Baldwinsville resident Rebecca Mantione is working toward her Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn.
Mantione, an Ambassador level Girl Scout with Troop 10043, has created water bottle holders that fit onto wheelchairs for patients at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital in Syracuse.
Mantione said she wanted to create something that would be both useful and fun for children who use wheelchairs.
With the help of a group of volunteers, Mantione sewed fabric water bottle holders in multiple sizes that fit onto the arm of any wheelchair. She has donated 100 water bottle holders, water bottles and pamphlets she created explaining the benefits of hydration.
Senior and Ambassador level Girl Scouts (grades 9-12) who earn the Gold Award tackle issues that are dear to them and drive lasting change in their communities and beyond through extraordinary leadership and sustainable and measurable Take Action Projects.
Girl Scouts going for the Gold Award must dedicate a minimum of 80 hours to planning and implementing their Take Action Project. Rebecca recently met with Dr. Nienke Dosa, MD, MPH, and Maddy Locastro, equipment coordinator, with the Center for Special Needs at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital.
The Candlelight Quilters Guild will continue to supply water bottle holders to the program that Rebecca created for her Gold Award project.
Since 1916, the Girl Scout Gold Award has stood for excellence and leadership. For the last century, millions of Girl Scouts have positively impacted their communities and the world with creative, impactful and sustainable projects. The Gold Award is the culmination of a girl’s demonstration of self-discipline, leadership ability, time management, creativity, initiative and a significant mastery of skills. Gold Award Girl Scouts are the dreamers and doers who take “make the world a better place” to the next level. The award is a key that can open doors to scholarships, preferred admission tracks for college and career opportunities.
Girl Scouts serves girls in grades K-12. Annual membership is $25. Financial assistance is available. To register a girl online, visit gsnypenn.org/join. To become an adult volunteer, learn more at gsnypenn.org/volunteer.
