Tribute to Achievement – Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana Blog

On March 16, 2023, we celebrated our Tribute to Achievement Event at the Four Seasons Hotel Chicago by recognizing our awardees who have made the world a better place by advancing opportunities for girls and women.

There was magic that could be felt around the room the entire night. From the smiles as Girl Scouts sold cookies during dinner (I mean, who could resist? Those Girl Scouts were on a mission!) to heartfelt emotions as awardees and Girl Scouts shared personal stories about what being a Girl Scout means to them.

Carole Brown’s acceptance speech for the Luminary Award was extremely powerful and touched the hearts of everyone in the room.

“When I look back on my time as a Girl Scout, I realize that Girl Scouts changed the trajectory of my life. The Girl Scouts gave a little Black girl her voice back. They let a little Black girl be seen for more than the color of her skin,” said Carole.

Carole’s remarks mirrored Girl Scout Sydney’s story about being resilient and wanting to be seen as smart, creative, and determined despite persistent stereotypes that “girls are for glitter; boys are for science.”

We also honored Josephine (Jodi) Bahl with the Girl Scout’s Own Award. A former board member and lifetime Girl Scout, Jodi was the perfect recipient of this year’s award. For our Corporate Award, we honored McDermott, Will & Emery, a long-standing supporter of our council and a fantastic partner. The award was accepted by Michael Boykins, Managing Partner of the Chicago office.

Another highlight of the evening was the video about how girls are learning to be Resilient, Ready, and Strong in the outdoors. You can watch the video below.

Thanks to your generosity, we raised nearly $540,000 and counting to provide life-changing experiences for girls and help them grow to be Resilient, Ready, and Strong. To relive the magic of the evening, or to share it with others, check out the slideshow here.

A special thank you to our 2023 Tribute to Achievement Sponsors!

“Resilient. Ready. Strong.” Grounded in optimism, yet often fueled by adversity, these three powerful words speak volumes about the inner fortitude it takes to navigate a world of everyday challenges and difficult decisions. Life is rarely easy. Failure can overshadow success. Self-doubt, inequities, and biases influence our view of reality.

Girls, especially, need a place where they can build the skills to overcome those doubts and see a world of opportunity. As Girl Scouts, girls learn to find their purpose, passion, and perspective by accentuating the positive qualities they already have and practicing the vital skills of decision-making, risk-taking, and leadership that build resiliency over time. To thrive, girls need advocates who rally around them, encourage them, and invest in them. They need you.

Please join us on March 16 to support the critical work of Girl Scouts and sustain access to leadership and formative experiences for every girl in our community.

We are honored to recognize our awardees who have made the world a better place by advancing opportunities for girls and women.

Meet the Honorees:

Corporate Award

Receiving the Corporate Award is McDermott Will & Emery, a long-standing partner of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana (GCNWI). Accepting the award will be Michael Boykins, Chicago Managing Partner. McDermott Will & Emery has been a valued collaborator with Girl Scouts GCNWI over many years, and we are thrilled to honor this relationship.

The Girl Scout’s Own Award

The Girl Scout’s Own Award honors our very own former Girl Scouts GCNWI Board Member, Josephine (Jodi) Bahl. Jodi is a lifetime Girl Scout member and was active in a troop growing up in the St. Croix Valley council. We are thrilled to present this award to a long-time champion of Girl Scouting and our council.

Luminary Award

Carole L. Brown is head of Asset Management Group for The PNC Financial Services Group. In this role, she is responsible for leading PNC’s wealth management and private banking services for high-net-worth and ultra-high-net-worth individuals and families, as well as custom investment and advisory solutions for institutional clients.

We are thrilled that PNC Financial Services Group is the Presenting Sponsor of this year’s event. Thank you, PNC!!