2024 Annual Report
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Empowering Girls, Strengthening Communities
Every successful story begins with a dream. In 1912, Juliette Gordon Low founded Girl Scouts of the USA, and it all started with a vision to build girls of courage, confidence, and character. That vision became a movement—and today, thanks to Juliette Gordon Low’s lasting impact, thousands of girls in our council are embracing their unique strengths and trailblazing leadership to make the world a better place.
Reflecting on this past year, we see the powerful impact of investing in girls today, as it leads to a brighter future for everyone, and an equitable tomorrow for all. Girl Scouts Heart of Central California (GSHCC) leads with vision and purpose by centering the member experience at the heart of everything we do. We foster a culture where every girl feels welcomed, valued, and supported—so she can grow with confidence, find her voice, and build the resilience to thrive in today’s ever-changing world. Our council is expanding access and opportunities to underserved communities while focusing on long-term financial sustainability to ensure our positive influence endures for years to come.
From its very beginning, Girl Scouts was built to empower every girl to explore her entrepreneurial spirit while making a meaningful impact on her community. Today, GSHCC thrives thanks to the unwavering support of more than 3,400 dedicated adult volunteers who play a vital role in guiding Girl Scouts with passion and commitment. The role of supportive adults—troop leaders, volunteers, and staff—is crucial in bringing the Girl Scout experience to life and helping girls reach their full potential. Our hearts are filled with gratitude for our supporters, volunteers, and partners—whose engagement and devotion power our mission.
Significant work lies ahead, but the future is promising, and we’re energized by the potential of growth and impact. More than honoring a legacy, together we’re building a brighter tomorrow for the next generation of visionary leaders—today and always.
Yours in Girl Scouting,
Linda E. Farley, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Kimberly Mayes
Chair, Board of Directors
Our Impact
At GSHCC, we’re dedicated to empowering girls with the confidence, skills, and experiences to lead. With more than 23,000 members across 18 counties—including girls, volunteers, and adults—we serve a diverse and growing community. Our 67% girl retention rate shows the lasting impact of Girl Scouting, supported by more than 1,150 active troops. Through engaging programs in outdoor adventure, STEM, community service, and entrepreneurship, girls build lifelong skills while discovering their passions.
In 2024, nearly 8,700 Girl Scouts participated in the Girl Scout Cookie Program, selling more than two million packages and raising funds that directly support troop activities and community service projects. Additionally, more than 8,300 girls engaged in hands-on programs focused on Girl Scouting’s four key pillars—life skills, STEM, outdoor adventure, and entrepreneurship—building leadership skills, forming lasting friendships, and reinforcing our mission to develop girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place.
These accomplishments reflect the strength of our community and the meaningful opportunities GSHCC provides. As we look toward the future, our focus remains on expanding these impactful programs and reaching even more girls across our region.
At a Glance
Highest Awards Spotlights
The Girl Scout Bronze, Silver, Gold, and GSHCC Rose Awards exemplify how Girl Scouts develop the skills and values needed to build a better today—and shape a brighter tomorrow. Each award challenges girls to identify meaningful issues, design and lead sustainable projects that create lasting positive change in their communities, and embody the core Girl Scout values of courage, confidence, and character.
- The Bronze Award, earned by Juniors (grades 4–5), emphasizes teamwork and community service projects that address local needs.
- The Silver Award, for Cadettes (grades 6–8), requires a higher level of leadership, strategic planning, and community engagement.
- The Gold Award is the highest honor for Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (grades 9–12), demanding exceptional leadership, creativity, and a long-term commitment to making a significant impact.
- The GSHCC Rose Award, recognizes Senior and Ambassador Girl Scouts (grades 9–12) who demonstrate personal growth and global awareness through long-term engagement in service, life skills, and leadership development.
To support the aspirations of these dedicated girls, GSHCC offers several scholarships that recognize leadership, hard work, and community service. These scholarships empower Girl Scouts to continue their education and pursue their goals as the next generation of changemakers.
GSHCC Board of Directors Scholarship Awardee: Sophia Garcia
For her Gold Award project, Sophia addressed food insecurity by increasing access to healthy groceries for families in the Oak Park community. She established a community "Freedge"—a free food pantry—at the Parker Family Resource Center, creating a sustainable system for affordable, nutritious food distribution.
GSHCC Go Gold Scholarship Awardee: Olivia Kim
Olivia’s Gold Award project focused on inspiring youth environmental stewardship by redesigning the climate change curriculum for Girl Scouts. She developed comprehensive guidebooks, launched a website, and led workshops to make climate education more accessible and engaging for young learners.
Kristin Anne Chapman-Elbon Memorial STEM Scholarship Awardee: Kate Ainley-Zoll
Kate authored Portraits of Perseverance: The BIG BOOK of 200 Women in STEM, highlighting the achievements of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. To publish her book, she founded Nottingham Press, LLC. Additionally, Kate donated 47 STEM-focused books to a local STEM center serving girls ages 5 to 18 in Tracy.
GSUSA Gold Award Scholarship Awardee: Marissa Gong
Partnering with staff at Bowling Green McCoy Elementary School, a Title 1 school, Marissa aimed to improve literacy among socioeconomically disadvantaged students. She created book boxes and launched a book swap program, providing over 100 books to support early reading skills development.
Together, these scholarships celebrate the leadership, dedication, and impact of Girl Scouts, supporting their educational journeys and empowering them to become the changemakers of tomorrow.
Donors & Partnerships
VIEW CONTRIBUTORS
Financial Report
In fiscal year 2023, Girl Scouts Heart of Central California reported total revenues and support of $9.89 million, generated from diverse sources including product sales ($7.64 million), program fees ($659,000), merchandise sales, public contributions, and investment income. This varied funding base reflects the strength and broad support of our community. We remain committed to investing strategically in our mission, directing approximately 84% of our expenses—$8.58 million—toward programs and activities that provide dynamic experiences such as council-led events, outdoor exploration, entrepreneurship, and leadership development. Our total expenses for the year were $10.2 million, with the change in net assets reflecting a planned investment in growth and sustainability.
The future is brighter because Girl Scouts are leading the way.
At GSHCC, we’re proud to walk alongside girls every step of the journey—empowering each girl to discover her voice, grow her confidence, and lead with purpose in her community and beyond. —Linda E. Farley, Ed.D.
Looking Ahead
We are committed to empowering every girl to recognize her unique strengths and grow as a leader through the experiences Girl Scouting provides. Our goal is to create a welcoming and supportive environment that fosters a sense of belonging and builds resilience in today’s changing world. This year, we will focus on strengthening membership by improving recruitment, retention, and volunteer support—making sure every adult leader feels prepared and connected to inspire girls. Expanding access to Girl Scouting remains a priority, especially through the growth of our afterschool club program, which helps ensure all girls have the opportunity to participate.
Together, we pledge to honor our proud legacy by building a stronger, more inclusive Girl Scout movement—empowering the next generation of leaders to make a lasting impact.
