Girl Scouts of Louisiana - Pines to the Gulf Unveils New PSA and Girl Scout Anthem on Giving Tuesday

LAFAYETTE, La., Nov. 29, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf, today on Giving Tuesday, revealed the new Girl Scout PSA—"I'm Prepared." The PSA brings to life Girl Scouts' new brand platform, which celebrates every girl's inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)^™. Applauding girls who never give up, who try new things, and who make their ideas a reality, the PSA is a visual representation of how Girl Scouts prepares every G.I.R.L. to practice leadership like a Girl Scout––uniquely encouraging girls to cultivate grit, problem-solving, risk-taking, and leading with empathy. The organization offers amazing experiences and opportunities for girls all over the country to build essential skills and take the lead like a Girl Scout and is proof of the importance of investing in girls who make a difference in the world during this holiday giving season and beyond.

The PSA is set to Girl Scouts' new powerful pop anthem, "Watch Me Shine," co-written by songwriters Liz Rose and Emily Shackelton, and performed by Shackelton with Girl Scouts singing backup vocals. The song exemplifies how Girl Scouts empowers girls to find the strength and confidence they need to take the lead every day and to create impactful change in themselves and in their communities. Both songwriters, as Girl Scout alumnae, are go-getters and risk-takers themselves: Rose is a two-time Grammy Award winner who has collaborated with well-known female artists like Taylor Swift, Miranda Lambert, and Jewel; Shackelton's songs have been featured on TV shows like American Idol and Nashville. Visit GirlScouts.org to listen to and download "Watch Me Shine."

The PSA and anthem unveiling coincides with Giving Tuesday, a global day of giving that harnesses the collective power of individuals, communities, and organizations to encourage philanthropy and to celebrate generosity worldwide. Earlier in November, Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf announced it would participate in Girl Scouts' first-ever national small-dollar donation platform with a mobile giving option, part of a new campaign called ToGetHerThere: The Girl Scout Challenge. The ToGetHerThere Challenge is an evolution of the organization's historic ToGetHerThere campaign, which spotlights the real-life, awe-inspiring stories of Girl Scouts across the country who take the lead and create positive change in their communities. The campaign marks the first time both GSUSA and Girl Scout councils have a national giving platform active during the annual Giving Tuesday event, and it is designed to challenge society at large to invest in girls' leadership development so they can maximize their potential.

With the new donation platform, Girl Scouts is underscoring how girls' vision and leadership can have far-reaching effects within their respective communities and beyond—and how there has never been a more important time to invest in girls and their future. Donations will be split between GSUSA and Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf to ensure that they can continue to provide transformative, impactful, girl-led programming, combining STEM, the outdoors, life skills, entrepreneurship, leadership, and civic engagement.

"We want to make it happen and make it matter for her!," said Rachel Broussard, CEO of Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf. "We need your support to continue to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. Our girls are truly changing their communities so by supporting them you are supporting your local community."

Studies consistently demonstrate that one of the most effective ways to boost a nation's economic output, enhance productivity, and improve the overall vibrancy of society is to invest in the leadership capabilities of girls and women. Further, throughout the last century, Girl Scouts has helped generations of girls begin and sustain their own leadership journeys. Whether harvesting community gardens for food banks, initiating programs to combat bullying in schools, cleaning local streams for future generations, or using their STEM skills to assist those with disabilities, Girl Scouts activate their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-getter, Innovator, Risk-taker, Leader)^™ and make a demonstrable difference in the world. And a girl who earns her Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest honor in Girl Scouts, the centennial of which is this year, 2016—dedicates at least 80 hours to a project that has a lasting and sustainable impact in her area. Thousands of girls earn their Gold Award each year, spending, collectively, nearly half a million hours engaged annually in Take Action projects that enhance the lives of people in their communities and beyond.

"Our new PSA showcases what it means to practice fearless leadership like a Girl Scout and is an amazing reflection of the resilience our members exemplify on a daily basis," said Sylvia Acevedo, interim CEO of Girl Scouts of the USA. "Girl Scouts is more than just cookies, camping, and crafts—our organization provides girls the skills to lead and to be the change-makers our society needs. Because we recognize that when you invest in girls, they change the world."

Through ToGetHerThere: The Girl Scout Challenge, Girl Scouts is bringing people together to invest in the future of girls—giving everyone the opportunity to invest in girls' leadership potential for the advancement of our world. Donate today at www.girlscouts.org/investingirls. To sign your daughter up for Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org/join.

About Girl Scouts of Louisiana – Pines to the Gulf
We are a chartered council with Girl Scouts of the USA, supporting nearly 6,000 girls in partnership with close to 2,000 volunteers in 42 parishes in Louisiana west of the Mississippi River through council-sponsored girl program and activities, local resources and support, and adult learning opportunities. The headquarters is in Lafayette as well as locations in Alexandria, Lake Charles, Monroe and Shreveport. 

About ToGetHerThere: The Girl Scout Challenge
ToGetHerThere: The Girl Scout Challenge features Girl Scouts' first-ever national small-dollar donation platform with a mobile giving option for Girl Scouts of the USA and its affiliated councils. The two-part campaign spotlights Girl Scouts who are making conscious efforts to make the world a better place, and consists of both a girl-facing and a fundraising website. Girl Scouts will be challenged to share how they give back to build a better world, while potential donors will be exposed to girls' impactful Take Action projects and challenged to invest in Girl Scouts who take the lead to make the world a better place. To learn more about ToGetHerThere: The Girl Scout Challenge and invest in girls, please visit www.girlscouts.org/investingirls.

About #GivingTuesday
#GivingTuesday is a movement to celebrate and provide incentives to give—the 2016 iteration will be held on November 29, 2016. This effort harnesses the collective power of a unique blend of partners—nonprofits, businesses and corporations as well as families and individuals—to transform how people think about, talk about and participate in the giving season. #GivingTuesday inspires people to take collaborative action to improve their local communities, give back in better, smarter ways to the charities and causes they celebrate and help create a better world. #GivingTuesday harnesses the power of social media to create a global moment dedicated to giving around the world.

To learn more about #GivingTuesday participants and activities or to join the celebration of giving, please visit www.givingtuesday.org.

Media Contact: Morgan Hudson
[email protected] or 800-960-2093

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SOURCE Girl Scouts of Louisiana - Pines to the Gulf

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