Pembroke Pines residents Marlena Groves, Juliana Rickette and Kylie Schwartzman’s project focusing on providing comfort and spreading awareness about the effect cancer has on individuals and families, earned the prestigious Girl Scout Silver Award, the highest recognition attainable by Girl Scout Cadettes in grades six through eight that highlights the innovative and impactful projects these young leaders develop to address pressing community needs.
For their project, Groves, Rickette and Schwartzman from Troop 14405 created “Comfort Cancer Bags,” inspired by their own mothers who had undergone cancer treatments. With the goal of reaching out to those who may not have family support, the trio filled 30 care backpacks with comforting items and distributed them through a local cancer center. The items, thoughtfully chosen based on what the Girl Scouts had observed their families needed during treatment, included face masks, stress balls, socks, warm hats and more. Of the 30 backpacks, 10 were customized for breast cancer patients, while the remaining 20 were designed for general cancer treatment patients.
Beyond the backpacks, the Girl Scouts made it their mission to educate others about the impact of cancer. They created an informative flyer detailing how to assemble cancer care backpacks and shared it within and outside their community, hoping to inspire others to start similar projects. Additionally, they handed out the flyers and set up an Instagram page to document the project’s progress and share cancer awareness information. The Girl Scouts invited feedback from bag recipients, encouraging them to post on the page to help build a supportive community and raise awareness about the emotional and physical toll cancer has on patients and families. Their project not only brought comfort to individuals in treatment but also fostered a larger conversation about cancer’s impact, offering a compassionate example for others to follow in supporting those in need.
“The Silver Award challenges Girl Scouts to identify an issue, develop a solution, and work collaboratively to implement meaningful change,” said Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida. “Marlena, Juliana and Kylie’s effort is expected to make a lasting impact on individuals affected by cancer and their families.”
Groves, Rickette and Schwartzman were three of 66 young female leaders in the region to earn the Girl Scout Silver Award during the 6th Annual Silver Award Showcase presented by the Gina Rose Montalto Foundation with additional sponsorship support from Amazon and HCA Florida Healthcare. In 2024, these awardees made lasting impacts across 20 local nonprofits, 12 schools, three municipalities and countless lives – from students and senior citizens to animals. Each project exemplifies the spirit of girl scouting: fostering resilience, leadership, and a commitment to community improvement.
“Our Silver Award Girl Scouts have each shown that change is not only possible but starts with those who have the determination to make a difference,” said Johnson. “These young leaders are building a better tomorrow with innovative projects that impact lives today. We couldn’t be prouder of the dedication, thoughtfulness, and resilience each Girl Scout has demonstrated through their hard work.”
Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida serves more than 6,900 girls in Broward, Palm Beach, Martin, St. Lucie, Indian River, and Okeechobee Counties. To explore opportunities to volunteer or partner with Girl Scouts, call 561-427-0177 or visit www.gssef.org.
