Abigail Berkowitz with fellow Girl Scouts and the Parkland City Commission. {GSSEF}
Parkland resident Abigail Berkowitz was recognized by the Parkland City Commission at a recent meeting for earning the prestigious 2026 Girl Scouts Gold Award, the organization’s highest achievement, presented to only about 5% of eligible Girl Scouts nationwide.
During the meeting, Berkowitz also received a surprise announcement that she had been selected as the Girl Scouts of Southeast Florida’s recipient of the 2026 Girl Scouts of the USA Gold Award Scholarship, earning a $5,000 award to help fund her college education.
A recent graduate of Donna Klein Jewish Academy, Berkowitz plans to attend Florida State University, where she will major in psychology.
The Girl Scouts Gold Award recognizes members in grades 9 through 12 who demonstrate exceptional leadership and commitment to creating sustainable change through community service. To earn the award, each Girl Scout must identify a community issue and develop a large-scale project designed to leave a lasting impact.
For her Gold Award project, titled Impact of Food Insecurity on Pets, Berkowitz focused on the growing challenge of pet food insecurity in South Florida. Rising inflation, stagnant wages, and increasing housing costs have contributed to food insecurity, affecting more than 1 million people across the region, while pet food prices have climbed by more than 33% since 2019.
Recognizing that Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits cannot be used to purchase pet food, Berkowitz sought to help families keep their pets by encouraging existing food pantries to add pet food pantries and by educating the public about the issue.
Working with Royal Palm Christian Church, the Parkland Library, the Rotary Club of Coral Springs/Parkland and Nova Southeastern University, Berkowitz delivered presentations to community groups about the connection between food insecurity and pet ownership.
Abigail Berkowitz and fellow Girl Scouts at Parkland City Hall. {GSSEF}
According to project surveys, more than 90% of attendees reported a greater understanding of pet food insecurity after participating in her presentations, while more than 75% said they would support pet food pantries in the future.
The Gold Award is considered the highest honor in Girl Scouting and is often described as a legacy project that recognizes young women whose service creates lasting, meaningful change in their communities.
Send your news to Parkland’s #1 Award-Winning News Source, Parkland Talk. Don’t Miss Tamarac Talk,Coral Springs Talk, Coconut Creek Talk, Margate Talk, and Sunrise FL Talk.
Author Profile
Related
NewsAugust 18, 2026Parkland’s Back-to-School Splash Bash Brings Water Slides, Games and Family Fun
NewsAugust 16, 2026Parkland’s Congregation Kol Tikvah Welcomes Rabbi Cookie Lea Olshein as Interim Rabbi
NewsAugust 12, 2026Parkland Crime Blotter: Jogger Targeted by Indecent Exposure, $5,000 Stolen From Vehicle
NewsAugust 7, 2026Parkland’s Free Youth Fishing Derby Returns to Pine Trails Park August 8
