Shannon McNamara was named a "National Young Woman of Distinction" by Girl Scouts USA for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in founding SHARE. Shannon, one of ten honorees nationwide, received $3000 at a ceremony in St. Louis, Missouri. Shannon donated the award proceeds to SHARE. "Basking Ridge Girl Scout named 'Young Woman of Distinction', The Star Ledger, March 19, 2010 "One of Our Own" Happenings from the Heart, January 29, 2010
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE NEW YORK, N.Y.
— Girl Scouts of the USA is proud to announce its 2009 National Young Women of Distinction honorees.
Each of the ten young women has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award—the highest award in Girl Scouting—and has been selected as a National Young Woman of Distinction for demonstrating extraordinary leadership in the completion of her community action project.
The Girl Scout Gold Award is earned by fewer than six percent of all Girl Scouts.
Each honoree spent one to two years on a community action project that has had far-reaching effects in her community and beyond. Among the honorees this year are authors, advocates, and environmentalists with projects based in a wide range of locations—from India, Africa, and China to neighborhoods in Louisiana and California.
The young women will be honored at a special awards ceremony on February 27 during the Girl Scout National Corporate Leadership Meeting in St. Louis. "Earning the Young Women of Distinction designation is truly a remarkable achievement, and these young women exemplify leadership in all its forms," said Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. "They saw a need in their communities and around the world and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership, is making the world a better place."
We would like to thank the Ford Motor Company Fund and the Kappa Delta Foundation for supporting the 2009 Young Women of Distinction and helping us build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.
Shannon, 16 Girl Scouts Heart of New Jersey Basking Ridge, N.J. SHARE—SHannon's After-school Reading Exchange—was founded out of a desire to empower girls in East Africa to reach their highest potential through reading.
Shannon noted that "collecting book donations and renovating the SHARE classroom was relatively easy; the challenge was convincing the mothers to allow their daughters to stay and read afterschool—and not being immediately available to do the household chores of collecting water, farming, and caring for siblings."
So she partnered with Community Solutions for Africa's Development (COSAD), an international nonprofit, and in 2008, Shannon created the first SHARE room in the Kiteyagwa Primary School in Bukoba, a rural village in Tanzania.
To date, SHARE, whose slogan is, "Today a reader, tomorrow a leader," has expanded to three Tanzanian schools, helping approximately 150 girls improve their reading and English language skills.
Press Release: Girl Scouts of the USA Selects 2010 National Board Leadership Lanes Participants. Young Leaders Partner with GSUSA http://www.girlscouts.org/news/news_releases/2010/national_board_leadership_lanes.asp
