(Chicago, May 24, 2012) — This year marks the 100th anniversary of Girl Scouts of the USA and the 40th anniversary of Title IX. To honor these milestones, Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana is once again partnering with the WNBA Chicago Sky basketball team to give girls hands-on opportunities to learn how a professional basketball team operates.
On Friday, June 8, Girl Scouts ages 5 — 17 will assist in the operations of the Chicago Sky game — both behind the scenes and in front of the audience during a special "Girls Run this Game" program. Now in its fourth year, the partnership aims to open girls' eyes to the various careers available in sports, on the court and in management.
As the women athletes on the court take on the Tulsa Shock, Girl Scouts will learn about the operations of a basketball team by assuming a variety of hands-on roles during an actual game. Girls will serve as honorary co-captains of the game, hi-five tunnel, game stat feeders, film crew assistants, Twitter correspondents, team photographers, half-time performers, public service announcers, Web bloggers and ball girls, among others.
This year, the Girl Scouts and the Chicago Sky invite all Girl Scout alumnae as well as all women who play sports currently or did as a student, to participate in a special half-time celebration honoring the two anniversaries during the June 8 game. Alumnae are welcome to bring their childhood Girl Scouts sashes and/or a small piece of sporting equipment to participate in the celebration at halftime.
"We continue to build on the foresight of Juliette Gordon Low who founded Girl Scouting in 1912. Before women even had the right to vote, she guaranteed girls access to sports and other areas of academic learning like science. She would have celebrated Title IX and all it can do for girls," said Maria Wynne, CEO of Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana.
Passed in 1972 as part of the Education Amendments Act, Title IX requires gender equity for women and men in every educational program that requires federal funding. Today significant number of girls and women play sports, including basketball.
"We are thrilled to bring the Girl Scouts back to Allstate Arena for 'Girls Run This Game,'" noted Chicago Sky President and CEO, Adam Fox. "With the 40th Anniversary of Title IX and the 100th Anniversary of the Girl Scouts, we are both honored and committed to continue to provide opportunities for Girl Scouts to both get an inside look at potential careers in the sports world and see up close one of the more significant outcomes of the ruling forty years ago."
The $20 Girl Scout ticket package includes entry to the game, food voucher and commemorative Sky visor and patch for girls. A portion of every package sold during the regular season will be donated to Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana to support leadership opportunities for girls.
For more information about the Girl Scout Alumnae Association and to find out how to purchase tickets for the June 8 game and special half-time celebration, visit www.girlscoutsgcnwi.org/connect-as-alum.
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana:
Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana impacts the lives of nearly 87,000 girls and 24,000 adult members in 245 communities in six Illinois counties (Cook, DuPage, Grundy, Kankakee, Lake, and Will) and four Indiana counties (Jasper, Lake, Newton, and Porter). Girl Scouts builds girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place.
About the Chicago Sky:
The Chicago Sky, one of six independently owned WNBA teams, will enter its seventh season as a member of the WNBA's Eastern Conference. The Sky play May through September at Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois. For information on 2012 ticket packages, call 866.SKY.WNBA or visit www.chicagosky.net .
