Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach Girl Scouts Earn Gold Award for Community Impact
Three Girl Scouts from Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach have been awarded the Gold Award for their innovative projects addressing life skills, Alzheimer's education, and mental health, showcasing their leadership and commitment to community improvement.
Isabella Avallone, Marina DiMarzio, and Mailee Minitello, residents of Palm Beach Gardens and Royal Palm Beach, have each received the Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest honor achievable by Girl Scout seniors and ambassadors. Their projects, focused on empowering teen girls with home repair skills, educating children about Alzheimer's disease, and addressing youth mental health, demonstrate the significant impact young leaders can have on their communities.
Isabella Avallone's project, "Fix Her", addresses the gender gap in the construction industry and the lack of basic home repair skills among teen girls. Through instructional videos and an Instagram account, Avallone has created a platform for girls to learn essential skills and explore careers in construction, culminating in the donation of benches built by participants to a local high school's special needs department.
Marina DiMarzio drew from her personal experiences to write "What Happened to Grandma?", a book designed to help children understand Alzheimer's disease and dementia. Distributed to libraries, schools, and memory care facilities, the book has significantly increased understanding among its young readers, fostering compassion and awareness about the disease.
Mailee Minitello launched "Mind Your Faith: Creating the Bridge from Struggle to Success", a podcast and YouTube series offering faith-based support for youth facing mental health challenges. Her project provides a valuable resource for young people seeking hope and tools for healing in the face of anxiety, depression, and eating disorders.
Lisa Johnson, CEO of Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida, praised the Gold Award recipients for their innovative and compassionate approaches to tackling pressing community challenges. These young women are among 27 in the region to receive the Gold Award in 2025, supported by sponsors including Amazon, Fiserv, and Publix Super Market Charities.