Girl Scout Cookie season marks the largest financial investment in girls annually in the United States and a powerful entrepreneurship incubator for the next generation of female leaders. At a time when girls’ needs and issues collect fewer than eight cents of every dollar granted by philanthropic foundations in the country, each and every Girl Scout Cookie purchase is key to supporting the change-makers of today and tomorrow. The 2019 Girl Scout Cookie program in Western New York runs January 12 to March 31, and booth sales run March 3 to March 31.
Research shows that female-founded start-ups generate more revenue over time and per dollar than male-founded start-ups, but only 17 percent of start-ups are female-founded. Given that over half (53 percent) of female entrepreneurs and business owners are Girl Scout alums, supporting Girl Scouts as they make sales and learn essential business skills is imperative to ensuring the country has a strong workforce and economy.
Through the Girl Scout Cookie Program®, girls not only discover their inner leadership potential but also use their earnings to power experiences for themselves and their troop, including travel, outdoor adventure, and science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) programming. Many girls put the money toward impactful community projects right in their own backyards, from supporting animal shelters and food banks to working with local and state legislators to change laws. And the cookie program’s benefits are many; a recent Girl Scout Research Institute study found that two out of three girls who participate in the program learn five crucial skills – goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics – while doing incredible things for themselves and their communities. The proceeds stay local, meaning that when consumers purchase cookies that come from a registered Girl Scout, they’re giving back to their wider community.
All across Western New York, Girl Scouts are doing remarkable things made possible by each and every cookie sale. Girl Scouts from Troop 34640 donated a portion of their earned cookie money to fund one-and-a-half flights for people in need of lifesaving medical care across the nation through a local aviation charity. However, girls’ cookie proceeds alone aren’t enough to power the Girl Scout Movement – investing in girls is important year-round, not just during cookie season.
To find Girl Scouts selling cookies in the area, visit www.girlscoutcookies.org or use the official Girl Scout Cookie Finder app, free on iOS and Android devices.
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