American Heritage Girls was founded by a group of parents wanting a faith-based, scout-type character development program for their daughters in 1995. The AHG Program is dedicated to the mission of building women of integrity through service to God, family, community, and country. American Heritage Girls across the nation and the globe participate in badge programs, service projects, leadership opportunities, and outdoor experiences, all with an emphasis on Christian values and family involvement.
Today there are Troops in every state and in 15 countries around the world through the Trailblazer Program. A variety of Christian denominations are also represented as Charter Organizations for Troops. There are thousands of volunteer members across the country helping girls to grow in their faith, cultivate a heart for service, enjoy the great outdoors, and have more fun than they can imagine.
AHG Spokesperson
Patti Garibay
For more than two decades, Patti Garibay has been at the forefront of countering the culture by leading girls and women to creating lives of integrity. She is the founder and executive director of American Heritage Girls (AHG), a national Christ-centered leadership and character development program. She helps thousands of girls discover their true identity and purpose in Christ through AHG’s transformative programming.
Prior to creating AHG, Patti served for 12 years as an active leader and volunteer in Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA). She was highly influential in sharing the gospel with her troop in West Chester, Ohio. In response to significant changes in the direction of GSUSA in 1993, the course of Patti’s life changed. She heard the voice of God call her to start something new. Patti drew strength from her wealth of leadership opportunities, her love for her country, and her passion for youth development to take a leap of faith in starting AHG in 1995. Today AHG stands strong with over 52,000 members globally. There are AHG Troops in all 50 states and 15 countries through the Trailblazer Program.
With fearlessness and authenticity, Patti inspires and motivates audiences with her wisdom and experience with raising Godly girls, following God’s calling, and teaching youth to serve. She is the host of the Raising Godly Girls daily one-minute radio feature found on thousands of radio stations across the nation. Through her work with AHG, Patti continues to create innovative ways to break barriers in reaching girls for Christ amid today’s culture.
Patti is the author of Why Curse the Darkness When You Can Light A Candle?, whichis a story of trust and obedience to inspire those who desire to make Kingdom impact yet struggle with the fear of inadequacy.
Garibay has been featured in hundreds of media outlets including, Fox News Radio with Todd Starnes, Baptist Press, The Christian Post, Axis’ Parenting Teen Summit, Axis’ Online Homeschool Convention, FamilyLife Radio, TIME Magazine, The New York Times, In the Market with Janet Parshall, Up for Debate with Julie Roys, and more. She was one of the first guests featured on James Dobson’s Family Talk. Garibay was named a woman of excellence by the West Chester – Liberty Chamber Alliance in 2004, was named a member of the American Family Association’s ‘40 Faithful’ in 2017 and was nominated and selected as a Woman of Influence through LEAD Magazine in 2017.
Patti and her husband, Pat, are blessed with four grown children, three girls and a boy, six grandsons, and three granddaughters. Patti and her four siblings were raised by a disabled father who lived with MS for forty years before his death in 2004. His encouraging attitude of “why curse the darkness when you can light a candle” inspired Patti as she founded the faith-based interdenominational alternative to the Girl Scouts in 1995. Patti served American Heritage Girls as its first President and Executive Director. She also served as a volunteer Unit Leader for her AHG Troop for nine years.
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