Kimberly Rosell receives Gold Award, Girl Scouting’s highest achievement, for public-police empathy project
On Saturday March 9th, 2019, at the Poughkeepsie Grand Hotel, Kimberly Rosell from Pelham Girl Scout Troop #1662 was awarded the Girl Scout Gold Award. The ceremony held by the Girl Scouts Heart of the Hudson staff and board members recognized 85 girl scouts from Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Sullivan, Ulster, and Westchester counties. Kimberly Rosell received her Gold Award from Pelham leader ToniLynn Cattalonotto, for her project titled “Empathy Towards All.”
Her project mission aimed to strengthen bonds of empathy between all community members and police officers through organizing a Community Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser and Neighborhood Safety Workshop. With Coach Finegan’s help, her Lower Hudson Volleyball Association coaches Sloane Whitney and Beth Pirrone and Liz Milan she organized a Volleyball Tournament Fundraiser that included 9 different teams from Pelham and surrounding towns.
At the Neighborhood Safety Workshop Kimberly gave out patches she designed with the assistance of her leaders Ms. Jessica Hynes, Ms. Martha Hood and project adviser Detective Hynes and with Village of Pelham police officers and Ms Kathy Ellis, Leader of the Pelham Girl Scouts and her daughters gave a presentation on Neighborhood Safety, followed by a presentation on Cyber Safety. Fellow Girl Scout Alyssa-Lynn Catalanotto sang her original song “I Matter,” and Master Dennis Campo and his son from Wisdom Way Martial Arts gave a self-defense demonstration where young girl scouts participated. The Workshop concluded with a video presentation of an anti-bullying video created by Kimberly and her fellow troop members, Lily Burns, Gabby Hood, Catherine Hynes, Erin Knapp and Hailey Nelson from Troop #1662. With help from Mr. Todd Zuzulo from T & L Trophies in Pelham, she also designed tshirts to sell in order to help spread her project mission. Mr. Zuzulo also helped her with trophies for the volleyball tournament.
Through these events and tshirt and patch sales, plus generous community member donations she was able to purchase a license plate reader for the Village of Pelham Police Department. Lastly, to further spread her project mission about bringing together community and police relations, she developed a documentary that features interviews from local community members and police officers on how to better relations nationwide. Her project lasted over 2 years and includes over 300 hours of work. Kimberly would like to thank her leaders, troop members, her adviser, mentors, her volleyball coaches, community leaders (Mayor Volpe, Deputy Mayor Kagan and Village Trustees), Village of Pelham Police officers and business owners for their support and assistance during this project. With their support, this project became possible. Thank you for everything!
Coming up: On Saturday March 30, 2019 from 10am to 2pm at the Pelham Middle School gym, the 2nd Annual Community Volleyball Tournament will take place. Join us, join a team, come as a spectator and support all the teams! $5.00 entrance fee. Email empathytowardsall@gmail.
Editor’s Note: This press release was provided by Kimberly Rosell.
