Girl Scouts of Nassau County Honors Bayville Resident

GARDEN CITY, NY (MARCH 2023) — Girl Scouts of Nassau County (GSNC) recently held its second annual Legacy Brunch on Thursday, March 30 at The Heritage Club in Farmingdale. The event honored Ms. Sinesi among three other Girl Scout champions who are leaving a legacy and impacting Girl Scouts throughout Nassau County. This event brought together generations of Girl Scouts and Girl Scout supporters to celebrate the Girl Scout Leadership Experience and what it has meant to Girl Scouts for over 100 years. All proceeds will go toward enhanced Girl Scout programming to ensure we continue the legacy of building girls of courage, confidence and character.

“Thanks to the selfless dedication and commitment of volunteers and leaders like Melanie Sinesi, Girl Scouts of Nassau County continues to provide engaging opportunities that inspire and motivate young girls throughout Nassau County to become the future leaders of tomorrow and make their communities and the world a better place,” said Randell Bynum, the chief executive officer of Girl Scouts of Nassau County. “Our Legacy Brunch gives us a chance to celebrate and honor those who go above and beyond to create a life-changing experience for all girls involved in Girl Scouts of Nassau County.”

The Impact Award recognizes emerging leaders under 40 who are currently giving back and making contributions to the Girl Scout mission and the larger Nassau County community. These emerging leaders represent the future of leadership in Nassau County.

Melanie Sinesi is a Gold Award Girl Scout, Lifetime Member of GSUSA and has continued her Girl Scout career through her role on the GSNC Governance and Board Development Committees, and as a past National Delegate and Bay Association Delegate Chair. She is the Deputy Chief of Staff for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone, joining the team after four years with United States Senator Kirsten Gillibrand. She worked as both the senator’s Long Island liaison and the Deputy Director of Constituent Affairs, assisting thousands of New Yorkers with their federal casework.

Over the course of her career, Ms. Sinesi cites assisting hundreds of 9/11 first responders attain crucial benefits for themselves and their families as a critical way in which government can benefit its constituents. Throughout 2020 and 2021 in her professional role, Ms. Sinesi worked throughout the pandemic to ensure the community had access to critical information and updates regarding COVID-19.

“Since my time as a Brownie, Girl Scouts has significantly impacted my life,” Ms. Sinesi said. “I credit Girl Scouts for providing me a foundation for team building, project management, communication, and other skills critical for success in today’s world. From my days working on my Bronze, Silver, and Gold Awards, to volunteering with my local council as an adult, Girl Scouts has given me a voice. I am confident that my time with Girl Scouts has helped to shape me into the leader I am today, and I look forward to ensuring this organization will continue to do so for tomorrow’s leaders.”

The Legacy Award was presented to Valerie T. Terzano, Ph.D, of Melville, who is the Vice President for Nursing and Patient Services at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island and the Vice President of the GSNC Board of Directors. The two other Impact Award recipients were Deandra Denton, of South Hempstead, who is a third-year student at the Maurice A. Deane School of Law at Hofstra University and Gold Award Girl Scout, class of 2016; and Elizabeth Garcia, of North Massapequa, who is the youth program director at the nonprofit organization Circulo de la Hispanidad.

The Legacy Award is for change makers in Nassau County who give back to the community by elevating and supporting the Girl Scout mission through their career or volunteer work. They are true leaders working to pave the way for a positive future for Girl Scouts and their families.

For more than a century, Girl Scouts has championed changemakers—helping girls develop leadership skills to make a tangible, positive difference in the community. Throughout the event, guests will learn more about some of the most enriching traditions and programs available to all Girl Scouts. Attendees will learn about the life-changing experience of spending time at Camp Blue Bay, the passion and vision it takes to carry out one of the Highest Award Projects Girl Scouts can earn, and join in a few other Girl Scout traditions.

The event will also feature a community spotlight on an esteemed Girl Scout alum, locally renowned meteorologist Meridith Garofalo, who has covered major historical events and scientific advancements over the course of her expansive career as a television journalist. Meredith enjoys giving back and supporting Girl Scouts in Nassau County by sharing her story and using her platform to encourage girls to pursue careers in the worlds of science, technology, engineering, the arts and math (STE(A)M).

To learn more about the Legacy Brunch, please visit www.gsnc.org/legacy.

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We Are Girl Scouts: Girl Scouts bring their dreams to life and work together to build a better world. Through programs in Nassau County, across Long Island and from coast to coast, Girl Scouts of all backgrounds and abilities can be unapologetically themselves as they discover their strengths and rise to meet new challenges—whether they want to climb to the top of a tree or the top of their class, lace up their boots for a hike or advocate for climate justice, or make their first best friends. Backed by trusted adult volunteers, mentors, and millions of alumni, Girl Scouts lead the way as they find their voices and make changes that affect the issues most important to them. To join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate, visit girlscouts.org.