Under the leadership of Point Loma resident Liza Crisafi, Girl Scouts San Diego’s “Urban Campout: Celebrate 100 Years” garnered a record $610,000 in donations. In addition to chairing the 20th annual “fun fundraiser for grown-ups,” Crisafi serves as vice chair of Girl Scouts’ board of directors.
More than 500 party-goers gathered on Girl Scouts’ Balboa Park campus, saluting a century of Girl Scouting in San Diego. The first Girl Scout troop west of the Rockies began in Coronado in 1917, just five years after the national organization was founded in Savannah, Georgia.
Urban Campout proceeds will help Girl Scouts San Diego provide more than 23,000 local girls with programs that focus on life skills, outdoor training, entrepreneurship and STEM (science, technology, engineering and math). “Urban Campers” dined, danced, and bid on auction items, made s’mores around the campfire, and earned “badges” for flag folding and archery. Point Loman Fran Styles, a Senior Olympics champion, was among the volunteer archery instructors. Many attendees got into the centennial spirit by wearing vintage Girl Scout attire. San Diego Unified School District superintendent Cindy Marten was in her childhood Girl Scout sash, as was San Diego’s first lady, Katherine Stuart. Stuart, honorary chair of Girl Scouts San Diego’s 100th-anniversary celebration, spoke at the event, as did her husband, San Diego Mayor Kevin L. Faulconer. Barbara Groce, a Girl Scout member for 75 years, wore her original Senior Girl Scout uniform. Urban Campout Honorary Co-chairs Katie Sullivan and her daughters — Megan Delgado, Lindsay Estrada and Sarah Houghton — had matching Girl Scout-inspired dresses. Urban Campout underwriters included Silver Sponsors Qualcomm and Southwest Airlines; and Bronze Sponsors Nadine and Carlo Daleo, Barbara and David Groce, Katie and Dan Sullivan, the Linden Root Dickinson Foundation, Major Executive Search, Mission Federal Credit Union and Wells Fargo. Jones Zafari Group — Merrill Lynch Private Banking and Investment Group, SDG&E and Sharp Health Plan were Friendship Circle Sponsors.
Founded in 1912, Girl Scouting provides America’s premier leadership experience for girls, where they discover themselves, connect with others, and take action to make the world a better place. With support from dedicated adult volunteers, Girl Scouts unleash their inner G.I.R.L. (Go-Getter, Innovator, Risk Taker and Leader). New members can join any time of year. For information about Girl Scouting opportunities for girls in grades K-12, and adult volunteers, visit sdgirlscouts.org or contact Membership Recruitment Specialist Christa Sherman at 619-610-0706 or csherman@sdgirlscouts.org.