COLUMBUS, Ga., Dec. 1, 2004 — The Girl Scouts of Concharty Council Inc. has been selected by Growing Room Inc. as its charity of choice to receive a technology donation worth $50,000. Microsoft Corp., HP and Office Depot Inc. sponsored the prize package as part of Microsoft’s Realizing Business Potential Award program, in an award that was presented to Growing Room at the Small Business Administration (SBA) Expo in May. The grant includes three desktop PCs, one notebook, one server and one printer from HP; a $5,000 Office Depot merchandise card; up to $25,000 worth of Microsoft®
productivity software; and a $7,500 credit for services from a local Microsoft Certified Partner.
“We’re passionate about delivering affordable tools to help businesses realize their full potential,” said Bill Forsyth, Southeast area general manager of the U.S. Small and Midmarket Solutions & Partner Group at Microsoft. “We congratulate the Girl Scouts of Concharty Council on its receipt of this charitable donation and look forward to seeing how technology benefits the organization and the communities it supports.”
Sheree Mitchell, president of Columbus, Ga.-based day-care provider Growing Room, won the National Small Business Person of the Year award during ceremonies at the SBA Expo. As part of that honor, Mitchell received a technology grant and the ability to select the charity of her choice to receive a grant as well. Mitchell selected the Girl Scouts of Concharty Council from a pool of nonprofit organizations because of the impact technology will bring to the Scouts’ business. “The Girl Scouts of Concharty Council’s current technology is outdated. With the aid of new computers and software, the Girl Scouts has a strong potential to make a difference by reaching so many more girls and at-risk youth in two states,” Mitchell said. “It has unlimited potential: It’s going to move from the dark ages of technology to light speed with this award.”
With the new technology, the Girl Scouts plans to enhance its community communications by designing colorful, animated handouts and flyers to help recruit hundreds of needy girls to Girl Scouting. In addition, new computers will help track cookie sales goals, plans and reports, and volunteers, to match devoted mentors to more girls.
“This generous technology makeover will substantially improve our communication ability, program offerings and efficiency,” said Debbie Caballero, CEO of the Girl Scouts of Concharty Council. “The grant will allow us to network our workstations, provide Internet event registration for our membership, and enhance the way we graphically present Girl Scouting to the community. We are so excited to provide more programming to our girls who are technically savvy.”
The Girl Scouts of Concharty Council serves girls from 12 counties in Georgia and Alabama and from Fort Benning. The organization started in Columbus in 1918 at the Wynnton Academy and today supports thousands of girls and adults throughout the Chattahoochee Valley, offering 37 programs for girls and 22 programs for adults, both male and female.
About the Realizing Business Potential Award
The Realizing Business Potential Award has been created to recognize smaller companies (fewer than 100 employees) that have demonstrated success and growth by leveraging computer-related technology in their business. Winners of the award receive computer software, hardware and Microsoft Certified Partner services for use in their business.
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