What do an art contest, animals, and long-time Girl Scout volunteer Sandy Brue have in common? They all were honored and celebrated at a special event recently held at the home of Lisa and Bill Barkett.

Previously known as "Puente de Oro," the Promise Circle is the major giving level for our council's annual fund, recognizing individuals who donate $500 within a calendar year. Entrepreneur/artist Sandy Brue was honored at this years' event for her exceptional service and generosity to Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council. Sandy's love of animals and her talent and passion for art inspired the Promise Circle Art Contest and its "Your Favorite Animal" theme.

Thirty-six girls and adults participated in the contest with chalk drawings, salt-dough sculptures, quilts, photography, recycled art, pencil drawings, and paintings representing their favorite animals. All art was displayed at the Promise Circle event and awards were given for the top artists in a variety of categories.

Congratulations to the Promise Circle Art Contest winners:

SHARP and Girl Scouts Team Up to Save Lives

With a grant from SHARP Health Plan, Girl Scouts, San Diego-Imperial Council has placed automatic external defibrillators (AED) at all Girl Scout properties. An AED can save the life of a person in Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA), usually due when an abnormal heart rhythm prevents the heart from pumping blood effectively. Many SCA victims have no history of heart disease or symptoms. SCA can strike anyone at any time.

The most critical step in saving the life of someone experiencing sudden cardiac arrest is delivering defibrillation, an electrical shock to the heart. By providing immediate CPR and defibrillation within three minutes, survival rates jump by almost 70%.

While Girl Scout staff members have been trained in the use of AEDs additional classes will be scheduled for volunteers, anyone can deploy the device. As the name implies, they are fully automatic and use voice and written commands to instruct the user with step-by-step direction. Please take note of the AED locations:

By implementing an AED program, our Council is providing an additional layer of protection for members, staff, volunteers, and others who visit our properties. We are grateful to SHARP Health Plan for their generous support and partnership. For more information, contact Annual Giving Associate Lynn Mariano at (619) 610-0705 or lmariano@girlscoutssdi.org.