Bill Clinton: “In 1976 the Girl Scouts of America, one of our country's greatest institutions, was near collapse. Frances Hesselbein, a…”

“In 1976 the Girl Scouts of America, one of our country's greatest institutions, was near collapse. Frances Hesselbein, a former volunteer from Johnstown, Pennsylvania, led them back, both in numbers and in spirit. She achieved not only the greatest diversity in the group's long history but also its greatest cohesion and, in so doing, made a model for us all. In her current role as the president of the Drucker Foundation for Nonprofit Management, she has shared her remarkable recipe for inclusion and excellence with countless organizations whose bottom line is measured not in dollars but in changed lives. Since Mrs. Hesselbein forbids the use of hierarchical words like ``up'' and ``down'' when she's around--[laughter]--I will call this pioneer for women, voluntarism, diversity, and opportunity not up but forward to be recognized. Commander, read the citation. [Lieutenant Commander Huey read the citation, and the President congratulated Mrs. Hesselbein and presented the medal.]”