challenge, and empower girls everywhere; and

WHEREAS, There are currently 2,700,000 Girl Scouts: 1,900,000 girl members and 800,000 adult members working primarily as volunteers; and

WHEREAS, Through its membership in the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts, Girl Scouts of the USA is part of a worldwide family of 10,000,000 girls and women in 152 countries; and

WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts is the largest, longest running, and most effective leadership program for girls, not only in the United States, but in the world; and

WHEREAS, Seventy-one percent of the women currently in the United States Senate and more than one-half of the 125 women in the United States House of Representatives were Girl Scouts when they were children; and

WHEREAS, Fifty-five percent of all women astronauts are former Girl Scouts and former Girl Scouts have flown in over one-third of all space shuttle missions; and

WHEREAS, An estimated 80 percent of women business executives and business owners were once Girl Scouts; and

WHEREAS, Sixty-four percent of today’s female leaders listed in Who’s Who of American Women in the United States were once Girl Scouts; and

WHEREAS, Countless women educators, scientists, and women in the media and performing arts discovered their passions and talents as Girl Scouts; and

WHEREAS, In the 1900s, Girl Scouts developed the same core values while learning housekeeping and forestry badges as girls learn today while earning computer technology and financial literacy badges; and

WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts place a strong emphasis on helping bridge the gender gap in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) careers and professions by offering over 166 STEM badges, including computer science, robotics, space science, cybersecurity, and engineering; and

WHEREAS, Every year over 160,000 Girl Scouts participate in STEM programs and become more confident in their math and science abilities and more interested in STEM subjects and careers; and

WHEREAS, That same social consciousness continues today as the Girl Scouts champion the ideals of acceptance, understanding, cultural awareness, and tolerance; and

WHEREAS, During a time when girls are experiencing increased levels of anxiety, stress, loneliness, and depression, Girl Scouts provides community, consistency, and connection for girls, and is a safe haven in all the uncertainty; and

WHEREAS, Especially in the time of COVID-19, Girl Scouts plays an indispensable role in engaging girls in after school and out-of-school programming and experiences that expand their world and allow them to tap into their inner innovator, changemaker, and leader; and

WHEREAS, At a time when civics education is missing from many schools, Girl Scouts engages girls of all grade levels in civics programming that deepens their understanding of democracy and government, prepares them for a lifetime of civic engagement, and motivates them to take action on issues that are important to them; and

WHEREAS, Gold Award Girl Scouts take on projects that have a measurable and sustainable impact on a community by assessing a need, designing a solution, completing a project, and inspiring others to sustain it; and

WHEREAS, Today, more than 50 million women are Girl Scout alums; and

WHEREAS, During 2022, over 120,000 girls and 66,000 adults are participating in Girl Scouts in all 58 of California’s counties, supported by 11 Girl Scout councils:

Girl Scouts of Arizona Cactus-Pine

Girl Scouts of California’s Central Coast

Girl Scouts of Central California South

Girl Scouts Greater Los Angeles

Girl Scouts Heart of Central California

Girl Scouts of Northern California

Girl Scouts of Orange County

Girl Scouts San Diego

Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio

Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada

Girl Scouts of Southern Nevada, and;

WHEREAS, The 11 Girl Scout councils serving California youth and families make an indelible mark on California, building community and leadership, while also developing skills and resilience through programs focused on equity, outdoor experience, life skills and mental wellness, STEM, and entrepreneurship, and

WHEREAS, The Girl Scouts develop girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place; now, therefore, be it