Robin McGraw Named National Celebrity Spokesperson For Girl Scouts Of The USA

NEW YORK, Sept. 18, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Robin McGraw, lifelong philanthropist, television personality, entrepreneur, and two-time #1 New York Times bestselling author, has been named national celebrity spokesperson for Girl Scouts of the USA. The role is one for which McGraw is ideally and uniquely suited: she is a Girl Scout alumna, a former Girl Scout troop leader, and a longtime supporter of programs that benefit women and children. The announcement will be made during a special episode of the Dr. Phil show airing Friday, September 19 (check local listings) and featuring Girl Scouts of the USA CEO Anna Maria Chávez and 20 girls from Girl Scouts of Greater LA.

As someone who has participated in Girl Scouts as both a girl member and an adult volunteer, McGraw feels strongly about the positive effect Girl Scouts has on girls, and will now lend her voice and influence to the organization's mission to enable girls across the country to reach their greatest potential and be empowered to lead wherever they live, work, and play. 

"I cannot tell you how much this means to me," says McGraw.  "I was a Girl Scout growing up my entire life, and was a Brownie troop leader before I even had children.  We all must be diligent and passionate in our support for girls and it begins today."

McGraw's first order of business in her new role is to issue a call to action to all adults – women, men, young professionals, college students, and more – to consider volunteering. Currently, there are upwards of 30,000 girls on waitlists nationwide who want to join the organization but cannot due to a shortage of volunteers. Each new volunteer allows at least five girls to be taken off these lists and join the fun of Girl Scouts.

"Girl Scouts is lucky to have such a passionate and notable alumna and former troop leader come back to us in this new capacity," says Chávez. "Robin is an example of what we need from more adults – a commitment to our nation's girls. As a volunteer, she had the unique opportunity to positively impact young girls' lives, and as we work together to increase the number of volunteers so more girls can become Girl Scouts, she again will have a direct impact on building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place."

McGraw worked with Girl Scouts of the USA to produce a public service announcement (PSA) in which she and Anna Maria Chávez, surrounded by girls from Girl Scouts of Greater LA, urge folks to visit www.girlscouts.org to learn how to become a volunteer. View the PSA at: http://bit.ly/1DlWio3.

In addition to supporting volunteer efforts, McGraw will also be a featured speaker at the 2014 Girl Scout Convention in Salt Lake City, Utah, and will moderate a "Conversation of Consequence" panel on leadership.

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the largest girl-serving organization in the United States, with more than 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. The organization's impact is evident in its alumnae: the majority of female business owners, 60 percent of women in the House of Representatives, 59 percent of women in the US Senate, and nearly all female astronauts were Girl Scouts.

Robin McGraw launched her own charitable foundation, When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation, in October 2013 with the announcement of the foundation's inaugural program, The Aspire Initiative, an online domestic violence education and prevention curriculum. The program's corresponding smartphone app has had more than 130,000 downloads and was recognized on Capitol Hill by the National Health Collaborative on Violence and Abuse as one of the two apps in 2014 most beneficial in the fight to end domestic violence. 

About Girl Scouts of the USA
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership development organization for girls, with 3.2 million girl and adult members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls' development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.  The organization serves girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries.  For more information on how to join, volunteer or reconnect with, or donate to Girl Scouts, visit www.girlscouts.org.

About Robin McGraw
Robin McGraw is a bestselling author, television personality, and philanthropist. She is featured daily on Dr. Phil, where she is a familiar face and friendly voice to the audience, speaking often to issues that affect women. Robin has worked for many years with a variety of philanthropic causes that serve to improve the lives of women and children. Robin is a national spokesperson for C.A.S.A. (Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children), and she and Dr. Phil have devoted countless hours promoting their recruitment project that has generated over $60 million in volunteer services per year during the last three years, totaling more than $180 million in volunteer services to date. Robin is also a board member of The Dr. Phil Foundation, and a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet. Robin has been recognized for her work in philanthropy with awards such as the Heart of Gold Award by the Starlight Starbright Foundation and the Big Heart Award by the Westside Children's Center. She is a sought-after public speaker and has appeared on a variety of broadcast programs. She is the author of two #1 New York Times bestselling books: Inside My Heart: Choosing to Live with Passion and Purpose and What's Age Got To Do With It?

About When Georgia Smiled
When Georgia Smiled: The Robin McGraw Revelation Foundation creates and advances programs that help women and children, especially those affected by domestic violence, live healthy, safe, and joy-filled lives. For more information, visit www.WhenGeorgiaSmiled.org.

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SOURCE Girl Scouts of the USA