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Girl Scouts chapter returns $100K donation that excluded transgender girls

The Girl Scouts decided to return a hefty donation because the donor did not want the money to support transgender girls.

By Kate Stanton

SEATTLE, June 30 (UPI) -- The Girl Scouts of Western Washington were "thrilled" when they received a $100,000 donation last May.

But when the donor discovered that Girl Scouts USA welcomes transgender girls, they asked the organization to "guarantee" that the gift would not be used to support them.

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The group decided to return the money.

"It was one of the of easiest decisions I've had to make," Girl Scouts of Western Washington CEO Megan Ferland told Buzzfeed. "It was a sad decision, but it was a really quick one."

"Girl Scouts is for every girl," Ferland said. "And every girl should have the opportunity to be a Girl Scout if she wants to."

The group turned that message into an Indiegogo campaign, saying that the $100,000 that they returned would have been used to support 500 girls needing financial assistance.

"That's money that would have gone to girls who can't participate in Girl Scouts without our help," the campaign page says. "With that support girls can join a troop, go to camp and participate in a multitude of other life-changing Girl Scout experiences even though their families can't afford to pay for them."

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The #ForEVERYGirl campaign, which launched Monday, raised more than $230,000 in one day. The organization says the fundraising effort will help 1,000 girls participate in Girl Scouts.

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