The Girl Scouts of Greater New York (GSGNY) today announced the five leaders they will honor as this year’s Women of Distinction.
The leaders serve as role models for girls and young women and they advance GSGNY’s mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character. The GSGNY recognizes Women of Distinction (WOD) each fall, coinciding with Girl Scout founder Juliette Gordon Low’s birthday.
The honorees include: Felita Harris of Donna Karan International; Samantha Kappagoda of Risk Economics, Inc.; Nicola Palmer of Verizon Wireless; Laurel Rossi of Havas Worldwide Strat Farm; and Cheryl L. Swiatkowski of Jones Lang LaSalle.
“We are proud to honor these extraordinary women, who in such exemplary fashion embody the values we strive to instill in our girls,” said Barbara Murphy-Warrington, CEO of GSGNY.
“Our Girl Scouts need only look to these accomplished women to understand that above all, it is dedication, talent, spirit, and vision that open doors and create leaders.”
Cheryl L. Swiatkowski, vice president of Jones Lang LaSalle’s Corporate Solutions Group, has been an active member of the GSGNY since 1980. She is a charter member of the Juliette Low Society and a founding member of the National Juliette Low Birthplace Circle of Friends. Swiatkowski serves as secretary of the GSGNY Board of Directors. She has held many other volunteer positions with the GSGNY, including troop leader, council trainer, camp site director, council delegate and national delegate.
Swiatkowski has also served as chair of the Volunteer Recognition Committee and the Queens Association.
This year’s honorees will be recognized at a breakfast, The Next Century: Today’s Girls, Tomorrow’s Leaders, chaired by GSGNY board member Barbara J. Cooperman, to be held on October 29, 2013 at Cipriani 42ND Street. Tickets for the event are available on GSGNY’s website.
