Girl Scouts of the USA Announces its 100th Anniversary Take Action Project Girl Scouts Forever Green with $1.5 Million Lead Gift from Alcoa Foundation and Partnership Support from EPA

Girl Scouts of the USA announced today that it is launching Girl Scouts
Forever Green, its signature 100^th year anniversary action
project focused on waste reduction, energy conservation and rain
gardens. Alcoa Foundation provided a two-year $1.5 million grant to
expand the program globally to 20 countries. This grant will enable U.S.
and international councils to work together and lead their families,
schools and communities in improving the environment and protecting
natural resources.

Girl Scouts is harnessing its members′ passion for preserving natural
resources by engaging in this global community action project, focused
on making a significant impact on the environment. In 2012, Girl Scouts
will take action on three main projects: Reduce Waste, Earth Hour, and
Rain Gardens. Throughout the year Girl Scouts across the globe will also
identify and lead service projects and events focused on the
environmental priorities in their local communities.

'Although our girls might be famous for wearing the color green, it′s
clear that they are enthusiastic about 'going green? and working to
preserve our natural resources,? said Anna Maria Chavez, CEO, Girl
Scouts of the USA. 'As an organization committed to helping girls become
leaders, who make a difference in the world, we couldn′t ignore their
passion for the environment and the generous contribution from Alcoa
Foundation provides an outlet for girls to funnel their ecological
energies.?

The Girl Scouts Forever Green 100th Anniversary Take Action Project was
created after Girl Scouts research found that an overwhelming number of
girls said protecting the environment is a top priority. This was proven
during the program′s pilot years, when the national effort saved more
than 1.8 million kWh of energy, eliminated more than 2.8 million pounds
of CO2, eliminated over 700,000 pounds of waste and saved nearly 200,000
gallons of water.

'This is a landmark sponsorship for Alcoa Foundation that incorporates
our commitment to sustainability and inspiring the next generation
of ?environmental ?ambassadors,' ?said Paula Davis, President, Alcoa
Foundation. 'Girls are influential, ambitious and passionate about the
environment and Girl Scouts Forever Green gives them tools and resources
to engage their peers and neighbors to create their own positive change
in their communities - from conservation to recycling to planting
trees. ?Our employees, ?including Girl Scouts and Girl Guides alumnae and
our global Women′s Network, are excited about this partnership and eager
to get involved and help bring the ideas of young women to life.'

The second key aspect of the program is observing Earth Hour. During the
month of March, Girl Scouts will engage their families, friends, and
community affiliates in making small changes that have big results when
it comes to lowering CO2 footprints and saving energy and money. They'll
do this by replacing incandescent light bulbs with ENERGY STAR ?
qualified, or other energy-efficient, light bulbs and uniting with
hundreds of millions of people around the world as they turn off the
lights for one hour?Earth Hour?8:30 p.m.?9:30 p.m. on the last Saturday
in March (March 31, 2012).

'Earth Hour and the Girl Scouts USA have a common purpose ? to create a
better environment for future generations,? said Andy Ridley, Earth Hour
co-founder and executive director. 'Girl Scouts USA′s participation in
Earth Hour illustrates without question what can be achieved when people
unite with a common purpose and rally to action.?

The third project of Girl Scouts Forever Green is building rain gardens
filled with native plants that capture and absorb storm water and serve
as functional gardens. Rain gardens improve water quality by
infiltrating and reducing water-born pollutants running into streams,
rivers, and other water supplies. They also increase green spaces and
wildlife habitats.

A last and key element to the program is the Girl Scouts Forever Green
Pledge developed in partnership with the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency′s (EPA) Energy Star program to encourage the adoption of resource
conservation activities and to measure their impact. In fact, the EPA is
the Girl Scout′s environmental education partner on Girl Scouts Forever
Green with the goal of engaging our leaders of tomorrow on protecting
human health and safeguarding the natural environment ? air, water, and
land.

'The Girl Scouts provide young women with leadership experience and
opportunities to engage on critical national and international issues
like environmental education,' said EPA Administrator Lisa P. Jackson.
'Working with our young people and programs like Energy Star to preserve
energy and cut pollution are the first steps in building a cleaner, more
sustainable future. The EPA is proud to be working with such an
important organization and to be empowering these young women to shape
their future and the future of our planet.?

Girl Scouts Forever Green coincides with the Girl Scouts′ new set of
Leadership Journeys, It′s Your Planet ? Love It!, a collection of
six books which tackles issues like conservation, pollution, and
renewable and reusable resources while challenging girls to take the
lead in protecting the planet. The series, developed for girls grades
K-12, uses age-appropriate lessons and exercises that focus on
leadership development.

About Girl Scouts

Founded in 1912, Girl Scouts of the USA is the preeminent leadership
development organization for girls with 3.2 million girl and adult
members worldwide. Girl Scouts is the leading authority on girls'
healthy development, and builds girls of courage, confidence, and
character, who make the world a better place. The organization serves
girls from every corner of the United States and its territories. Girl
Scouts of the USA also serves American girls and their classmates
attending American or international schools overseas in 90 countries.
For more information on how to join, volunteer, reconnect, or donate to
Girl Scouts, call (800) GSUSA 4 U or visit www.girlscouts.org.

About Alcoa Foundation

Alcoa Foundation is one of the largest corporate foundations in the
U.S., with assets of approximately US$436 million. Founded more than 50
years ago, Alcoa Foundation has invested more than US$530 million since
1952. In 2010, Alcoa Foundation contributed nearly US$20 million to
nonprofit organizations throughout the world, focusing on promoting
environmental stewardship, enabling economic and social sustainability,
and preparing tomorrow′s leaders through education and learning. The
work of Alcoa Foundation is further enhanced by Alcoa′s thousands of
employee volunteers, who in 2010 gave more than 720,000 service
hours. ?Through the company′s signature Month of Service (October)
program, Alcoa employees share their energy, passion and purpose to make
a difference in our communities. In 2010, a record 49 percent of Alcoans
took part in nearly 1,000 Month of Service events across 24 countries,
reaching 59,000 children, serving 17,000 meals, planting 16,000 trees
and supporting 3,000 nonprofit organizations. For more information about
Alcoa Foundation, please access www.alcoa.com/foundation.

Girl Scouts

Joshua Ackley, 212-852-8038

jackley@girlscouts.org

or

Alcoa
Foundation

Nacema Blake

Office: 212-836-2825

Cell:
347-421-1827

Nacema.blake@alcoa.com