Girl Scouts Hires Planned Parenthood Award-Recipient to Lead Virginia Council

National   |   Christy Volankski   |   Apr 25, 2014   |   3:31PM   |   Richmond, VA

The Girl Scouts have come under fire for employing executives who are connected to the abortion giant Planned Parenthood, the nation’s largest abortion provider. This concerning trend continues.

girlscouts12In 2013, the Girl Scout Council of Commonwealth Virginia permanently replaced CEO Linda Carne, who was terminated for embezzling Girl Scout funds, with new CEO Viola Baskerville, a Planned Parenthood honoree.

Baskerville is a former lawmaker whose political career was endorsed by the pro-abortion political group, Emily’s List, and National Abortion Rights Action League (NARAL). Her official bio boasts many awards including the “Planned Parenthood Responsible Choice Award” and the “Mary Ann Rennolds Award for Reproductive Freedom.” Baskerville was also recently honored, in her capacity as a Girl Scout executive, for her support of same sex marriage by Equality Virginia.

The Girl Scout organization employs many executives who advocate for abortion rights and other concerning agendas, such as Girl Scouts USA (GSUSA) Chief Communication Executive, Kelly Parisi.  Prior to launching her Girl Scout career last year, Parisi was the spokesperson for the aggressively pro-abortion Ms. Foundation.

As reported by LifeNews, at the Ms. Foundation, Parisi and her team advocated for the “repeal [of] state and federal legislative barriers to abortion access.” Additionally, Parisi coordinated a funding campaign benefiting Planned Parenthood during Susan G. Komen’s short-lived attempt to disassociate from the abortion giant.  In a 2013 interview, Parisi revealed what keeps her awake at night: “The overwhelming need to do more. The last two years have generated record numbers of restrictions on reproductive rights across the country.”

girlscouts5Pro-life concerns also surround the highest ranking executive of the Girl Scout organization, Anna Maria Chavez. Since her appointment as GSUSA CEO in late 2011, pro-lifers have exposed Chavez’ liberal ideology.

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During her tenure as the CEO of a local Girl Scout Council in San Antonio, Chavez and Girl Scouts of Southwest Texas supported and maintained membership in a coalition with Planned Parenthood and many other pro-abortion organizations.  Chavez has also praised well-known abortion rights activists as her mentors and role models, such as Janet Napolitano and Geraldine Ferraro.

Under Chavez’ leadership, GSUSA maintains its on-going troublesome connections to the abortion rights agenda.  While GSUSA acknowledges that the international Girl Scout organization, World Association Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) actively promotes and advocates for sexual and reproductive rights, GSUSA continues its membership in – and substantial funding of – WAGGGS. And GSUSApermits local Girl Scout council and troops to collaborate with and/or form their own local relationships with Planned Parenthood.

LifeNews Note: Christy Volanski is the mother of two former Girl Scouts who created the website Speak Now Girl Scouts to expose the link between the group and the Planned Parenthood abortion business. Photo: Anna Maria Chavez, Girl Scouts USA CEO (left) with Viola Baskerville, CEO of Girl Scouts of Commonwealth Virginia and Planned Parenthood award recipient.