Girl Scouts of Nassau County Honors Melville Resident Valerie Terzano

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 Dr. Valerie Terzano 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 are going toward enhancing 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 Valerie Terzano, 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 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.

Dr. Terzano has served as the Vice President of the GSNC Board of Directors since 2019. She has served as a member-at-large for three terms from 2013 to 2019, on the Nominating Committee from 2016 to 2018, on the Board Development Committee from 2018 to 2020 and on the Human Resources Committee since 2021.

Dr. Terzano is the Vice President for Nursing and Patient Care Services at NYU Langone Hospital Long Island and is also the founder and co-chair of the hospital’s multidisciplinary LGBTQ Advisory Council. She earned her Master of Science degree in Nursing Administration from Adelphi University, a PhD in Nursing from Molloy College, and is certi­fied by the American Nurses Credentialing Center as a Nurse Executive Advanced. She is a professional member of Sigma Theta Tau, the International Honor Society of Nursing; the American Organization of Nurse Executives; the New York Organization of Nurse Executives and Leaders; the American Nurses Association; the American College of Healthcare Executives, and the American Massage Therapy Association.

Dr. Terzano has worked in the health care field for 48 years and, in her current role, is responsible for the overall management of professional nursing practice and standards of care for approximately 1850 staff members. She leads multiple initiatives and teams to support service excellence and patient care, and to ensure staff’s voices are heard in decisions affecting their practice and work environment. In 2008, Valerie received the Nursing Spectrum Excellence Award for Advancing and Leading the Profession. She serves on advisory boards for several nursing schools and is also a NYS Licensed Massage Therapist.

Dr. Terzano, who lives in Melville with her wife of 35 years, is an advocate for the LGBTQ population as co-chair of the hospital’s multidisciplinary LGBTQ advisory committee and helped distinguish the hospital as an LGBTQ Healthcare Equality Leader by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Healthcare Equality Index. She was named Crain’s NY Business 2022 Notable LGBTQ Leader for community involvement and creating a more equitable workplace.

“The mission of the Girl Scouts is close to my heart – building the courage, confidence, and character of young women in preparation for a future that is limitless and boundless in every facet of their lives,” said Ms. Terzano. “Growing up I did not have the benefit of a Girl Scout experience. However, as a young woman entering the workforce, I did have the good fortune of being mentored and encouraged by wonderful female role models in my chosen profession of nursing. As my 49-year nursing career has evolved, I, in turn have been able to guide and steward others- hopefully making a difference in their own health care careers and lives. I believe deeply in the practice of paying it forward and this has been the guiding force in my work with the Girl Scouts of Nassau County to help G.I.R.L.s be Go-Getters, Innovators, Risk Takers and Leaders. I am humbled and honored to be recognized with this inaugural Legacy Award and am grateful for the opportunity to serve on the Board of such a phenomenal and vital organization.”

“Today we live in a fast-paced, complicated and technology-driven world that often presents hurdles and injustices – especially to young people and particularly to young girls. I venture to say that supporting and standing with young girls may even be more needed today,” she added. “It is paramount for girls and young women to develop a strong sense of self to overcome the many challenges and obstacles they may encounter along life’s path.”

The 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; Elizabeth Garcia, of North Massapequa, who is the youth program director at the nonprofit organization Circulo de la Hispanidad; and Melanie Sinesi, of Bayville, who works as the Director of Community Affairs for Suffolk County Executive Steve Bellone and member of the Girl Scout Gold Award class of 2008.

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.

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 learned more about some of the most enriching traditions and programs available to all Girl Scouts. Attendees learned 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 joined in a few other Girl Scout traditions.

The event also featured 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.

###

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.