Samoas or Tagalongs?
Trefoils or Thin Mints?
For Courtney Stevens, who works in human resources at the Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, it was an easy choice. She bought several boxes of each type of Girl Scout cookie; 19 boxes total, in fact.
“I promise these are not all for me,” she quipped, carrying a case of sweet treats under her arm Thursday afternoon. “I may have to try several boxes, though, to see which is my new favorite.”
Stevens joined several OMRF colleagues in supporting a troop from the Girl Scouts’ Red Lands Council. All told, employees bought nearly 300 boxes to help the troop from Lee Elementary fund its yearly activities.
OMRF’s Employee Council provided milk and cookie samples to those who waited in the long line to buy cookies from the scouts.
“I thought this would be a great opportunity for OMRF employees to support our community and to return some of the goodwill that Oklahomans have shown us,” said John Daum, a laboratory manager at OMRF who organized the event. “The support from our fellow employees made me proud to be part of the OMRF community.”
Troop leader Alba Simmons said proceeds from the cookie sale will help the scouts attend the one-day Cookieland Camp in Newalla. Because the Lee Elementary group is an in-school troop unlike many scout troops, it’s more difficult for them to sell cookies.
“Because of safety precautions, they are not allowed to go from house to house,” Simmons said. “This opportunity provides a way for the girls to learn how to be salespeople and mingle with the public.”
Similar business partnerships have been formed with Wal-Mart and Hollywood Video stories. “Visiting businesses is fun because you get to see a lot of different places and see what kind of cookies people like,” said Cherish Hill, 11, a fifth-grader at Lee.
“I’m glad we were able to do a little something to support an organization that builds youth of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place,” Daum said. “I believe this event benefited a deserving group and satisfied many a sweet tooth.”
About OMRF:
Chartered in 1946, OMRF (www.omrf.org) is a nonprofit biomedical research institute dedicated to understanding and curing human disease. Its scientists focus on such critical research areas as Alzheimer’s disease, cancer, lupus and cardiovascular disease. It is home to Oklahoma’s only member of the National Academy of Sciences.
