Sarasota Girl Scout Earns Top Honor

Sarasota, Fla.–A local Girl Scout and 2020 graduate of Sarasota High School has earned the highest and most prestigious honor available to Girl Scouts—the Gold Award.

The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9–12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing meaningful, sustainable solutions to local, national or global challenges. Jordyn Chiodo of Sarasota received the Gold Award for her project, “You’ve Got Mail.”

Chiodo wanted to make an impact when she heard that those in assisted living and nursing homes do not get the interaction they need. When the COVID-19 crisis hit, it became apparent that residents were at an even higher risk of depression and becoming withdrawn. She created letter-writing kits with interactive activities for residents of assisted living facilities and nursing homes to keep them connected to family and friends, and is continuing the project throughout the pandemic.

The benefits to Gold Award recipients—and, by extension, the world—are substantial. Research from the Girl Scout Research Institute finds that Gold Award Girl Scouts display more positive life outcomes than other young women, including those that pertain to sense of self, life satisfaction, leadership, life success, community service and civic engagement.

“Gold Award Girl Scouts are the dreamers and doers who take ‘make the world a better place’ to the next level,” said Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida CEO Mary Anne Servian. “Jordyn tackled an issue that is important to her and her community, and we congratulate her on this momentous accomplishment.”

A total of 14 Girl Scouts from the Gulfcoast Council earned the Gold Award in 2020. To learn more about the Girl Scout Gold Award, local award recipients, and their projects, or for more information about Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, visit www.gsgcf.org.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award: Gold Award Girl Scouts don’t just change the world for the better, they change it for good. The Gold Award is earned by girls in grades 9–12 who demonstrate extraordinary leadership in developing sustainable solutions to local, national and global challenges. Since 1916, Girl Scouts have answered the call to drive lasting, impactful change. The Gold Award is the mark of the truly remarkable. Learn more at www.gsgcf.org/girls/gold-award.

About Girl Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, Inc.: Girl Scouts offers every girl a chance to practice a lifetime of leadership, adventure and success. Our mission: to build 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 girls in grades K-12 across 10 counties including Manatee, Hardee, Highlands, Sarasota, DeSoto, Charlotte, Glades, Lee, Hendry and Collier. To volunteer, join, donate or learn more, visit www.gsgcf.org.