If you give a Girl Scout a cookie, she probably won’t ask for a glass of milk. She could ask for the world, and she just might get it.
Last year, 15 Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona sold the 6,000-packages each of Girl Scout cookies necessary to earn a 12-day trip to Tokyo. In 2022, 15 girls earned a trip to Australia, while others traveled to Fiji. This year, top sellers can earn a multi-destination trip to Italy, Greece, Croatia and Montenegro. Travel opportunities to other destinations internationally, nationwide and throughout the state are also available.
“Travel is an important aspect of Girl Scouts. Whether that travel is local, national or global, we are proponents of girls exploring different cultures, foods and history. Our message to the community is that when you purchase Girl Scout cookies not only are you purchasing a delicious treat, but more importantly, you are powering girls’ experiences with that purchase,” said Kristen García-Hernandez, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona (https://www.girlscoutssoaz.org/).
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These experiences extend beyond travel for almost 6,000 girls and adult members across seven counties in Southern Arizona.
The Southern Arizona Council is comprised of traditional troops; staff-supported troops in 23 area elementary and middle schools and several group homes; and a collaboration with the Pima County Juvenile Court System. Additionally, the Council has adopted Girl Scouts Beyond Bars, which provides activities and programming for Girl Scouts who have a mother or grandmother incarcerated in the Arizona State Prison Complex at Perryville.
Proceeds from cookie sales remain local and account for 78 percent of operating revenue for the chapter, which boasts the highest average of per-girl cookie sales in the nation.
“There is nothing else like the Cookie Program. It teaches business skills, money management, goal-setting, work ethic, entrepreneurship, people skills, self confidence and so many important life skills,” said Angie Bush, Director of Public Relations and Communications for GSSoAZ.
The chapter has dubbed the annual cookie campaign the “March to a Million” in hopes of selling a million boxes for the first time. The on-the-ground campaign began last week and continues through Sunday, March 10. Cookies can be purchased at pop-up booths throughout the city, from registered Girl Scouts via the Digital Cookie online platform and https://www.girlscoutssoaz.org/en/cookies-plus.html, the Cookie Finder online.
“Our goal is to make it big and break that threshold. We want to do it for fun, but also the cost of cookies has gone up since commodities have gone up. Councils across the country have increased cookie prices, but we chose to remain at $5 and $6 per box, so we are absorbing that increase. If we hit the 1 million mark, we will offset the additional expenses,” García-Hernandez said.
Cookie sales also help to cover scholarships for girls who might not otherwise be able to participate.
“No girl is turned away from Girl Scouts because they may not have the financial ability to pay for membership, camps, uniforms or activities,” García-Hernandez said.
Ultimately, she said that investing in Girl Scout cookies is an investment in women.
“Of every philanthropic dollar donated nationwide, less than two cents goes to fund entities and organizations that serve girls and women. That is astonishing. The Cookie Program sustains our movement and the work we do. If girls want to travel and seek new experiences and learn new things, they can do that through Girl Scouts. We want them to be audacious with their goals. There is truly no limit to what girls and women can achieve,” García-Hernandez said.
