BETTENDORF, IOWA – The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation (ACUF) has partnered with the Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois since 2020 to help fund the Girl Scouts Community Outreach Series. This series directly supports more than 1,100 at-risk girls in the underserved areas of Moline, Rock Island, Davenport, and Muscatine by building courage, confidence, and character through a Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
To help combat the barriers that keep girls from participating, the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation has contributed another three-year, $45,000 grant for the continuation of the series.
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 match these incentives. This guarantees $30,000 with a potential $15,000 in incentives, totaling $45,000. The ACUF’s initial grant from 2019 – 2021 was for $50,000.
On July 18, Ascentra President and CEO, Linda Andry, Senior Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer, Jennifer Naeve and Chief Financial Officer, Beth Grabin presented a check during a summer program at Madison Elementary School in Davenport. During this visit, they got to participate in reciting the Girl Scout Law with a group of six Girl Scouts who were preparing to make homemade playdough.
“It was a pleasure to hear the girls recite the Girl Scout Law,” said Linda. “I loved hearing the girls say the encouraging words it includes, such as ‘friendly and helpful’, ‘considerate and caring’, ‘courageous and strong’, which are all things young girls need to aspire to be. 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 provides a quality program delivered by positive adult role models and allows the girls to learn new concepts and try new things. They practice social skills and learn about healthy relationships. They grow in their confidence and learn about making good decisions. And they are introduced to new concepts like STEM or opportunities such as 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,” says 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.”
This grant will help the Girl Scouts bring this program directly to more girls and give them opportunities to build skills and expand how they view the world.
About The Ascentra Credit Union Foundation:
Established in 2013, to honor the memory of Ascentra Credit Union President and CEO Paul Lensmeyer and to meet the charitable and educational objectives of the Board of Directors of the credit union, the mission of the Ascentra Credit Union Foundation is to improve the quality of life for the membership of Ascentra Credit Union and further the philanthropic outreach in the communities the credit union serves. The focus of the foundation is on funding work to enhance youth development, expand credit education opportunities, foster community development, support cultural activities, and invest in ways to enhance the financial viability of the underserved. More information can be found at www.ascentra.org/foundation.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois:
Through the Girl Scout Program, girls learn to face challenges head-on, embrace failure as a learning opportunity, create lasting relationships, and find dynamic solutions to social issues—all while building the skills and courage they need to take the lead every day and empower themselves for life. To join or volunteer, visit www.GirlScoutsToday.org
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