Girl Scouts of Southern Illinois (GSSI) is pleased to announce that Lainey Brown from O’Fallon has received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can receive.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Lainey worked with two area nursing homes to help improve residents’ lives.
“I knew that I wanted my project to benefit the elderly,” said Lainey. “I have always had a passion for volunteering and visiting at nursing homes.”
Lainey especially wanted to help Alzheimer’s patients. She created two sensory boards to help patients with everyday obstacles. She also made more than 100 sensory bags to help improve memory skills. She brought in a guitarist, and working with staff, engaged residents’ memories through music. She also held a party at each facility, with homemade blankets and other items as door prizes and for winners of games she led. Along with helping residents, she also provided books about Alzheimer’s for facility staff to read.
“I have learned through my Girl Scout Gold Award project that with passion, dedication and ambition, I can truly accomplish anything I set my mind to,” she said. “Nothing feels as good as knowing I have positively affected the lives of others.”
Lainey is the daughter of Katherine Brown. She is currently a senior at O’Fallon Township High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the fall to study Nursing.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
For her Girl Scout Gold Award project, Lainey worked with two area nursing homes to help improve residents’ lives.
“I knew that I wanted my project to benefit the elderly,” said Lainey. “I have always had a passion for volunteering and visiting at nursing homes.”
Lainey especially wanted to help Alzheimer’s patients. She created two sensory boards to help patients with everyday obstacles. She also made more than 100 sensory bags to help improve memory skills. She brought in a guitarist, and working with staff, engaged residents’ memories through music. She also held a party at each facility, with homemade blankets and other items as door prizes and for winners of games she led. Along with helping residents, she also provided books about Alzheimer’s for facility staff to read.
“I have learned through my Girl Scout Gold Award project that with passion, dedication and ambition, I can truly accomplish anything I set my mind to,” she said. “Nothing feels as good as knowing I have positively affected the lives of others.”
Lainey is the daughter of Katherine Brown. She is currently a senior at O’Fallon Township High School and plans to attend Southern Illinois University Edwardsville in the fall to study Nursing.
The Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, recognizes a Girl Scout's commitment to excellence as she develops skills and values to meet present and future challenges in her life. To earn the Girl Scout Gold Award, a Girl Scout Senior or Girl Scout Ambassador must design and carry out a project that fulfills a need within a girl’s community, creates change, and is sustainable. The project must be completed with a suggested minimum of 80 hours of work. Only about 6 percent of eligible girls earn the prestigious Gold Award.
