Elegant green dresses matched green ties throughout the crowd as scouts of all ages filled the audience. From Daisy scouts in their blue berets to Ambassador-level members and Gold Award recipients, the room showed the full range of the Girl Scout experience.
Across the room, younger scouts watched as women who once wore the same uniforms stepped forward to accept one of the organization’s top honors.
Girl Scouts of America hosted its second annual Night of a Million Dreams gala on International Women’s Day.
During the evening, Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta recognized former Atlanta Mayor Shirley Franklin, NBC News correspondent Blayne Alexander, and longtime volunteer leader Amy Vassey as the 2026 Dream Forward Award honorees. The award highlights women whose leadership and service have made an impact in their communities.
The Night of a Million Dreams gala raises funds to support Girl Scouts programs and opportunities for girls across metro Atlanta.
When Alexander took the stage, she brought her daughter with her and introduced her to the audience as “my future Girl Scout.” The moment drew applause from the crowd and reflected the evening’s generational theme.
“I just want to raise good people, strong women, and compassionate women,” Alexander said.
Emmy Award-winning journalist Condace Pressley served as the evening’s emcee and welcomed remarks from Jai Ferrell.
Ferrell, the first Black CEO in the council’s 100-year history, spoke about the leadership she sees developing in today’s Girl Scouts, especially those earning the organization’s highest honor.
“They are not waiting for the future,” Ferrell said of Gold Award recipients. “They are changing the world right now.”
One of those scouts in the room was Lei’Lani Jackson, a junior at Southwest DeKalb High School who recently earned her Gold Award and was also named a Council Young Woman of Distinction by Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta.
Jackson’s project focuses on menstrual health awareness after she was diagnosed with dysmenorrhea, a condition that causes severe menstrual pain.
“I had never heard of dysmenorrhea before,” Jackson said. “I’d heard of endometriosis and PCOS, but not that. When I started learning more about it, I decided I wanted to raise awareness so other girls would understand what was happening to them.”
Attending the gala was a moment she said she did not expect.
“Tonight I felt like a celebrity,” Jackson said. “It makes me feel like anything is possible if you believe in yourself and keep dreaming big.”
Ferrell also spoke about her own experience as a Girl Scout and how donor support made many of those opportunities possible.
“The reason I was able to go on trips, go camping, and experience Girl Scouts was because of donors I had never even met,” Ferrell said. “Someone believed girls were worth investing in, and that generosity changed my life.”
Today, that spirit of support continues through programs that expand access to Girl Scouts across the region.
Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta serves more than 33,000 members across 34 counties and offers programs focused on leadership, entrepreneurship, outdoor experiences, and community service.
Proceeds from the Night of a Million Dreams gala support the organization’s Dream Fund, which helps ensure girls across metro Atlanta can participate in Girl Scouts regardless of financial circumstances. The fund helps cover costs such as membership fees, uniforms, and programming so girls from all backgrounds can take part.
