That’s a lot of Thin Mints!

Kudos to the Girl Scouts of San Gorgonio Council (which covers most of the Inland Empire) for selling a record-breaking 2,085,276 boxes of cookies council-wide!

Whew!

That’s a whopping 332,128 (18.9%) increase over last year’s efforts.

The average number of boxes each girl sold also rose, from 234 last year to 252 this year, the third-highest per-girl average in the nation.

The scouts’ “I CARE” program — in which cookie buyers could gift their purchase to an organization — also raised a record number of donations.

The program benefits military personnel as well as food banks, women’s shelters, Ronald McDonald houses and camps.

Donations to “I CARE” numbered 164,600 boxes — an increase of 34% over last year. Of those, 107,000 went to Operation Gratitude to be shipped to deployed military. It’s the largest single donation from any organization…ever.

GSSGC also offered incentives — including a weekend on Catalina Island, an iPad or “Cookie Dough” that can be applied to
things like going to camp or buying their high school class ring — to help sales.

Obviously, the incentives worked.

The top sellers?

Caitlin Loret of Perris sold a whopping 4,051 boxes, an impressive amount for a troop to sell, let alone a single scout. Caitlin focused her energy on booth sales, a mall kiosk and door-to-door direct sales. She and three members of her family will be traveling to Richmond, Va., to visit ABC Bakers, where the cookies sold by the GSSGC are made. They will tour the facility, have lunch with the General Manager of the facility and discuss strategies for another successful sale.

In addition, she earned multiple incentives, including a Cali Girl Disneyland Experience, a weekend on Catalina Island and an iPad.

Following oh so closely behind is Dakota Gregory of Wildomar, who sold 4,000 boxes. She achieved this by focusing on the “I CARE” program, posting information to her Facebook page and on door flyers.

Jada Jones of Murrieta was no slacker, either, racking up sales of 3,183 boxes.

The three are among the 42 girls who sold over 3,000 boxes.

For each box of cookies sold:

  • 42% provides girl programs, volunteer training, upkeep of camp facilities, special events and more in the Inland Empire
  • 28% goes directly to troop funds
  • 30% pays for product costs

Number of girls at each major incentive level:

  • Cali Girl Disneyland Experience (750+ boxes of cookies): 544 girls
  • Weekend at Catalina Island (1,250+ boxes of cookies): 129 girls
  • Apple iPad (3,000+ boxes of cookies): 42 girls

Number of girls earning Cookie Dough:

  • This year 5,902 girls earned $366,789 in “Cookie Dough” that can be applied to things like going to camp, attending special events and buying their high school class ring.

Congratulations to all the girls of the GSSGC!