We’re counting down the days to April 15 - 16 and the #2026GivingChallenge. Thanks to the generosity of donors during previous Giving Challenge events, local Girl Scouts have been able to grow and thrive, allowing girls the opportunity to build the courage to face tomorrow. 

One shining example is Mackenzie, who first joined Girl Scouts at just 7 years old. She was a bright and imaginative first grader, always eager to try new things, but prone to nerves when asked to speak up during troop meetings. What no one could see were the struggles that weren’t always visible: the restless grip of social anxiety, and the heaviness of depression that sometimes kept her at home weighed heavily on her at times.

As she got older, those struggles became harder to manage. “Being diagnosed with anxiety was hard,” Mackenzie shares. “There were days where I missed school and had trouble explaining to my friends why I was absent. It made me feel lonely at times.” 

Understanding that many more girls struggle silently, Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida (GSGCF) joined forces with other Florida Girl Scout councils to commission a groundbreaking study on the state of Florida girls’ emotional, mental, physical, and academic wellness. This effort was possible due to support and funding raised during the 2024 Giving Challenge.

Sadly, the State of the Florida Girl Report shows that girls face pressure to be high academic achievers. However, girls face worse outcomes in grade-level assessments compared to boys. Across Florida, nearly half of girls report persistent feelings of sadness or hopelessness, and more than one in four experience poor mental health most of the time. These challenges affect girls’ confidence, academics, friendships, and longterm wellbeing. 

At Girl Scouts, our mission has always been to build girls of courage, confidence, and character who make the world a better place. What we didn’t fully recognize was that while we were asking girls to change the world, the world wasn’t quite returning the favor. We knew we had to be the one to help girls thrive.

“Girl Scouts made me feel understood and cared for,” Mackenzie shared. “Having a safe space to talk about my challenges, and listen to others talk about theirs, helped me connect in ways I never thought possible.” That support changed everything.

Where Mackenzie once felt anxious speaking in front of her class, she now speaks confidently on behalf of girls everywhere. She has represented Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida at the United Nations, sharing her voice with global leaders. She has stood at the podium in her own community, advocating for girls’ mental health, and this past year, she served on the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Board of Directors, helping shape programs that will support thousands of girls for years to come.

Girl Scouts became a turning point for Mackenzie, not just a place to earn badges, but a place where she was seen and supported, and where she felt safe to grow. Her story shows what’s possible when girls are given the tools, encouragement, and belonging they deserve. Mackenzie puts it best: “I don’t know where I would be if Girl Scouts hadn’t been there when I needed it most.”

But the need continues to grow. Mary Anne Servian, CEO of Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, put it this way: “Girls already have incredible strength and potential within them. With the help of our community, we can continue providing these opportunities, tools, and resources so that girls like Mackenzie realize their power and use it to shape a brighter future.”

As more girls join Girl Scouts, the demand for mental wellness programming, financial assistance, uniforms, and trained leaders grows. This #2026GivingChallenge, you can #BeTheOne who ensures girls like Mackenzie are never feel alone. The Giving Challenge, presented by the Community Foundation of Sarasota County with giving strengthened by The Patterson Foundation, makes it possible to give girls the courage to face tomorrow. Visit givingchallenge.org on April 15-16, 2026 between Noon – Noon, and make a donation.  Keep in mind, the Patterson Foundation will generously contribute a 1:1 match for donations, up to $100 per donor, per nonprofit, made online during the Giving Challenge!