GIRL SCOUTS OF NASSAU COUNTY ANNUAL LUNCHEON A SUCCESS
Garden City, NY November 17, 2010 – The 24th Girl Scouts of Nassau County’s Annual Luncheon took place on Tuesday, October 26th at the Garden City Hotel from 11:30am to 2:00pm! More than 275 community leaders, business executives and past and present Girl Scouts joined together to celebrate 98 years of building girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place.
“This year we were proud to honor Connie Fratianni Wysota, Bailey Arboretum and Mary Phipps – three stand out members of our community that truly make a difference in the lives of girls throughout our county and Council,” said Donna Ceravolo, Executive Director of the Girl Scouts of Nassau County, Inc. “Our Annual Luncheon gives us the opportunity to thank all of our supporters for their dedication to Girl Scouting, celebrate the accomplishments of the year and look toward the exciting happenings for the year ahead.”
Connie Fratianni Wysota of Manhasset, a dedicated volunteer for the Girl Scouts of Nassau County for more than a decade, received the Juliette Low Award of Distinction for her tireless efforts and for helping girls in Manhasset. Ms. Fratianni Wysota created a campaign, now known as "Operation: Cookie," that was started to send Girl Scout Cookies to service men and women in Iraq, Afghanistan and surrounding areas. She also spearheaded a drive to collect over 3000 pairs of shoes for children living in devastated areas in the Middle East. In addition, Ms. Fratianni Wysota is a partner at the global law firm of Shearman & Sterling LLP in New York. One of the leaders of the firm's Financial Recovery & Reform Advisory Group, Ms. Fratianni Wysota has experience in many types of financing transactions, as well as bankruptcies and restructurings.
Bailey Arboretum received this year’s Making a Difference for the Youth of Long Island Award. Throughout this past year, Bailey Arboretum has partnered with Girl Scouts of Nassau County to help teach over 200 Girl Scouts about nature, gardening and the environment. Bailey’s woodland trails, ponds, gardens and historic Bailey home make the Arboretum a wonderful public resource. Bailey’s Children's Habitat, the first certified Outdoor Classroom on Long Island, has been designed to encourage free play in nature.
Mary Phipps received this year’s Torch Bearer’s Award. Ms. Phipps has been a dedicated Girl Scout since the 1950's. She began as a co-leader for a Brownie troop for Mexican girls living in El Paso, Texas while her husband was stationed at Fort Bliss. Mary became a trustee for the Girl Scout Council of Greater New York in 1960 and was an active member of the Board of Directors for the next 48 years. As a founder, past president, and chairman of Old Westbury Gardens, Mary brought her love of Girl Scouting with her out to Long Island.
Attendees also had the opportunity to win an assortment of raffle prizes and listen to current Girl Scout, Alex Wysota, speak about how the Girl Scouts of Nassau County positively affected her life.
Ms. Ceravolo adds, “Special thanks to our sponsors and committee for all of their support, hard work and dedication to make this year’s Annual Luncheon a success!” The 2010 Annual Luncheon Event was sponsored by Pall Corporation. Other sponsorships included TD Bank, Margaret Stacey, New York Community Bank Foundation, Bethpage Federal Credit Union, Rose Lavelle, Carol Ransom, Franchina and Giordano, PC and Fantastic Tours and Travel.
Girl Scouting in Nassau County creates an accepting and nurturing environment, which gives girls a chance to build character and gain skills for success in the real world. In partnership with committed adult volunteers, girls develop qualities that will serve them throughout their lives, such as leadership, strong values, social conscience, and conviction about their own potential and self-worth. With more than 22,000 girl and 7,000 adult members, Girl Scouts of Nassau County has become the preeminent organization and leading authority for girls. The organization, now in its 98th year, continues to make the world a better place one girl at a time.
For more information about next year’s Annual Luncheon and how you can sponsor or attend, please contact Sherry McGrath at 516-741-2550, ext. 240 or visit www.gsnc.org.
