Girls today need the support, encouragement and attention of caring adults as much if not more than ever before. While many doors have opened for young girls, many obstacles stand in the path of their healthy development. Look at a few dismaying statistics:

• 41% of pre-teen girls are afraid of being bullied;
  
• Six of every ten teen girls diet - 12% go to extremes like vomiting, laxatives and diuretics;
  
• One in four girls say they want to leave home because of violence
  
• 18.6% of high school girls plan to major in science and engineering while 64% of their male counterparts plan to do so.

Girl Scouting offers an antidote to these very real problems. But we need your help. Now's the time for you to commit to a girl. Your time, your talent and your financial contributions help more than 35,000 girls across the communities our council serves get a head start in life.

Contact the development office to find out how you can make a difference, at (816) 358-8750.