Ascentra Foundation awards $45K to Girl Scouts

Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois since 2020 to help fund the Girl Scouts Community Outreach Series and recently announced another three-year, $45,000 grant to continue the series. 

The program directly supports more than 1,100 at-risk girls in the underserved areas of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, as well as Muscatine, Iowa, by building courage, confidence, and character through a Girl Scout Leadership Experience. The foundation donated the new grant to help combat the barriers that keep girls from participating.

The distribution of this new grant gives $10,000, plus a $5,000 match incentive each year for 2022, 2023 and 2024. The incentive match encourages the Girl Scouts to raise an additional $5,000 each year from outside sources to earn the incentive match. This guarantees $30,000 with a potential of $15,000 more in incentives for a total of $45,000. The foundation’s initial grant, from 2019 to 2021, was for $50,000.

A check recently was presented by Ascentra President and CEO Linda Andry, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Jennifer Naeve and Chief Financial Officer Beth Grabin during a summer program at Madison Elementary School in Davenport. During the visit, the group participated in reciting the Girl Scout Law with a group of six Girl Scouts.

“I loved hearing the girls say the encouraging words it (the law) includes such as ‘friendly and helpful’, ‘considerate and caring’, ‘courageous and strong’, which are all things young girls need to aspire to be,” Ms. Andry said. “They finished it off by saying, ‘make the world a better place, and be a sister to every Girl Scout.’ What a shining example of people helping people. We are honored to support such an outstanding program that is historically known for building strong female role models and leaders.”

The Outreach Series program is delivered by positive adult role models and allows the girls to learn new concepts and try new things. They practice social skills, learn about healthy relationships, grow in their confidence and learn about making good decisions. And they are introduced to new concepts like Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) and other opportunities including camp.

“The generous financial support from the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has, and will continue to, help Girl Scouts provide our leadership program to girls in our staff-led program,” said Diane Nelson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois. “These are girls who are typically in neighborhoods and schools where they face barriers to becoming a Girl Scout. This partnership will continue to have a huge impact and create more equity for girls in our area.”

The new grant will help the Girl Scouts bring this program directly to more girls. 

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