Girl Scouts show their Cookie smarts during successful Cookie Program

Girl Scouts from across Girl Scouts Louisiana East’s 23-parish jurisdiction demonstrated once again their savvy entrepreneurial skills, selling nearly 1.25 million boxes of cookies during this year’s Cookie program, with 200 girls inducted into the Girl Scout Cookie Hall of Fame for selling 500 boxes of cookies or more, including 15 girls who sold over 1,000 boxes.

           “This year’s sale was a tremendous success, and we congratulate all our Girl Scouts for their hard work and determination in meeting and exceeding the goals they set for themselves,” said Alisha Moore, director of sales at Girl Scouts Louisiana East. “I think the excitement of the 100^th Anniversary of Girl Scouts and the many activities and trips planned around our Centennial played a key factor in the success of this year’s sale.”

           This year’s top seller with 1,700 boxes sold was Girl Scout Senior Hope Alfano of Metairie, who last year came in second in the council with 1,424 boxes. 

           In addition to providing the troops their funding for troop activities, trips, and service projects, the Girl Scout Cookie program teaches girls essential skills such as goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills, and business ethics. Girl Scout troops also support local community organizations and non-profits, such as the Ronald McDonald House in New Orleans, theBishop Ott Women and Children's Shelter in Baton Rouge, local firefighters and hospitals, with donations of cookies through theGift of Caring service project. Girl Scouts also reached out to our military men and women serving overseas, sending them through organizations like Operation We Care and Blue Star Mothers of LA, as well as to units where Girl Scouts had family members and friends.

           Girls also received individual recognitions such as patches, T-shirts, and water bottles with some top awards including electronics, cookie dough, a free week at resident camp, and a “Diva Destination,” for girls who sold 500 + boxes, where they select which destination, i.e. museum, restaurant, or other entertainment opportunity being offered.

           Girl Scout’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. The local council, Girl Scouts Louisiana East, serves girls 5 to 17 in the parishes of Ascension, Assumption, East Baton Rouge, East Feliciana, Iberville, Jefferson, Lafourche, Livingston, Orleans, Plaquemines, Pointe Coupee, St. Bernard, St. Charles, St. Helena, St. James, St. John, St. Mary, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Terrebonne, Washington, West Baton Rouge, and West Feliciana.  For more information about Girl Scouts, call the council office in New Orleans at 504-733-8220, in Baton Rouge at 225-927-8946, or visit its website atwww.gsle.org.