Char Valley junior given Gold Award
Share with others:
Jordan Bonincontro, 17, of Collier, recently received the Gold Award for her efforts in assisting residents at the Women's Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh.
Jordan was recognized May 15 at the Pittsburgh Airport Marriott at the annual Girl Scout Gold Award ceremony. The Gold Award is the highest recognition for achievement in Girl Scouting.
Recently, her brother, Jesse, was awarded the distinguished Eagle Scout award, the highest rank attainable in Boy Scouting.
"I was very excited," Jordan said. "I felt really accomplished whenever I was able to finish all of the requirements and I got my award."
A junior at Chartiers Valley High School, Jordan has been a Girl Scout for 12 years and is a member of Troop 50014.
To achieve the distinction, Jordan had to identify a community issue, then create and implement a project plan that achieved a measurable impact.
For her project, she chose to hold a donation drive and collect gently used suits, skirts, blouses, jackets, belts, pants, shoes and purses for the residents of the Women's Shelter. She also created a brochure to distribute to local libraries, companies, and neighborhoods with information on how to support and donate items to the shelter.
As the project grew, Jordan created an "Interview, Make-up, and Dress Tip List" for the women to help them prepare for job interviews.
"It was a lot of work, but it was worth it," said Jordan. "I had a lot of fun doing it."
Jordan said the project was inspired by her mother, Cindy, who voluntarily painted and fixed up one of the shelters.
"She worked there, so I wanted to do something to donate to the women and help them out," she said. "I thought it would be really rewarding to donate all these clothes to them."
Jordan will graduate from high school in 2012 and plans to attend college and major in fashion and retail management.
The Gold Award was a culmination of her career with the Girl Scouts.
"I figured that if I was a Girl Scout for that long, I might as well just go the whole way and finish it," she said.
First Published July 7, 2011 12:00 am
