“I would not be the person I am today if
it were not for Girl Scouts. It makes you
realize how much bigger you can be than
just the small town you grew up in.”
Badge Two and the Juliette Low World
Friendship Medal.
Smith married her husband Phillip in
1955 and the two moved to Fox Chapel
in 1971. They have six children—Libby,
Tom, Johanna, Alice, Maggie and Sally—
and are grandparents to 12 grandchildren
and two great-grandchildren.
“Girl Scouting gives girls and women
the opportunity to try new things in a
group that is led by women who value
giving girls opportunities they would
not experience otherwise,” says Smith.
“There are so many chances to meet new
people and make friends around the
world, and the organization helps young
women develop a sense of helping others,
to become good financial planners and
to work well with people, among many
other things.”
Smith family photo, taken in 1972.
Some of Smith’s fondest memories
include campfires and singing at Camp
Paxton—where she often attended
summer camp with her friends, visiting
Paris, seeing the German countryside
while being hosted by German families,
swimming in a river at a Boy Scout
camp in Venezuela, going to the World
Conference in Kenya, having tea with the
Queen Mother of Denmark and—most
recently—being honored with her 75-
year pin by the Girl Scouts of Western
Pennsylvania.
On Thursday, April 6, Patricia A.
Burkart, CEO of Girl Scouts of Western
Pennsylvania, presented the honorary pin
Smith’s family gathered to celebrate her 80th
birthday.
to Smith at her residence. “I am honored
to count Martha Smith among our most
dedicated supporters of girls’ leadership
development through Girl Scouts,” says
Burkart. “Thanks to Martha’s efforts, both
here in Pittsburgh and around the globe,
more girls have experienced the life-
changing benefits of Girl Scouting.”
Smith intends to continue supporting
Girl Scouting in order to offer more girls
and women the opportunities she had,
and her wish for today’s young women
is that all would take advantage of being
Girl Scouts. “I would not be the person
I am today if it were not for Girl Scouts,”
says Smith. “It makes you realize how
much bigger you can be than just the
small town you grew up in. I will always
remember all that I’ve learned and will
always cherish the lasting friendships that
I have developed with girls and women
who come together and work to make the
world a better place.” n
ABOUT GIRL SCOUTS
Founded in 1912, Girl
Scouts of the USA is the
preeminent leadership
experience for girls,
and is the leading
authority on girls’
healthy development.
Girl Scouts builds girls
of courage, confidence
and character, who make
the world a better place.
The 2.8 million-member
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
Western Pennsylvania,
call 800.248.3355 or visit
gswpa.org.
Fox Chapel Area | Summer 2017 | icmags.com 39