Third Generation Girl Scout Sue Major Invests $1 Million to Advance Girl Scout Gold Award Excellence and Expand Leadership Pathways Across Six Local Councils
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NEW YORK (June 9, 2026) — Today, Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) announced a transformational $1 million gift from Sue Major, a lifelong Girl Scout and national board member. Major is also the founder and CEO of the woman‑owned global executive search firm Major Executive Search. Her investment will strengthen the Girl Scout Gold Award, the organization’s highest honor for girls leading sustainable, high‑impact projects in their communities and beyond.
Half of the contribution will support national initiatives through GSUSA. The remaining funds will be directed to six local councils that mirror Major’s personal Girl Scout journey and her long-standing commitment to developing local leaders. These councils include: Girl Scouts San Diego, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana, Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Girl Scouts of Connecticut, Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Badgerland and Girl Scouts of Wisconsin Southeast.
A third‑generation Girl Scout and lifetime member of the Movement, Major has served as a volunteer, board leader, and steadfast advocate for girls’ leadership. Her gift underscores her belief in the Gold Award’s ability to build girls of courage, confidence and character and prepare them to create lasting change.
That belief is rooted in what the Girl Scout Gold Award represents: the pinnacle of a Girl Scout’s leadership journey. To earn the Gold Award, girls identify an issue they care about, address its root causes, and lead a sustainable, measurable project that creates lasting change. Along the way, Gold Award Girl Scouts develop essential skills in leadership, problem-solving, and project management, and their achievements are widely recognized by colleges, scholarship committees, and employers. Fewer than six percent of eligible Girl Scouts earn this distinction, affirming its status as one of the nation’s most prestigious youth leadership honors.
“When we invest in Girl Scouts, we invest in girls’ potential and in the future of our communities. Supporting Girl Scouts at the national level helps ensure local councils have the resources they need to reach more girls and create meaningful, lasting impact,” said GSUSA National Board Member Sue Major.
Major’s contribution further establishes her as a leading champion of the Girl Scout Gold Award and highlights the enduring role of philanthropy in expanding leadership pathways for girls across the country. By strengthening both national initiatives and local councils, her gift broadens access to transformative experiences and ensures more girls can pursue their leadership potential.
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