Downers Grove Teen Wins Scout Award For Sexual Assault Database

DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Therese Malinowski of Downers Grove first came up with the idea for Project Dandelion, a sexual assault database, after someone she knew was sexually assaulted in eighth grade. Malinowski, now a freshman in college, has been named a National Gold Award Girl Scout for her innovation and activism.

Project Dandelion promotes transparency about sexual assault in the hopes of creating safer schools for college students. Malinowski teamed up with Family Shelter Service of Metropolitan Family Services DuPage to build the database, which includes crime statistics, reporting history and resources for students.

Downers Grove Teen Creates College Sex Assault Database

“Girl Scouts provides young women with progressive opportunities to speak truth to power, challenge the status quo and take action to change the world for the better. We are so proud to honor Therese as a National Gold Award Girl Scout. By being brave, bold, and compassionate, she will inspire thousands of other girls to know that one person can, indeed, start a movement,” Nancy Wright, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, said in a news release.

Malinowski was one of just 10 Girl Scouts to earn the National Gold Award in 2020. She is the first Girl Scout in the greater Chicago area to earn the award since 2008.