Arts & Entertainment
Girl Scouts To Recognize Local Distinguished Alums
Roxie Jerde and Rae Dowling will be honored at the Denim and Pearls event.

SARASOTA, FL – Since the movement began in 1912, Girl Scouting has been known for building leaders at all levels, from small towns to the world stage. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is celebrating two of those locally distinguished alums on Sept. 29.
Community Foundation of Sarasota County President and CEO Roxie Jerde and FPL external affairs manager Rae Dowling will take the spotlight as honorees at the Girl Scouts’ “Denim and Pearls” event. Jerde and Dowling are well known for supporting various nonprofits throughout the area, and they both credit their involvement in Girl Scouts for teaching them the importance of giving back to the community.
“Growing up, I was fortunate to be a Girl Scout. It was a great experience early in my life to learn about being part of a team, exploring new topics through experiential learning and having ‘young in life’ leadership experiences,” said Jerde. “I am honored to be recognized by Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, especially since they are an organization that is teaching young women how to be leaders and allowing them to thrive throughout their life.”
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“The lessons you learn in Girl Scouts always stay with you,” said Dowling. “It’s far more than just campfires and cookies. It’s about building courage, confidence and character, and knowing that you can, and should, work toward making your community a better place.” In addition to being a Girl Scout alum, Dowling also serves as the board president for the Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida council.
Denim and Pearls will be held on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 6-10 p.m. at the Gulfcoast Event and Conference Center, 4740 Cattlemen Road in Sarasota. The event will feature memorable cuisine by Innovative Dining and classic blues music by the Blues Pig Band.
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“It will be an elegant evening, but leave your gowns and tuxes in the closet,” said Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Wear your jeans and comfy shoes. Celebrate Girl Scout style!”
Tickets are $150 per person and may be reserved online by clicking here. Proceeds will benefit Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida.
Event sponsors include FPL, Allegiant Private Advisors, Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Observer Media Group, Sarasota Magazine, Frank Cassata Family Foundation, Gulf Coast Community Foundation, Williams Parker Harrison Deitz & Getzen and WWSB-ABC7.
For more information, contact Barbara Worth at 941-921-5358 ext. 308, or email barbaraw@gsgcf.org.
About Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida Inc.
Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida is chartered by Girl Scouts of the USA and serves 6,000 girls in 10 counties including Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry, and Collier. For more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida visit the website.