Luncheon held in honor of Girl Scouts’ founder
Illuminating career paths for girls interested in science, technology, engineering and math is at the center of this year’s Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma Juliette Low Leadership Society Luncheon set for Thursday, Feb. 16 at the National Cowboy & Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City.
The Juliette Low Leadership Society, named for Girl Scouts founder Juliette Gordon Low, has raised more than $5.3 million for Girl Scouts with the support of over 500 community leaders and advocates each year since its inception in 2004.
“The JLLS Luncheon raises money for our programming and scholarships so that any girl who wants to participate in Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma can do so,” said Erin Hennessy, donor relations manager.
Girl Scouts alum, GoldieBlox founder to be featured speaker
According to Hennessy, the central message of this year’s event will be emphasized by Girl Scouts alum Debra “Debbie” Sterling, who will be featured as a speaker.
Sterling is the founder and CEO of the award-winning children’s multimedia company GoldieBlox. Known for disrupting the pink aisle in toy stores globally, GoldieBlox challenged gender stereotypes with the world’s first girl engineer character. Since launching in 2012 as a prototype on Kickstarter, the company has sold more than one million toys through 6,000-plus major worldwide retailers.
In 2014 alone, GoldieBlox was named one of the World’s Most Innovative Companies by Fast Company and received the Toy Industry Association Educational Toy of the Year honor.
Girl Scouts alum served role in creation of STEM badges
Sterling, who earned her engineering degree from Stanford in 2005, is widely acknowledged as a leader in getting girls involved in STEM, having partnered with Girl Scouts to create badges for accomplishments in STEM fields.
In addition to being named Time’s “Person of the Moment,” Sterling was inducted as a Presidential Ambassador for Global Entrepreneurship in 2015. Sterling also has been honored by the National Women’s History Museum for her work to empower girls worldwide.
“The ‘Building Brighter Futures’ theme really ties in with Debbie Sterling,” Hennessy said. “Exposing girls to STEM learning and careers is part of what Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma does. We’re really lucky in that many of our volunteers were Girl Scouts and are eager to give back.”
Sponsors include: Chesapeake Energy, Devon Energy, Bob and Kim Funk, Chris and Julie Bridges, The Chickasaw Nation, Nedra Funk, Inasmuch Foundation, Kirkpatrick Bank, Polly and Larry Nichols, Catherine and Andrew Oster, Annie Bohanon, Nancy Coats-Ashley, Corner Energy, Laura Lynn’s Home Care, Lil Ross, Love’s Travel Stops, Jeaneen Naifeh, Jean and David McLaughlin, OG&E, Presbyterian Health Foundation, The Rudnicki Firm, American Fidelity Foundation, Angela Bachman, BancFirst, Bank of Oklahoma, Crowe and Dunlevy Foundation, Duncan Oil Properties, Inc., Christy and Jim Everest, First Fidelity Bank, Alice Hager, Vicki and Bob Howard, Joan S. Maguire, Manhattan Construction, LaDonna Meinders, Regier, Cox and Associates, PLLC., Linda and Steve Slawson, SSM Health St. Anthony Hospital and Stride Bank.
Donations can be made at https://www.gswestok.org/en/Donate/jlls.html.
About Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma
Located in 39 Oklahoma counties in the central, southwest and northwest region of the state, Girl Scouts Western Oklahoma builds girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. Through leadership-building programs, GSWESTOK offers girls pathways to explore their interests – including STEM (science, technology, engineering and math), healthy lifestyles and activities like our High Adventure Team and summer camps, and community service projects through our Bronze, Silver and Gold Awards.