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Knoxville, Tennessee (June 16, 2008): Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council is moving its headquarters from Breda Drive in North Knoxville to Downtown West Village just off Kingston Pike in the heart of West Knoxville. Girl Scouts expect to be in their new home in early fall 2008.

The need for expanded headquarters comes on the heels of an unprecedented 19 percent membership growth for Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council in 2007. The council is more than 13,000 members strong in 16 East Tennessee counties. One in every four elementary-age girls is a Girl Scout in Tanasi’s service area.

The Downtown West Village headquarters will allow the council to greatly expand its office space to 16,000 square feet, including a large activity room for volunteer training and other major events.

“The best part of the move is that the new headquarters will be so much more convenient for our Girl Scout troops and volunteers,” said Lucille Griffo, chief executive officer for Tanasi Council. “We will be located near all the major interstate arteries, making us easily accessible to our service areas and the general public.”

Downtown West Village is just minutes from Interstate 40’s West Hills exit; 118,000 people live within five miles of the new headquarters.

“Having the Girl Scouts as an anchor for Downtown West Village is ideal. They are respected and valued by everyone,” said Jennifer Banner, CEO of Schaad Companies. After Schaad Companies purchased the center, they began renovating with the goal to create a community of retail shops, professional offices and educational organizations.

During the renovation of the new regional headquarters, Tanasi Council will go green by using environmentally friendly and energy-efficient material where possible.

“Girl Scouts are committed to being good stewards of our environment,” said Griffo. “Purchasing an existing building and reusing materials are some of the most environmentally friendly practices for an organization like Girl Scouts that is dedicated to reducing our carbon footprint on this earth.”

Tanasi Council has been headquartered at 1600 Breda Drive since the office building was constructed in 1980.

“We have a contract to sell the Breda Drive council property and building and anticipate selling an additional 39 acres of property the council owns on Merchants Road,” said Griffo.

Tanasi Council’s Girl Scout shop and popular Daisy’s Place Museum will be included in the new Downtown West Village facility.

About Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council…

Girls Scouts of Tanasi Council Incorporated is based in Knoxville, Tennessee, and serves more than 13,000 members in 16 East Tennessee counties. More than 3,000 volunteers work with Tanasi. Additionally, thousands of girls enjoy outdoor living at Camp Tanasi on 450 acres on Norris Lake.

Girl Scouts of the USA is the world’s largest organization dedicated to helping all girls everywhere build character and gain skills for success in the real world. Founded in 1912 by Juliette Gordon Low, Girl Scouts’ membership has grown from 18 members in Savannah, Georgia, to nearly four million members throughout the United States, including Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands, and in more than 80 countries through USA Girl Scouts Overseas.

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For Immediate Release

Contact: Sarah Callahan

Director of Communications

Girl Scouts of Tanasi Council, Inc.

1600 Breda Drive

Knoxville, TN 37918

Office: (865) 688-9440