View more photos (Photos by Jesse Myers, Girl Scout volunteer)
Girl Scouts of Colorado was honored to have Anna Maria Chávez, Girl Scouts of the USA’s CEO, as our keynote speaker at the 2013 Thin Mint Dinner on Thursday evening, Oct. 10, at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel. This evening also honored Girl Scouts of Colorado’s 2013 Denver Women of Distinction and helped raise $250,000 for Girl Scouts of Colorado’s leadership programs.
Ms. Chavez set the tone for the evening, which was a call to stand up for Girl Scouts. Many in the nearly 600-person crowd were unaware that individual adult donors supported Boy Scouts of America to the tune of $56 million annually, and during the same year adult donors only gave Girl Scouts of the USA $4 million. These figures don’t include what youth members of these organizations raise through fundraisers like the Boy Scout popcorn sales and the iconic Girl Scout Cookie Program.
Clearly, Girl Scouts needs more financial support from those who believe in our mission, but donating money isn’t the only way to support the Girl Scouts. Girl Scouts nationwide, including Colorado, is in need of volunteers, particularly troop leaders to help place the thousands of girls who want to be Girl Scouts but can’t until they have adult volunteer leadership. To learn more, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org.
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Taking the lead in standing up for Girl Scouts were Girl Scouts of Colorado’s Women of Distinction. Eight new 2013 honorees joined the 387 who have been named to this honor since 1997. This year’s inductees are: Denise Burgess, President/General Manager, Burgess Services, Inc., Michelle M. Lucero, Esq., Chief Legal Officer, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Karen Nakandakare, Diversity, Inclusion & Community Investment, CH2M HILL, Kristin Richardson, Community Volunteer, Smithsonian National Board, Smithsonian Science Education Board, Children’s Hospital Colorado & Foundation Boards, TBD Colorado Board, Christine M. Riordan, Ph.D., Former Dean, Daniels College of Business, University of Denver, Provost, University of Kentucky, Mimi Roberson, President/CEO, Presbyterian/St. Luke’s Medical Center & Rocky Mountain Hospital for Children at P/SL, Regina M. Rodriguez, Partner, Faegre Baker Daniels LLP, Shari F. Shink, Esq., Founder/President Emeritus, Rocky Mountain Children’s Law Center. Girl Scouts of Colorado also awarded an honorary Woman of Distinction recognition to Girl Scouts inspirational national leader, Anna Maria Chávez. To learn more about these honorees see the event program: WOD_DEN_program_FINAL.
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Girl Scouts of Colorado honors top women leaders in our community as Girl Scout Women of Distinction. These women have reached remarkable levels of achievement as business, community and civic leaders. Girl Scouts of Colorado engages Women of Distinction in ongoing Girl Scout activities and programs designed to build the next generation of leaders. Over the last 16 years, the Women of Distinction program has raised more than $2 million.
Special thanks goes to event chairs Paula Herzmark, Executive Director of the Denver Health Foundation, and Elaine Gantz Berman, Colorado State Board of Education, both 2002 Women of Distinction, as well as 2013 Women of Distinction Selection Chair Dr. Jandel Allen-Davis, Vice President of Government and External Relations at Kaiser Permanente Colorado and 2012 Woman of Distinction. Major sponsors of the 2013 Girl Scouts of Colorado Thin Mint Dinner included Bow River Capital Partners/Johnson Financial Group LLC, Centerplate, Children’s Hospital Colorado, DaVita, FirstBank and UMB Bank.
For more information on Girl Scouts of Colorado, visit girlscoutsofcolorado.org.
On Wednesday evening, Oct. 9th, Blair & Kristin Richardson were gracious hostesses of a private reception for Denver community leaders, Girl Scouts of the USA’s Anna Maria Chavez and senior staff, and Girl Scouts of Colorado senior leadership team and board. Â
Media clips from Anna Maria’s visit and Denver’s Women of Distinction event:
Univision TV Channel 50 Denver/Colorado (10 p.m., 10/10/13)