INTRO
Girl Scouts
Where Girls Grow Strong
October 1999
Dear Girl Scout Executive Director
Ever since its founding in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA has enjoyed the support of religious organizations and institutions that have joined with us to enrich the spiritual lives of Girl Scout members each of whom strives from the perspective of her/his own personal belief to live up to the Girl Scout Promise and Law. In this cooperative spirit, and with the shared understanding that religious instruction is the responsibility of parents and religious leaders. Many Girl Scouts have become stronger members of their own faith, and girls from every faith have felt welcome in Girl Scouting.
National volunteer committees or youth service offices of many religious organizations develop and administer religious recognition programs specifically for Girl Scouts. Religious groups often sponsor Girl Scout troops, or open their facilities so that Girl Scouts in their communities have a “home base” for their activities. Currently, 13 percent of all Girl Scout troops are sponsored by religious organization ahead of homes where 17.1 percent meet, and second only to schools, which host over 36 percent of Girl Scout activities.
We believe that this powerful partnership will continue to have rich benefits for our organizations and for girls. We hope that you will work with the religious institutions in your area so that girls, strengthened in their own faith and joined with their sisters in 140 Girl Scout/Girl Guide nations, may lead happier lives as responsible citizens of their neighborhood and their world.
Sincerely,
Marsha
Johnson Evans
National Executive Director
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