Madilyn Tomaso knows first hand the impact reading can have on the lives of children. As an avid reader, the 17-year-old wants all children in her community to develop that same love of reading, and through earning her Girl Scout Gold Award, she has started to help them do just that.

Tomaso, who recently was presented the Gold Award, which is the highest achievement in Girl Scouting, chose literacy as her Gold Award project. Open only to girls in high school, this “take action” project challenges girls to change the world through a seven-step process: Identify an issue; investigate thoroughly; get help and build your team; create a plan; present your plan and gather feedback; take action; and educate and inspire.

Tomaso started by organizing a club at Fairhope High School called the Teen Literacy Council, which worked with a local elementary school, the Boys and Girls Club, and the public library to promote literacy. They also have plans to send books to Korea and Africa.

Because of her dedication and persistence, the Teen Literacy Council continues to be a thriving student organization at Fairhope High School and has been contacted by schools in other communities to work with their students.

“Writing the initial proposal, the length of time and impact needed, and the ability to convey my ideas to the Girl Scout Gold Award Committee were the hardest parts of the project,” Tomaso says. “But when another school contacted me about the Teen Literacy Council asking for help and in turn we were able to donate books to their Head Start program, it made it all special and worthwhile.”

Madilyn Tomaso is now a part of an elite group of women who have also earned their Girl Scout Gold Award. Since 1916, the best and brightest Girl Scouts have undertaken projects that improve their communities and the world. The Gold Award has inspired girls to find the greatness inside themselves and share their ideas and passions with their communities.

“To earn her Girl Scout Gold Award, Madilyn used leadership skills learned from a lifetime of Girl Scouting,” says Jeannie Napper, program manager for Girl Scouts of Southern Alabama. “By creating and completing this project, she exemplifies what a young of woman of courage, confidence and character can do.”

Tomaso hopes her community will benefit by the literacy project and that it will inspire better communication and relationships between organizations and create leadership positions for the future.