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Community Corner

Girl Scouts Recognizes 21st Woman of Merit

Girl Scouts of Connecticut will host the 2014 Woman of Merit dinner on Thursday, June 19, from 5:30 – 9:00 p.m. at the Stamford Hilton in Stamford. The Woman of Merit award recognizes leaders who demonstrate the Girl Scout values of leadership, personal achievement, and service to the community.

It is given in honor of Alice Pattison Merritt, an extraordinary public leader who became the first woman elected to the Connecticut Senate and who was instrumental in bringing Girl Scouting to girls in Connecticut. Friends, community partners, and supporters are invited to the Woman of Merit dinner for an evening of fun while supporting Girl Scouting’s leadership development programs for young women.

This year’s honoree is Linda Houston, Managing Director, New England Market Executive for Merrill Lynch Wealth Management, part of Bank of America. Houston began her career at Merrill Lynch 30 years ago as a Client Associate in the Rockefeller Center office in New York. She became a Financial Advisor in 1986 and worked with clients in New York City and Stamford, CT, becoming a member of the Circle of Excellence in 1997 and 1998. She then moved into management, ultimately leading sales teams in Westchester, Connecticut, and Manhattan. For seven years she was named one of the Top Directors/Managing Directors of the firm. In 2009, she became Managing Director of the 5th Avenue office, and in 2010 she was named the Regional Managing Director for the New Jersey Region.

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Most recently, Houston led a financial empowerment workshop with colleagues at Merrill Lynch Wealth Management and Girl Scouts of Connecticut, to mentor a group of Girl Scouts from Southern Connecticut and Scarsdale, N.Y.  Merrill Lynch advisors and managers volunteered their time to help the 18 participating Girl Scouts receive the new Merrill Lynch-branded “Money Matter$” patch. The new workshop and patch were the result of both organizations’ commitment to helping individuals build better money habits early for future success. 

“The 2014 Woman of Merit dinner connects us with our supporters, friends, and local community for a fun, enlightening evening about the ways Girl Scouting changes a girl’s life,” said Mary Barneby, CEO, Girl Scouts of Connecticut.  “We are proud to have been able to partner with Linda for an outstanding program that will ensure our girls are prepared for their financial future. She is an inspiring woman of accomplishment in the financial services sector and an exceptional role model for our girls. We look forward to celebrating her accomplishments and our partnership on June 19.”

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This year’s Woman of Merit is generously supported by presenting sponsor Merrill Lynch/the Bank of America Charitable Foundation. Tickets are $200 with a special membership price of $150. Net proceeds from the dinner will support programming that help girls in grades K - 12 bring out the best in themselves and their communities. The Girl Scout Leadership Experience offers girls the lifetime skills they need to discover who they are and what they stand for; connect with others to build healthy relationships; and take action to make the world a better place.

For more information about the event or to purchase tickets, please visit www.gsofct.org or call 860-522-0163 ext. 3243.


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