Girl Scouts Go Tech

SAN DIEGO, Feb. 23, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts San Diego and mophie™ announced today a partnership that will transform the traditional Girl Scout Cookie Program into a tech-savvy-affair. Starting this week, a sampling of local Girl Scout troops will begin using a mobile payment solution, accepting all major credit cards at select cookie booth locations rather than just accepting cash, traditionally the only way to pay for Girl Scout cookies.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110209/LA44927LOGO-b)

The troops will have iPhones equipped with the mophie marketplace™ credit card case allowing them to accept payment on-the-spot and with the simple swipe of a card. The marketplace case is fitted with instant card-encryption capabilities which ensures that all data is secure the moment the transaction begins. Payment will be processed through Intuit's GoPayment application and customers will sign a receipt via the touch screen, which will then instantly e-mail a record of the purchase to the customer.

"Introducing mobile payments will not only help the San Diego chapter of the Girl Scouts reach their sales goals but also demonstrate how this iconic organization is committed to growing with its members and community," says Susan Schedel, mophie's vice president of sales and marketing. "We hope the mophie marketplace will help the troops gain experience and knowledge about new technology and the value of credit, and that the program will also inspire entrepreneurs young and old to envision their business differently."

"While I don't have a credit card or an iPhone, I see my parents using both on a daily basis, and am really excited to learn more about them," says Girl Scout Shelley Shinohara of Troop 3099. "We're hoping that being able to use credit cards at our site sales will help us reach or troop sales goals, raising enough money to make a trip to San Francisco and cross the Golden Gate Bridge for a Girl Scout ceremony next year!"

While accepting mobile credit card payments is anticipated to increase total cookie sales, Girl Scouts San Diego is also using the new sales tool as an opportunity to teach girls about credit. The mophie marketplace will give girls in the troops hands-on learning about how credit cards work and provide troop leaders with a platform to teach the value of a dollar and how to save and be responsible with money and credit.

"As America's leading financial literacy program for girls, the Girl Scout Cookie Program develops young entrepreneurs who gain valuable life and leadership skills," says Joe Dee C. Jacob, chief executive officer of Girl Scouts San Diego. "The generous sponsorship from mophie helps us teach the girls the value of credit and also allows the community to be involved in the cookie program in a new and innovative way. We rely on the Cookie Program to keep Girl Scouting available and affordable for 30,000 local girls, and look forward to seeing the results generated by this new technology."

San Diego troops will be utilizing the mophie marketplace this weekend at the following locations:

• Friday, Feb. 25 from 4:30 to 8 p.m. at Fresh & Easy located at 955 Catalina Blvd., Point Loma, CA 92106
• Saturday, Feb. 26 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Fresh & Easy located at 955 Catalina Blvd., Point Loma, CA 92106

For more details, please contact Erica McCarthy at 619-234-0345 or [email protected].  

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls with 3.4 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts San Diego provides programs and activities for 42,000 girl and adult members, training for leaders, and facilities in seven locations. Visit www.sdgirlscouts.org for more information.

About mophie

mophie is a California-based, award-winning designer and manufacturer of mobile intelligent devices and accessories. It is widely recognized and highly acclaimed for its creative designs and innovative solutions. mophie is the proud developer of the juice pack, the first "Works With iPhone" portable battery solution certified by Apple Inc. All of mophie's products are developed to address real consumer and business needs and are seamless integrations of industrial, electronic, software and artistic designs. Its products are available in Apple stores, AT&T stores, Best Buy stores and on www.mophie.com and www.amazon.com. Follow mophie on Twitter at twitter.com/mophielovesyou or on Facebook at facebook.com/mophielovesyou

SOURCE mophie