Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council Awarded $250,000 Grant from NBA Foundation to Advance Workforce Readiness Programming for Teen Girls
(PHOENIX – Feb. 16, 2026) – Girl Scouts–Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC) has been awarded a $250,000 grant from the NBA Foundation to support workforce development programming for girls ages 14–18 across Central and Northern Arizona. The investment will expand access to career exploration, leadership development and hands-on skill building through the modernized Girl Scout Leadership Experience (GSLE).
Support from the NBA Foundation will allow GSACPC to implement an updated, career-aligned curriculum at scale, strengthening workforce-focused programming, providing digital tools and expanding career-aligned experiences for teen girls across the Council’s service area, alongside enhancements to GSACPC signature career-focused programs.
These include the Girl Scout High Awards, which empower girls to lead community-based Take Action projects that create sustainable change; the Media Ambassadors program, which provides hands-on experience and exposure to careers in media and marketing; and GSACPC’s innovative Mobile Building Space, which introduces girls to construction trades through engineering, building and design-focused programming.
“Teen girls are often told to ‘plan for the future’ without being shown what that actually looks like,” said Mary Mitchell, co-CEO of GSACPC. “With this investment from the NBA Foundation, girls will explore real career pathways and understand how their skills translate to the workforce, so they can imagine a future they can confidently step into.”
The programming also supports preparation for postsecondary education, internships, early career opportunities and lifelong economic empowerment.
“Exposure to a range of careers and mentors during these pivotal years is particularly important for girls who may not have access to those networks elsewhere,” said Christina Spicer, co-CEO of GSACPC. “This programming is rooted in real experiences that encourage girls to ask thoughtful questions, take ownership of their choices, and think more intentionally about what comes next.”
The grant supports GSACPC’s broader mission and aligns with the NBA Foundation’s efforts to drive economic opportunity for under-resourced youth, ages 14-24, by funding programs that generate successful transitions from school to meaningful employment
For more than 85 years, GSACPC has delivered the GSLE to girls across Central and Northern Arizona. Programming supported by the grant will be delivered through existing GSACPC infrastructure, including council-led programs and volunteer-supported initiatives serving girls across urban, rural and tribal communities in Central and Northern Arizona.
The grant builds on a long-standing relationship between GSACPC and the NBA Foundation, which previously awarded the council a $250,000 grant in 2022 to support general operations. GSACPC also maintains deep partnerships with the Phoenix Suns and Phoenix Mercury, creating ongoing opportunities for girls to engage with professional athletes, industry leaders and mentors through council programs and community events.
For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org.
About Girl Scouts—Arizona Cactus-Pine Council (GSACPC)
In partnership with 6,500 adult volunteers, GSACPC serves over 12,000 girls grades K-12 in more than 90 communities across central and northern Arizona. Since 1936, GSACPC has helped girls develop leadership skills and tools for success in a rapidly changing environment. We know that given the opportunity, every girl can become a leader, act confidently on her values, and connect with her community. For more information, visit www.girlscoutsaz.org.
