Girl Scouts of Western New York is proud to announce Ava Fox as a 2025 Gold Award Girl Scout.

Project: Hometown Heroes Memorial

When I was brainstorming what to do for my Gold Award, I got the idea of creating a memorial for two people who have done so much for me, my family, the community and this country. Fran and Yono Bordonaro were an old married couple, who had lived in The Cloisters for as long as I knew them. Fran served the community through making others laugh and her kindness to all. Yono served the country in the U. S. Army under General Patton during WWII, and his community, always helping out others. They were like grandparents to me. They sat behind us in church, went to my birthday parties, and rode on Veteran floats in local parades. When Fran and Yono passed away a few years ago, the community suffered a major loss. I wanted their spirits to live on so I built this project in memory of them. First, I installed a telescoping flagpole, and around it I planted Yono’s favorite flowers. Then, I built and stained a bench, and bought a large cushion and pillows to make it comforting and different from others. I also put in large stone pavers underneath the bench to enhance the quality of the memorial. The final component of the memorial was the kindness box that I designed, built, and painted, in which you take and leave a kind note. People who attended the unveiling ceremony were excited to have a memorial to honor veterans and the Bordonaros. Many people have come up to me, thanking me for the work I have done in the community. Through the memorial, I hope to honor their lives by spreading love and kindness, and supporting veterans just as they would have.

About the Girl Scout Gold Award

The Gold Award project is the culmination of all the work a girl puts into “going for the Gold.” A Girl Scout’s project should be something that a girl can be passionate about—in thought, deed, and action that encompasses organizational, leadership, and networking skills. The project should also fulfill a need within a girl’s community (whether local or global) and create change that has the potential to be on-going or sustainable. Approximately 80 hours of community service are involved in the project. Completion of the Gold Award also qualifies the Girl Scout for special scholarship opportunities and she can enlist in the military at a higher starting pay grade. The Girl Scout Gold Award, the most prestigious award in the world for girls, acknowledges the power behind each recipient’s dedication to not only empowering and bettering herself, but also to making the world a better place for others. These young women are courageous leaders and visionary change makers. The Gold Award requires a Girl Scout to identify an issue and investigate it to understand what can be done to address the problem. The girl then forms a team to act as a support system, including a project advisor close to the issue who is not a troop leader or family member, while she leads the project. The Girl Scout creates a plan to ensure they know what steps they must tackle while working on the project. The Girl Scout submits a proposal for her project to her local Girl Scout council. After acceptance, the girl begins to work through the steps of their plan utilizing the assistance of her support team where necessary. Lastly, the project is used to educate and inspire others about the cause they are addressing. For more information on the Gold Award,  click here.