GIRL SCOUTS OF KENTUCKY’S WILDERNESS ROAD NORTHERN KENTUCKY LEADERSHIP CAMPUS CAMPAIGN ANNOUNCES PROGRESS
Businesses, Foundations and Individuals Encouraged to Support Campaign for Development of Eleven-Acre Erlanger Site to Focus on Entrepreneurship, Life Skills and STEM for Girls
ERLANGER, Ky – OCTOBER 31, 2022 – In October 2021 Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) announced its vision to create the Northern Kentucky Leadership Campus on an 11-acre Erlanger property, through its $ 6 million ‘Challenge a Girl to Change Our World’ campaign. Phase One of the campaign will create a Leadership Center that will include a Command Center, Retail Center and Entrepreneurship Center; since then, nearly $1,000,000 has been raised toward the $ 2 million necessary to complete Phase One. In October, leadership gifts from The R.C. Durr Foundation and St. Elizabeth Healthcare were announced. Additional gifts have been received from Furlong Building, Jergens, Seligman Foundation, an Anonymous donor, The Austin E. Knowlton Foundation, additional community gifts widespread giving from Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road’s staff, and100% giving from the Board of Directors – a strong signal that demonstrates leadership on the organization’s behalf.
GSKWR kicked off a Volunteer Giving Phase effort on October 25, 2022, at the future site of the Northern Kentucky Leadership Campus in Erlanger, announcing its committee co-chairs, Meghan Sandfoss, a resident of Covington, and Crescent Springs resident Rhonda Ritzi. Ms. Sandfoss and Ms. Ritzi will champion efforts to help fund the project, through volunteer recruitment and involvement, awareness generation and a call to action for support by community members and businesses to strengthen the Northern Kentucky community.
“The future of Northern Kentucky depends on having strong, competent women as a critical part of our leadership, “said Ms. Jean Mize, The R.C. Durr Foundation, Covington, Kentucky. The R.C. Durr Foundation, founded by businessman and philanthropist R.C. Durr, focuses its giving on the twelve northernmost counties of Kentucky including Boone, Kenton, Campbell, Grant and eight rural counties. “This critical project fits perfectly under a key area of our funding – community-building, with significant potential for long-term impact in our region”, Ms. Mize continued.
The focus of the ‘Challenge A Girl to Change Our World’ campaign includes:
- Providing modern, accessible space for over 2,400 staff and volunteers to conduct training and planning sessions that are critical to supporting GSKWR programming and operations
- Increasing the number of Northern Kentucky girl members by 52%
- Creating volunteer mentorship opportunities for positive engagement with girl members, and increase the number of volunteers by nearly 60% by 2024
- Providing Erlanger community engagement opportunities through access to space for events, team-building and corporate events once the Leadership Campus is complete
- Through the Entrepreneurship Center, facilitating access to innovative experiences in leadership, STEM, and health and wellness for girls, as well as allow for cookie entrepreneurs to work as teams to accomplish goals and problem-solve
- Through the Retail Center, incentivizing and motivating girls through the badge program to overcome obstacles and reach their goals
“This is a truly transformative project for Northern Kentucky and we need the community’s help to make it happen,” noted Susan Douglas, CEO, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road. “Transformational leadership begins in girlhood; we are seeking financial support from businesses, foundations and individuals who have a vested interest in the success of our region,” she continued. For more details about the ‘Challenge A Girl to Change Our World’ campaign, or to contribute, please visit https://www.gskentucky.org/changeourworld, or contact Capital Campaign Director Deidra Fajack at 513-325-3211 or dfajack@gswrc.org.
About Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road
Recognized as the premier leadership opportunity for female ambition in Kentucky, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road (GSKWR) serves over 8,000 girls and young women of all backgrounds and abilities in 66 Kentucky counties and 1 Ohio county. With opportunities in the Commonwealth of Kentucky and around the world, Kentucky Girl Scouts can unapologetically be themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges through a focus on life skills, STEM, entrepreneurship, and outdoor experiences, creating a critical career pipeline of intelligent women leaders. Backed by trusted Kentucky volunteers, mentors and Girl Scout alumni, Girl Scouts of Kentucky’s Wilderness Road is creating experiential and leadership opportunities for growth. To learn more, to volunteer, reconnect or donate, please visit www.gskentucky.org.
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For Media:
Download high-resolution image of GSKWR Volunteer Co-Chairs and community leaders from the October 25 event at: https://www.dropbox.com/s/x8wp7saqf07wjhr/10-25-22GSKWRCapital%20CampaignLeadershipTeam.jpg?dl=0
Image IDs:
Left to Right: GSKWR CEO, Susan Douglas; Volunteer Co-Chair, Rhonda Ritzi; Campaign Chair, Jude Hehman; GSKWR Board Treasurer, Jaclyn Badeau; GSKWR Board Member, Liz Wurtenberger; GSKWR Board Member, Carol Beirne; GSKWR Board Member, GSKWR Eileen O'Brien; GSKWR Board Member, Caryl Pfieffer; GSKWR Board Member, Rebecca McDonough; Volunteer Co-Chair, Megan Sandfoss; GSKWR Capital Campaign Director, Deidra Fajack.