On March 12, the Girl Scouts celebrates its 100 year anniversary, and we honor Juliette “Daisy” Gordon Low, its founder and a true Savvy Auntie.

Juliette Gordon Low, who suffered from partial deafness, was known as a child in Savannah, Georgia as a poet and artist, as well as an animal lover. She was also an athlete; she enjoyed swimming, rowing, canoeing and standing on her head. In fact, the Girl Scouts reports that Juliette "stood on her head every year on her birthday to prove she still could do it, and also celebrated nieces’ and nephews’ birthdays by standing on her head."

At age 26, she married William Mackay Low, but remained childless through their ultimate separation and her husband’s untimely death in 1905. In 1911, focused on her life pursuits, Juliette learned of Sir Robert Baden-Powell, the founder of the Boy Scouts and Girl Guides, and she became quite interested. Legend has it that she was so inspired by Sir Baden-Powell that she called a distant cousin and said: "I've got something for the girls of Savannah, and all of America, and all the world, and we're going to start it tonight!"

On March 12, 1912, Margaret "Daisy Doots" Gordon, Juliette’s niece and namesake, became the first registered member of what would be the very first troop of American Girl Guides, later to be called Girl Scouts. Over the last century, 50 million girls, women and men have been members of the Girl Scouts.

While Juliette Gordon Low did not have children of her own, she has been a BenevolAuntie to millions of young girls decades beyond her death. She is a true inspiration.

Happy 100 years, Girl Scouts!

Published: March 11, 2012