Morgan Coffey Honored as One of Ten National Girl Scouts' Young Women of Distinction

2/3/10 Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta is proud to announce Atlanta area Girl Scout Morgan Coffey, 18, has been named as one of Girl Scouts of the USA's 2009 National Young Women of Distinction. Morgan is one of ten young women selected as a National Young Woman of Distinction, demonstrating extraordinary leadership in the completion of her community action project. To be considered for this honor, the Girl Scouts had to have earned Girl Scouts' highest award, the Girl Scout Gold Award. The Girl Scout Gold Award is earned by fewer than six percent of all Girl Scouts.

Morgan and each honoree spent one to two years on a community action project that has had far-reaching effects in her community and beyond. Among the honorees this year are authors, advocates, and environmentalists with projects based in a wide range of locations—from India, Africa, and China to neighborhoods in Louisiana and California.

Morgan wanted to help victims of abuse so she created both the Victim Support Initiative, which provides 500 brochures filled with helpful information for victims of abuse, and are distributed by the DeKalb Police Department's Special Victims Unit, and Change in a Bag, which provides abuse victims a fresh change of clothing. Morgan also founded the non-profit, Stronghold Atlanta, to help women and children who are victims of domestic violence. When people enter a hospital or shelter after reporting abuse, their clothing is taken for evidence and they are given a hospital gown to wear or offered clothing from a rummage closet. Stronghold Atlanta provides new or gently used outfits for use by the victims.

At a special awards ceremony on February 27, Morgan will be one of ten National Young Women of Distinction honored during the Girl Scout National Corporate Leadership Meeting in St. Louis.

"Earning the Young Women of Distinction designation is truly a remarkable achievement, and these young women exemplify leadership in all its forms," said Kathy Cloninger, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of the USA. "They saw a need in their communities and around the world and took action. Their extraordinary dedication, perseverance, and leadership, is making the world a better place."

“Morgan Coffey symbolizes the result of our new Girl Scout Leadership Experience as well as the fulfillment of our mission to build girls of courage, confidence and character. Her Girl Scout Gold Award community project has been her passion and is a foundation for her work in the future. She is currently leading a successful troop of 8th grade girls, carrying a full load at Oglethorpe University and planning a fund raiser for her non-profit called Strong Hold.  We are proud to have Morgan representing Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta as a National Young Woman of Distinction,” said Marilyn Midyette, Chief Executive Officer of Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.

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