ST. LOUIS, MO. – Cynthia Heath, former board chair for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, was honored at the organization’s annual meeting on Saturday, March 26 for her leadership and dedication to the organization. Serving on the Girl Scout board of directors since 2012, and as board chair since 2016, Heath’s leadership has guided and strengthened Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri through pivotal times, including a global pandemic.
During Heath’s tenure as board chair, Girl Scouts accomplished tremendous milestones including:
Designing, developing, and opening the Berges Family Girl Scout Program Center in Maryland Heights, Missouri, serving as hub for girls to experience innovative programming with expert collaborators
Celebrating the organization’s 100th anniversary with a historic bridging ceremony across the Eads Bridge with Girl Scouts from across eastern Missouri
Construction of a new state-of-the-art lodge, climbing wall and zipline at Camp Fiddlecreek in Labadie, Missouri
Launching the largest comprehensive campaign in the region for girl youth development
In addition to the time and talent Heath invested in Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri, she also has generously supported the organization’s mission financially. In support of the Her Future is Our Future Campaign, Heath has made an endowed gift that will impact girls in eastern Missouri for generations to come. One of the programs made possible through Heath’s generosity will be a camp for girls with autism. In honor of Heath and her great-niece, the camp will be affectionally named Claire Bear Camp. The camping program will be offered for the first time in summer 2023 on Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s camping properties.
“It has been an honor to serve as the board chair for Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri,” said Heath. “Together with the board of directors, staff, volunteers, and community donors, I have had the opportunity to affect change and create innovative programs that will take us long into the future. It was a privilege to lead the organization as they carried out their mission of building girls of courage, confidence and character who will make our world a better place.”
“Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is grateful for Cynthia’s lasting legacy and her support of the Her Future is Our Future Comprehensive Campaign,” said Bonnie Barczykowski, Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri CEO. “Her vision and stewardship have made a difference in the lives of so many girls across our region and we will be forever grateful for her contributions as board chair. She has truly made a brighter future for us all!”
Heath earned her juris doctor from Washington University, followed by a 30-year career at Emerson. She was married to David Heath until his passing in 2006 and has two children, Ashley Heath Dietz and Heather Heath Ryan. Heath is also the proud grandmother of five grandchildren.
About the Her Future is Our Future Campaign
Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri launched the public phase of a $50 million comprehensive campaign on February 24, 2022. This unprecedented investment will ensure that each girl in the eastern Missouri region has an opportunity to be the leader she wants to be, and the one the world needs her to be.
The Her Future is Our Future Campaign, chaired by Jo Ann Taylor Kindle, chairperson of Enterprise Holdings Foundation, has secured more than $45 million to date. The campaign allows the Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri to remain steadfast in its mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, while further developing its innovative programming, improving facilities and infrastructure, and creating a pipeline of future leaders in our community.
About Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Girl Scouts is the largest girl leadership development program in the nation and develops girls to be drivers, designers, and makers of the future. Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri is 104 years old and serves more than 30,000 girls in the city of St. Louis and 28 eastern Missouri counties, making the organization the 6th largest Girl Scout council out of 111 across the United States.
To learn more about the Her Future is Our Future comprehensive campaign, visit supportgirlscoutsem.org.
We’re Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri
Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alums, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join us, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscoutsem.org.