Friday, October 16, 2009
Girl Scout earns Gold Award
Have you heard?
JoAnne Poindexter
'Have you heard?'
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Before Virginia Tech freshman Katherine Mau started college, she earned the Girl Scout's highest honor, the Gold Award.
To do so, Katherine, a member of Troop 62 of the Salem Skyline service unit, developed a community service project at her church, Peters Creek Church of the Brethren.
Katherine's project involved turning unused attic space at the church into a new youth room.
Katherine, who spent all of her scouting years at Peters Creek Church of the Brethren, felt the renovation project was a good way to give back to the church, said her mother and Scout leader, Enid Mau.
Katherine, 18, recruited church members and friends who spent nearly 50 hours framing walls and closet space, planning for electrical and lighting needs, hanging drywall and painting the new youth room.
Katherine received her award during an Oct. 4 ceremony. The daughter of Enid and Michael Mau, Katherine is the last senior member of Troop 62, which now reverts to a Brownie Troop.
To earn the Gold Award, a Senior Girl Scout must prove her leadership abilities by designing and carrying out a plan of activities that included community service, career exploration and specialized interest projects.
Katherine, a June graduate of Northside High School, is studying engineering. Kathy Otey was her project consultant.
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Cox Charities, a new charitable-giving initiative of Cox Communications, is accepting grant applications for 2010 funding through Nov. 16.
Grants will be awarded to qualifying organizations in Cox's Hampton Roads or Roanoke service areas that offer proposals supporting the academic achievement and development of young people.
Eligible programs include youth and education initiatives involving science and technology, mentoring or literacy.
Cox has a long history of supporting the community through organizations such as Boys & Girls Clubs and the Urban League, according to a news release.
"Cox Charities will help us to focus our giving and leverage our business partnerships to accomplish more on behalf of children," Gary McCollum, Cox senior vice president and general manager, said in the release.
"Given the state of our economy and the many nonprofits that reach out to us for help each day, there is clearly no better time to launch this initiative," McCollum said.
Nonprofits will be invited to apply for funding annually. The total grant value and number of grants awarded will vary from year to year, based on fundraising activity. A Cox Charities Web site has been created at www.coxcharities.org and includes specific grant criteria, deadlines and an application.
Bloomberg News, Discovery Networks and Cisco are among the Cox business partners that have already contributed support to Cox Charities, according to the news release.
Frank Rogan, president and CEO of the United Way of Roanoke Valley, is among community and business leaders on the 2009 Cox Charities Advisory Committee. The committee will make the final grant selections, based on recommendations from the United Way of South Hampton Roads.
