Girl Scouts of Nassau County Honors Rockville Center Resident LaTonja

Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC) recently held its third annual Legacy Brunch on Friday, March 15 at The Heritage Club in Farmingdale. The event honored LaTonja Lee among four other Girl Scout champions who are making an impact in their community. This event brought together generations of Girl Scouts and their supporters to celebrate the impact the organization has had over the last 112 years. All proceeds from the event are going toward ensuring all girls have the opportunity to fully experience Girl Scouts and continuing the legacy of building girls of courage, confidence, and character.

“112 years ago, Juliette Gordon Low started building her legacy for the girls of America when she started the first Girl Scout troop in Savannah, Georgia. It has since developed into a leadership experience that builds courage, confidence, and character, and blazes trails and redefines what’s possible for girls everywhere," said Rande Bynum, the CEO of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Girl Scout Volunteers like LaTonja Lee are making a lasting impact and helping shape the future of Girl Scouts for the next generation of girls through their service and dedication to Girl Scouts of Nassau County. The Legacy Brunch honors those individuals believe in the Girl Scout mission and are going above and beyond to impact their communities.”

The Impact Award recognizes emerging leaders under 40 who are currently giving back and making contributions to the Girl Scout mission and the larger Nassau County community. These emerging leaders represent the future of leadership in Nassau County.

After graduating from the University at Albany in 2006 with a degree in Human Biology and a concentration in Anthropology, LaTonja Lee continued to pursue higher education, earning a master's degree in Sports Medicine from Long Island University in 2010. She began her career at Wantagh High School, serving as head athletic trainer from 2011-2013. Following her stint at Wantagh High School, she pursued athletic work at universities such as Purchase College, Molloy College, Fordham University, and most recently St. Francis College in Brooklyn. As a Gold Award Girl Scout and Girl Scout Alum, LaTonja has stayed connected to the organization by Girl Scout Fitness Days where she promotes fitness while also helping Girl Scout explore different career options. She recently led an event in Indianapolis during the 74th National Athletic Trainers Convention where she collaborated with the Girl Scouts of Indianapolis Sports Week to introduce girls ages 7 to 16 to athletic training.

The Legacy Award was presented to Dr. Sandra Lindsay, of Port Washington, Vice President of Public Health Advocacy at Northwell Health. Dr. Lindsay was honored with the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2022, which is the highest honor given to a U.S. citizen by the President of the United States. Also, three additional Impact Awards were presented to Gabrielle Fidis, of West Hempstead, Creative Arts Therapist at Bellevue Hospital, Girl Scout Lifetime Member and National Delegate, Katherine Sun, of Great Neck, Girl Scout Alum, National Delegate, and past member of the Girl Scout Girl Leadership Committee, and Allie McCormick, of Jericho, Girl Scout Lifetime Member, National Delegate, past member of the Girl Scout Girl Leadership Committee, past member of Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Board of Directors and Gold Award Girl Scout.

The Legacy Award is for change-makers in Nassau County who give back to the community by elevating and supporting the Girl Scout mission through their career or volunteer work. They are true leaders working to pave the way for a positive future for Girl Scouts and their families.

For more than a century, Girl Scouts has championed changemakers—helping girls develop leadership skills to make a tangible, positive difference in the community. Throughout the event, guests will learn more about some of the most enriching traditions and programs available to all Girl Scouts. Attendees will learn about the life-changing experience of spending time at Camp Blue Bay, the passion and vision it takes to carry out one of the Highest Award Projects Girl Scouts can earn and join in a few other Girl Scout traditions.

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To learn more about the Legacy Brunch, please visit www.gsnc.org/legacy.