Thankful
Welcome to the donor edition of S’More News! It is so important that we
share the stories of our very special donors. And it’s not the size of a gift that makes it so special—it’s the heart behind the gift! I know you will love hearing Harriett Dever’s story, she held a special place in her heart for Camp Hoffman,
and our G.I.R.L. Convention story about our dedicated Grandmother(daughter) trio!
At our recent Leading Women of Distinction Awards, Neil Steinberg, President of the Rhode Island Foundation, shared the importance of philanthropy:
A philanthropist is “a person who seeks to promote the welfare of others, especially by the generous donation of money to good causes”.
I urge all of you to think about yourselves as philanthropists because you wouldn’t be reading this newsletter if you didn’t wish to promote the welfare of girls. You
do this by your gifts of volunteerism, sharing your expertise with others, and/or a monetary investment.
One of the greatest things about being a Girl Scout philanthropist is that every investment you make has dividends that no bank can match. For example, if you
give a gift that helps a girl become a Girl Scout, that girl will go on to make a significant difference in her community because through Girl Scouting she gains the courage, confidence, and character, to make the world a better place. She then chooses to give herself, like Girl Scout Cadette Troop 1000 of Swansea (cover photo) who created delicious baked goods for the Church of Our Saviour Food Pantry. If you volunteer to lead a Girl Scout troop or you financially support the training of that adult volunteer, your gift is compounded by the number of girls who are in that troop enjoying the Girl Scout Leadership Experience!
Did you know that the average bequest received by organizations is $50,000? Some philanthropists make gifts to organizations through a bequest in their will.
A person who makes a planned gift through their will and notifies us, can be a member of the Juliette Low Society, and will help us secure a recently announced challenge grant from longtime Girl Scout supporters, Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder. The amount is not shared because in many cases it is not known! Planned gifts are most often a percentage of an estate rather than a defined dollar amount.
I am a proud philanthropist, annual donor to GSSNE, co-founder of the Hoffman Endowment, and Juliette Low Society member. Thanks to all of you who join me
in supporting the Girl Scouts of Southeastern New England in a multitude of ways!
Warmly,
Pam Hyland, CEO