Scout aids babies, girls to earn Gold Award

Claire Fogarty of The Woodlands received the Girl Scouts of America Gold Award in October, the highest honor that can be achieved by a member of the organization.

Fogarty, a junior at Woodlands High School, was required to perform more than 80 hours of service to win the award, including organizing a project that helped the community. To meet these requirements, Fogarty set up and ran a baby supply drive and activity day at Tamina Community Center.

After hearing from a friend that Tamina needed help, Fogarty, along with a team of volunteers, collected a large number of diapers, baby food, blankets and other items that will be given to children in need by the community center. In addition, she led an activity day for young girls in the area.

“I did a one-day event, which encouraged the girls about Girl Scouts, and it informed them about certain aspects of health and hygiene,” Fogarty said.

The girls also participated in a number of fun activities, including arts, crafts, and face and fingernail painting.

She found the entire project to be highly rewarding, and she was particularly fond of having a chance to work with the youth in the community.

“I think the best part was actually the event because I got to see all the girls there, and they were having a lot of fun,” Fogarty said. “It seems like everyone enjoyed it.”

Fogarty was also inspired by the dedication of Shirley Grimes, the Tamina Community Center employee she worked with to coordinate the project.

“Shirley Grimes was really interesting to meet because she runs the center, and she considers all the kids there to be her kids too, which I thought was really cool,” Fogarty said.

The Gold Award is the third and final award in a series that begins with the Bronze and Silver Awards. Previously, Fogarty had earned the Bronze Award by setting up birthday parties for young children in the area, and she received the Silver Award along with the rest of her troop for helping to gather backpacks and other school supplies for Galveston hurricane victims.

Although she hasn’t yet decided where she wants to go to college, Fogarty currently plans on majoring in business after she graduates from high school. Outside of the Girl Scouts, she is involved with the Interact Club and Mu Alpha Theta.

ABOUT CLAIRE FOGARTY
AGE: 17
OCCUPATION: Student
COMMUNITY CONNECTION: Fogarty is a resident of The Woodlands
FAST FACT: Enjoys playing tennis when she is not in school