AHG Offers Significant Opportunities for Spiritual Growth and Leadership Ability
September 7, 2021
CINCINNATI, Ohio — Thousands of parents already know that American Heritage Girls (AHG, www.americanheritagegirls.org) is the premier faith-based, scout-type leadership development program for girls ages five to 18, offering hands-on badge programs, service projects, leadership opportunities, and more. One such leadership opportunity is the Stars & Stripes Award, the highest recognition available to an American Heritage Girl. Those who earn this award put months of work into a leadership-building service project, which they plan, direct, and implement. Candidates gain a key understanding of the servant’s heart required to lead others with wisdom and humility—preparing them well for the responsibilities of adulthood.
Says AHG’s Founder and Executive Director Patti Garibay, “Our goal is to equip young women with the tools they need to grow from godly girls to women of integrity—and the Stars & Stripes Award is a prime example of that goal. It teaches girls perseverance, self-respect, and a strong sense of satisfaction.”
Garibay shares the story of one accomplished Stars & Stripe honoree: “Sadie went from a girl in fifth grade hoping to earn a few badges to a strong, confident AHG member who has experienced spiritual growth, as well as developed leadership abilities that will serve her beautifully in the years ahead. Sadie grew closer to God during this process,” adds Garibay. “She told us, ‘My involvement in this project gave a snapshot glance at God’s faithfulness in my life, and God’s faithfulness, period. Even before I started thinking about my project, God was there, steady and sure, and had His plans all laid out for me. Then I came along and hopped into the story, finding my project idea and developing it into a substantial plan.’”
AHG’s Stars & Stripes Award allows young women the opportunity to: identify a need in their community and create a plan to achieve it; lean into God through prayer, seeking Him for strength, insight, and passion; show what it means to create a worthy experience for their peers; and put their time, hard work, organizational skills, and determined commitment to use for an outcome for which they and their families can be proud of for many years to come. Achieving this Award consists of earning a minimum of 16 badges, holding a Girl Leadership Position, earning a Faith Award, and completing a life ambition essay and resume, all in addition to the major service project.
AHG’s mission is to build women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. Itis dedicated to providing authentic, positive, and values-driven character and leadership development opportunities and outdoor adventure for girls across the nation.
American Heritage Girls was founded in 1995 by a group of parents who wanted a faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters. At AHG, girls ages five to 18 meet together as a single Troop at the same time and then break out into Units by Levels. This gives AHG girls the important social experience of interacting with friends and godly mentors of various ages; members also learn leadership skills within a group setting. AHG Troops are located in local communities across the nation. If none exists in a given area, families can bring the AHG Program to their own area. An American Heritage Girls Troop Development Coach is available to provide resources to potential Charter Organizations and other families to form a new Troop.
Today, there are Troops in all 50 states and girls being served in 15 countries around the globe. Girls can join a Troop at any time; if a Troop is not available nearby, they can become a Trailblazer and enjoy the AHG program alongside their parent. A variety of Christian denominations are also represented as Charter Organizations for Troops. Thousands of volunteer members across the country are helping girls grow in their faith, cultivate a heart for service, enjoy the great outdoors, and have more fun than they can imagine.
The “Raising Godly Girls” radio feature and Raising Godly Girls blog shares guidance and biblically based advice on many key topics affecting girls today. It gives parents, educators, and faith community leaders a set of tools, resources, and Scripture-based advice to assist in raising girls after God’s own heart. The “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay airs on 900+ Christian radio stations across America.
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To schedule interviews with Patti Garibay, founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls, contactMedia@HamiltonStrategies.com, Beth Harrison, 610.584.1096 ext. 105, or Deborah Hamilton, ext. 102.
To inquire about airing the “Raising Godly Girls Minute” with Patti Garibay, contact Michael Hamilton, 610.584.1096, ext. 101.
