Investing in girls’ leadership is now smarter and more secure than ever thanks to a new Girl Scouts of Colorado (GSCO) Endowment at Rose Community Foundation, established through a lead gift of $25,000 from Rae Ann and Richard Dougherty of Golden.
The Rae Ann and Richard E. Dougherty Look Wider International Travel Fund will provide current or lifetime Girl Scouts of Colorado members between the ages of 12 and 30 with grants for meaningful, independent travel. Members can apply for scholarships for travel programs approved or sponsored by Girl Scouts of the United States of America (GSUSA) or the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS). All gifts are welcome to help grow the Look Wider Endowment fund.
The GSCO Endowment is now open for unrestricted gifts of $5,000 and above as well as general operating gifts at any level. A CEO challenge will be announced in 2014 to encourage growth of this fund, which will support Girl Scouts and the future leaders of our community and our world in perpetuity.
“We are very pleased to provide the GSCO Endowment fund as a great option to give our donors greater confidence about investing in Girl Scouts, knowing that their dollars will be professionally managed and growing at maximum rates,” said Stephanie Foote, CEO and President of Girl Scouts of Colorado.
Rae Ann and Richard E. Dougherty are both long-time lifetime Girl Scouts and are driven to advance the status of women worldwide by helping girls reach their full potential via building their skills and realizing their natural talents. Since marrying in 1979, Rae Ann and Richard have traveled to many of the countries that are members of WAGGGS.
“With each experience, we have come to realize how much is to be gained from international journeys and the friendships forged during these travels. It is so valuable to understand the strength of our Girl Scout sisterhood!” said Rae Ann. “In fact, we have seen how these types of opportunities have proven to be life changing for girls. Rich and I want to afford the same life-changing experiences to the top Girl Scouts and future leaders in Colorado.”
Lord Robert Baden-Powell, founder of the Girl Guide movement (precursor to the Girl Scouts founded by Juliette Gordon Low), was a prolific writer and artist. Among his writings, one quote “Look Wide, Look Wider Still” has become foundational to the Girl Scout movement, and inspired the name for the endowment fund.
Rae Ann has been involved in Girl Scouting since joining as a Brownie in 1963. She has participated as a girl member and adult volunteer in five councils — Greater Minneapolis (MN); Taconic (NY); Mile High and Girl Scouts of Colorado (CO); Tejas (TX); and Chaparral (NM) and as a member of the Board of Directors of Tejas, Chaparral and currently Girl Scouts of Colorado. Richard has been involved in Girl Scouts since he met Rae Ann 40 years ago. As a result he is just as invested in the Girl Scout Movement, as he supports girls learning and growing as they blossom to become wonderful young women leaders.
Besides earning the highest award at each girl level in Girl Scouting, including First Class and the 8 Indispensables, Rae Ann has served as a Cadette Troop Leader, an “I Take the Lead” national facilitator, a GSUSA national delegate, Young Women’s World Forum representative, Girl Facilitator for the Girls World Forum, first National Coordinator for the Olave Baden-Powell Society, and a member of the USA’s World Foundation for Girl Guides and Girl Scouts. Rae Ann holds BS and MS degrees in engineering and environmental sciences and an MBA in engineering management. After 30 years of executive leadership in environmental health and safety operations at Fortune 100 companies, Rae Ann founded Green Cleaning Products LLC, a company that specializes in safe, effective, environmentally friendly and cost-competitive cleaning products for the home and business.
For more information about the GSCO Endowment, contact Amy Myers, Director of Development, at amy.myers@gscolorado.org.
About Rose Community Foundation
Compelled by their guiding principles and mission to make the Greater Denver community a better place for all people, Rose Community Foundation uses leadership, grant making and donor engagement to invest in strategic and innovative solutions to enduring problems and emerging issues. Endowment funds at Rose Community Foundation allow organizations to build long-term, revenue-producing endowments without the burden and expense of in-house administration. Contributions to nonprofit organization endowment funds are for the exclusive benefit of the specific organization designated by the donor or donors. Foundation staff provides experienced advice and training, and administrative, investment and planned-giving expertise to each organization housing and building an endowment fund at Rose Community Foundation.