St. Isaac Jogues’ seventh-grade Girl Scout Troop 1440 has poured months of meetings, creativity and planning into an event scheduled for only two hours. Yet, every girl in the troop will tell you it was more than worth it.

On Saturday, April 21, guests at the “Fashion BEE” — “Bridget, Emily and Everyone with Leukemia” — have an opportunity to donate a toy that will go directly into the hands of a child who has braved a cancer treatment or has waited at the hospital for an appointment, all the while looking forward to that small prize.

Also, over lunch, attendees get a peek at spring and summer fashions, featuring soon-to-be-famous models from Girl Scout troops and fashions from local retailers.
Inspired by SIJ student Bridget O’Reilly and former Oak Brook resident Emily Daniels, both diagnosed with cancer and currently undergoing treatment, the girls of Troop 1440 wanted to do something to help.

Their goal was to contribute to the hospitals where Bridget and Emily are being treated. However, because Girl Scouts of the USA prohibits fundraising for other organizations, the girls and their leaders had to be creative.

Instead, the troop is collecting toys for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital of Memphis, where Emily has relocated for treatment, and Children’s Memorial in Chicago, where Bridget is receiving treatment, and will “Pack the Bus” with toys to deliver to both Chicago and Memphis.

Money generated from ticket sales and custom-designed T-shirt sales will cover the event and trip expenses.

Every girl served on three different committees, each meeting every other week, and reported to the 28 member troop at monthly meetings. Committees included Centerpieces, Door prizes, Narration, T-shirts, Publicity, Reservations and more. The girls learned how to brainstorm, listen to ideas, make a decision and move on.

“We don’t have a problem with input,” said leader Jamie Maloney.

Initial plans evolved quickly into a larger event.

“It started out as an idea about just our troop,” Katelyn McMahon said.

The project blossomed into a larger one involving all of the school’s Girl Scouts. The mothers of Troop 1440 will help the day of the event. The 50 models were chosen from a hat for the show from each troop. The girls from Troop 1440 will be busy narrating the show, setting up, selling T-shirts, serving lunch and helping with door prizes and crafts. The event is truly a team effort.

“Every Girl Scout in St. Isaac’s is a part of it. Everyone who comes to the show can say they’ve helped,” said Jordan Maloney.

Leaders Jamie Maloney, Michelle Vranicar and Kathy Klein had help from other moms, among them Mary Shutak, who worked on getting the word out; Maureen Grace, who helped facilitate donations from Club Libby Lu of Oakbrook Center; and Jean Antoniou, who recruited vendors and worked with models.

What have the girls learned from this experience?

“They’ve learned hard work makes ideas reality,” said Maloney.

Grace noted, “It takes a lot of time. It takes a lot of responsibility.”

What did the girls like best about the process?

“We get to organize and put everything together,” J. C. Craig said.

Carlee Schwartz said, “The decorations, because we get to design the whole stage and table centerpieces.”

After this project, there is no telling what Troop 1440 could accomplish next. As Daniel Burnham said almost a hundred years ago: “Make no little plans; they have no magic to stir men’s blood... Make big plans; aim high in hope and work…”

Although they may not know who Burnham was, Girl Scout troop 1440 has made big plans and is aiming high.

Ideas and items for Hometown Hinsdale can be sent to Michelle Geoga at MGeoga@gmail.com.