Hundreds of supporters recently descended upon the Omni Dallas Hotel to celebrate Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas at its annual Women of Distinction luncheon, one of the fall favorites among the Dallas social set. An electric buzz was in the air at the Trinity Ballroom, as guests couldn't wait to hear inspiring stories of how this organization is empowering our community regardless of age, color, or socioeconomic background.
Guests — including Katherine Coker, Nancy Gopez, Lynn McBee, Connie O'Neill, Caren Kline, Roslyn Dawson Thompson, and Trisha Cunningham — enjoyed lunch while event chairs Maggie Kipp and Heather Randall welcomed everyone to the sold-out event. Both chairs were joined onstage by their adorable daughters.
While attendees finished up lunch with Girl Scout-themed treats like Thin Mint martinis or Samoa cheesecake, awards were bestowed upon Young Women of Distinction Hailey Falies and Anisha Wadawadigi and Women of Distinction Sarah Losinger and Trea Yip — all of whom demonstrate how powerful women serving the community can be.
Next up was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award to Marianne Staubach, who shared how Girl Scouts shaped her life. Staubach was a Girl Scout through eighth grade, served as a Girl Scout camp nurse, and supported her daughters' involvement in the organization as well. Staubach currently volunteers as a Meals on Wheels driver and serves on the boards of advisors of the Jesuit College Preparatory School and Catholic Foundation.
The dynamic and always captivating Jennifer Bartkowski, Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas CEO, followed with a call to action that encouraged all attendees to donate. She said it best when she began the speech with, "Yes, we sell cookies, but we are so much more than that."
The high point of the afternoon came when Lauren Bush Lauren, CEO and co-founder of FEED Projects, took the stage to talk about how Girl Scouts helped her to establish the confidence and business savvy needed to run a successful nonprofit. She endeared herself to the crowd even more when she revealed that she still has vivid memories of going door-to-door selling Girl Scout cookies with her mom in Houston.
Lauren also couldn't help but rave about the development of the $13 million STEM Center of Excellence in Dallas that plans to be a pipeline for female leads in science, technology, engineering, and math. She even commented that it is programs like these that make her excited that her future daughter(s) get to grow up in a time when it's so great to be a girl.
Girl Scouts of Northeast Texas impacts more than 26,000 girls across 32 counties. This dynamic leadership organization works toward the simple goal of making the world a better place through the confidence, character, and courage of its members.
Gina Ginsburg, Carmen Surgent
