Girl Scouts Appoints Emerald Circle Co-chairs for 2015
July 29, 2015
AIKEN, SC – Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands has appointed Liz Stewart and Mary Driscoll as 2015 Emerald Circle Co-chairs for Aiken and Edgefield counties. The Emerald Circle in this area is a new women’s philanthropic group which annually supports the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and is united with Circles in other counties through a common ideal: helping girls become leaders in their families, schools, churches and communities.
Dr. Liz Stewart founded Stewart and Associates, Inc. in 1984 to provide consulting services for the private and public sectors to help organizations function more effectively. Liz holds undergraduate degrees in French, Spanish and Education; a Master’s degree in Psychology; a Ph.D. in Economics; and a law degree. She previously held positions with XEROX Corporation, including Regional Vice President of Organizational Development and Strategic Planning Services. Liz is the author of Back to the Basics© in Strategic Planning andLeading the Disciplined Organization. As an active community member, Liz is the current Chair of the City of Aiken Planning Commission; Chair of the United Way of Aiken County board; Chair for the Public Education Partners (PEP) board; Chair for the Savannah River Cancer Foundation; and Chair-elect of the Savannah River Site Heritage Foundation board. She serves on the SCANA Advisory Board and is a member of the American Association of University Women. An avid Rotarian, Liz is a Past President of the Aiken Rotary Club; a multiple Paul Harris Fellow; and current Assistant Governor for Rotary. Her previous service includes past Chair for the Board of Directors of the Aiken Chamber of Commerce; past Chair of the Board of Directors of Hitchcock Health Care; past Chair of the Board of Directors for SafeHomes of Augusta; and member of the Board of Directors of the United Way of the CSRA. Liz was the Vice Chair of Celebrate Aiken, a committee to support a year-long celebration of Aiken’s 175th birthday. She was awarded the distinction of being the 2007 Chamber of Commerce Woman of the Year.
Mary Driscoll, left, is the University of South Carolina Aiken’s new Vice Chancellor for Advancement and External Affairs. She comes to Aiken from her position as Vice President of University Advancement at St. Bonaventure University in New York. Mary previously served St. Bonaventure as the Southeast Director of Development; Director of the Annual Fund; Director of Prospect Management; and Alumni Coordinator. She was the Director of Development for the College of Education at the University of Florida Foundation in Gainesville; and Director of Advancement and Communications for The Rehabilitation Center in Olean, NY. Mary holds a BA in Psychology from St. Bonaventure University as well as certifications in leadership from Bennington College and graduate leadership in public relations from Canisius College. Mary’s professional affiliations include the Council for Advancement and Support of Education; Association of Fundraising Professionals; Public Relations Society of America; and the American Prospect Research Association, where she served as the Western NY Publicity Director and co-author of “The Field Screening Program and Its Evolution.” Active in her former communities, Mary has served on the Olean YMCA board; Home Care and Hospice board; Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts planning committee; St. Bonaventure strategic planning committee; and as a Rotary International member and volunteer for the Archbishop Walsh High School Foundation.
As the founding co-chairs for the new Aiken/Edgefield Emerald Circle, Liz and Mary are enthusiastically sharing the mission and message with other visionary women. “Girls need the opportunities that Girl Scouting offers them,” Liz explains. “Girls learn not only about their own communities but the state, nation and world as well. They participate in everything from the arts and technology to the outdoors and business entrepreneurship. Girls develop the skills they need to improve the lives of others and become successful, productive citizens. It is so exciting to help make Girl Scouting accessible and relevant for today’s girls!”
Mary explains, “The Emerald Circle has been helping girls become the best they can be in many of our 22 counties in the Mountains to Midlands council. Liz and I are so happy to launch the Circle in our area because your gifts will help girls in Aiken and Edgefield counties. Through our combined annual giving power, women can help girls grow and build lifelong leadership skills. When your invitation arrives in your mailbox, I urge you to join our Emerald Circle of women investing in girl leadership.”
For more information on how to support girl leadership development through Emerald Circle, please contact Lee Ann Maley at Girl Scouts of South Carolina – Mountains to Midlands at 800.849.4475 x2709.
About Girl Scouts of South Carolina
For more than 103 years, Girl Scouting has helped girls develop positive values and become active, responsible leaders in their communities. With emphasis on personal growth and leadership development through service to others, Girl Scouting builds girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place. Girl Scouts of South Carolina-Mountains to Midlands serves more than 11,500 girls, grades K5-12, and 4,700 adults in 22 counties of central and western South Carolina, including Abbeville, Aiken, Anderson, Cherokee, Chester, Edgefield, Fairfield, Greenville, Greenwood, Kershaw, Lancaster, Laurens, Lexington, McCormick, Newberry, Oconee, Pickens, Richland, Saluda, Spartanburg, Sumter, and Union.
