The Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council would like to congratulate Brooke Howay, of Great Oak High School, on completing her Gold Award project!

Her project, the Girls 4 Girls (G4G) Clothing Club in Temecula, was founded in September 2012 at start of her junior year at Great Oak High. Her club’s mission was a self-esteem-building experience for girls to help other teenage girls feel beautiful in their own skin in a fulfilling way.

Brooke collected over 1,500 pieces of new or slightly used, donated clothing and accessories from garage sales and retailers. She solicited the volunteer participation of the Paul Mitchell School of Beauty to teach the girls new hairstyles, and a Mary Kay consultant to offer instruction on makeup application.

Brooke staged her first event in August 2013 at her school’s Performing Arts Center, with guest speakers such as a FIDM (Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising) representative, The Girl Guide: Finding Your Place in a Mixed Up World author Christine Fonseca, and Lisa Wehlmann from the Love Is Respect Foundation.

She was astonished when, anticipating 100 girls, over 400 girls attended to embrace their inner beauty. Brooke handed off the responsibilities of G4G President to the VP of her club on graduation day, with a prom event already scheduled for March 2014.

There is talk about expanding the club to the other two high schools in the Temecula Valley District. Brooke still must get her project approved and will receive her Gold Award in February of 2014.