April is National Volunteer Month, a perfect time to honor the individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and hearts to making Girl Scouts the empowering, life-changing experience it is. Volunteers are the foundation of everything we do—from planning meetings and leading outdoor adventures to mentoring girls through challenges and cheering on their successes. They are role models, champions, and everyday heroes who make Girl Scouts possible.

Across Florida and beyond, thousands of volunteers are helping girls build confidence, discover their strengths, and take the lead. According to the State of the Florida Girl Report, 99% of Girl Scouts in Florida say they feel safe in this organization—a testament to the nurturing, inclusive environments volunteers create. In fact, 89% of girls report that their troop leader cares about them personally, and 84% say their leader makes them feel important. These numbers reflect something powerful: girls are seen, heard, and uplifted by the adults guiding them.

One of those dedicated volunteers is Christina McGrath Fair, leader of Troop 31038 in the Sea Star Service Unit. Christina has been part of Girl Scouts since she was five years old, growing up through Brownies to Seniors, earning both her Silver and Gold Awards. “Girl Scouts gave me the opportunities I needed as a young woman and provided me with a safe space to learn,” she says. Now, as both a troop and service unit leader, Christina is giving her daughters—and dozens of other girls—those same life-changing experiences. “I am so honored and humbled to be able to work with other amazing leaders, parents, and young women.”

Robin Mason of Troop 10641 in the Kowechobe Service Unit is passionate about helping girls understand that they can be and do anything they set their minds to. “It is important to show our future leaders that they can be great no matter their size, shape, color, personality, or interests,” Robin says. She leads by example, showing her troop what it means to set and achieve goals, like when they watched her complete nursing school. “Teaching the girls to be strong, confident, and amazing women is one of the best things I can contribute to Girl Scouts.

Jinnavel Fernandez from the Royal Palm Service Unit has seen firsthand how Girl Scouts can shape young lives. Her daughters are developing leadership, independence, and a strong sense of self through the program. “Girl Scouts has allowed them to identify and solve problems in our community, as well as display positive values,” she explains. These lessons are not just preparing them for the future—they’re helping them lead in the present.

Girl Scouts isn’t just for moms, either. Aaron Palazzolo, co-leader of Troop 24529 in the Sunchariot Service Unit, joined for his daughters—and stayed because of the incredible value he saw in the program. “The badge deliverables become increasingly more involved as girls progress,” he said, noting how they reflect real-world project management skills. “Through nominal dues and participation, my daughters gain access to the finest leadership development in the USA, designed specifically for girls aged 5–17. Where else can I get that kind of return on investment for my daughters?”

For Tori-Lynn Saraniti, who has spent more than a decade as a leader in the Aquarius Service Unit, volunteering is about modeling strength, compassion, and confidence. “I want the opportunity to reinforce to girls that each one of them is enough, as they are,” she explains. “Society often sets incredibly high bars to determine self-worth, but the process of working toward a goal, more than the goal itself, is where the real growth happens.”

As we celebrate National Volunteer Month, we honor the people who make Girl Scouts what it is: a place where girls can explore, grow, and lead with confidence. To every troop leader, co-leader, parent volunteer, and service unit team member—thank you. Your impact is powerful, lasting, and deeply appreciated.