Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc. (GSRI) and Rhode Island General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo kicked off the 2013 Girl Scout Cookie Sale this week by making the connection between building strong financial literacy skills and selling Thin Mints, Caramel deLites, Peanut Butter Patties, and Mango Cremes – a new flavor.

The $760 million Girl Scout Cookie Sale provides girls – from kindergarteners to high school seniors – the opportunity to build their business savvy and hone their financial literacy skills. The sale is the country’s largest and longest-running girl-led business in the country, with girls selling more than 200 million boxes a year.  More than $3 million is raised through cookie sales in Rhode Island and southeastern Massachusetts.

“When a Girl Scout sells cookies, she’s doing more than just handing you a box,” GSRI CEO Jean McGrane said.  “Selling cookies teaches girls goal setting, decision making, money management, people skills and business ethics – aspects essential to leadership, to success, and to life.”

“Since coming into office, finding innovative ways to help Rhode Islanders better manage their finances has been a top priority for me,” says Raimondo, a former Brownie. “It is an honor to serve as this year’s Honorary Cookie Chair and I look forward to encouraging the girls as they work toward their goals.”

The Girl Scout Cookie Sale runs locally through March 27. Cookies are $4 per box. To find out more, visit www.gsri.org.

About the Girl Scout Cookie Sale
For nearly 100 years, selling Girl Scout Cookies has helped girls have fun, develop valuable life skills, and make their communities a better place. Girl Scout Cookies have become an icon of American culture.

About Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc.
Girl Scouts is the world’s preeminent girl leadership organization where, in an accepting and nurturing environment, girls build character and skills for success in the real world. Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., in partnership with 2,800 adult volunteers, serves 9,400 girls from Rhode Island, Pawcatuck, CT, and these communities in MA: Bellingham, Blackstone, Attleboro, Fall River, North Attleboro, Plainville, Somerset, Swansea, Westport, Wrentham, Millville, Rehoboth and Seekonk, MA. For more information about Girl Scouts of Rhode Island, Inc., please visit www.gsri.org.

About Empower RI
Empower RI is an initiative of the Office of General Treasurer Gina M. Raimondo designed to highlight the importance of understanding how to make your money work through personal financial empowerment. To learn more visit www.treasury.ri.gov and click on Empower RI.