Meadows Grant Boosts Girl Scouts’ Hispanic Initiative by $50,000

ADDISON, Texas - March 13, 2013 - PRLog -- DALLAS – Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas (http://www.gsnetx.org/) (GSNETX) is the recipient of a $50,000 grant from The Meadows Foundation (http://www.mfi.org/) which is intended to further engage bilingual parents and adults to help foster the growth of Hispanic girl leadership and participation. The grant will be used to enhance the GSNETX Hispanic Growth Initiative, an effort to increase the number of new Hispanic girls participating in Girl Scout troops and recruit new bilingual adult volunteers.

“We are so grateful for The Meadows Foundation grant as the foundation has been a strong supporter of our Hispanic initiatives,” said Colleen Walker, chief executive officer for the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas. “Our goal is to encompass a membership base that is reflective of the communities we serve. With the Hispanic population being the largest growing demographic in our area, it is critical that we continue to engage Hispanic girls, volunteers and their families. As we work to develop female leadership for the 21st century, it is important that we expose all girls to the educational and leadership opportunities available through Girl Scouts.”

The Hispanic Welcome Initiative began in 2009, when GSNETX built an infrastructure to support its outreach to the Hispanic community, including translating recruitment materials, developing a new bilingual website and creating a targeted volunteer pilot program.

The Meadows Foundation grant will help GSNETX continue to build the infrastructure for council-wide readiness to serve new Hispanic families and girls, increase the number of Hispanic girls and adults served, reach equity in Hispanic girls and adults, and remain inclusive across cultures.

For more information on how to support the GSNETX Hispanic Growth Initiative, please contact Mara Rodriguez at 972-349-2450 or mrodriguez@gsnetx.org.

The Meadows Foundation:

The Meadows Foundation is among the most recognized private philanthropies in the country, both for its grantmaking practices and for its active engagement in advancing the field of private philanthropy. For additional information, visit The Meadows Foundation at http://www.mfi.org.

About Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas:  

Girl Scouts is the premiere leadership organization and is the largest pipeline for female leadership. Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas serves nearly 35,000 girls and 17,000 adults in 32 northeast Texas counties. For information on how to join, volunteer, donate or reconnect to the Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas, call (800) 442-2260 or visit www.gsnetx.org.