Emily's Gold Award Project

My name is Matanah and I have been working with an awesome young lady who is a Girl Scout Gold Award candidate. A Gold Award is synonomous wtih the Eagle Scout Award.  This young lady took on a massive project at her high school. She heard about the passing of their Vice Principal to a debilitating disease called ALS. Dr. Hasan was an advocate for youth and steered many from  crooked paths to a college education. He and his close friend, Mike Jones even started a non-profit organization to help foster youth transition from the foster care system after high school into a life of their own. Dr. Hasan felt there should be a place at the school for students to share their legacy at Laguna Creek High School. This garden was to acknowledge all who helped make Laguna great. It is a huge piece of land, 120 feet by 50 feet. Unfortunately, Dr. Hasan succumbed before his dream was realized. That's where Emily came in. Many people said they would donate to cause the needed funds to complete the garden, but that never happened. She was notified yesterday that if the project isn't complete by March 20th, she will not get the Gold Award. $3500.00,  would complete the project. I was a girl scout for 25 years and now serve as a girl scout volunteer. I know the value of this award and there is no one more deserving. The funds will be used to put in the drip system for drought resistant plants,purchase the plants,  purchase decomposed granite for the walkways, purchase solar lighting on the walkways, and make the memorial sign. If Emily has these funds by March 11th. All of this work can be done in one week. Over the past month she has had up to 21 volunteers working every weekend, even in the sloshing mud with borrowed equipment. She has never given up hope that she would find the funds. She is a true Girl Scout. It would mean so much to her parents and me,  who have watched her exhibit the perseverance that scouting teaches, stand on that podium and dedicate this garden on the 20th of March. I have faith and am confident that there are people out there who understand my plight. With  your help, not only will we see that Emily receives her Gold Award, but we create a lasting memory at Laguna Creek High School in Elk Grove, California.