Iconic Girl Scout Cookies get a gourmet makeover. Savor inventive desserts by top St. Louis chefs and enjoy an unforgettable evening benefitting local Girl Scouts.
Dessert First 2026
We invite you to join us for the sweetest event in town as we celebrate the achievements of our Girl Scouts and community leaders. Dessert First is a fundraising gala that raises money for Gifts for Girls: Helping Girls Soar Higher.
This signature celebration brings together community leaders, dedicated supporters, and St. Louis’ finest chefs for an unforgettable evening of purpose and impact. Guests will enjoy an exceptional culinary experience as premier chefs present gourmet interpretations of iconic Girl Scout Cookies, followed by a seated dinner, live auction, raffle, and an inspiring paddle raise that directly fuels life-changing opportunities for girls across eastern Missouri.
The evening continues with a high-energy after-dinner celebration featuring a live band, dancing, and joyful connection as we celebrate the impact made together.
Meet Our 2026 Changemaker Scholarship Honorees
At this special event, we celebrate the leadership and service of outstanding Girl Scouts and award two Changemaker Scholarships of $5,000 to be used for higher education. Scholarship recipients must have earned their Gold Award,
the highest recognition available to Girl Scouts.
Meghana addressed opossum conservation in the state of Missouri, primarily focusing on the protection and rehabilitation of opossums to earn her Girl Scout Gold Award. She partnered with the Missouri Wildlife Rescue Center to donate essential resources needed to support the rising numbers of injured opossums being admitted to their facility for treatment. With the help of her community, Meghana made 125 homemade opossum pouches and 7 cage lines. She also made 75 craft kits with helpful educational resources and held two classes at the Saint Louis County Library Thornhill and Grand Glaize locations. To complete her project, Meghana created a website with resources such a links to wildlife conservation databases all around the United States.
Driven by a desire to support students facing a lack of accessibility to college planning materials, Olivia created and launched a comprehensive website tailored to middle and high school students to earn her Gold Award. The website includes guides, checklists, and resources to aid students as they navigate the college application process. To help her website reach a wider audience, Olivia established partnerships with local schools and community organizations who shared her information through direct outreach, emails and promotional materials, making it accessible to a broader network of students and educators. Her website will be maintained by the Francis Howell School District so it can continue to be available for students in the coming years.
Changemaker Scholarships are made possible by: Penny Pennington and Michael Fidler in honor of every girl making her mark on the world, and William R. Orthwein and Laura Rand Orthwein Foundation
Dessert First Emcee 
Sponsorship Opportunities
Interested in sponsorship opportunities, please connect with Laura Benson, Director of Corporate & Foundation Relations, at lbenson@girlscoutsem.org or 314.592.2365.
Event Questions
Be a Featured Chef at Dessert First 2026!
We’re looking for talented chefs to be part of Dessert First 2026—Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri’s signature culinary event celebrating leadership, community, and, of course, cookies!
As a featured Chef, you’ll showcase your skills to hundreds of dessert lovers, compete for top honors, and make a real difference for local Girl Scouts. Your creations—infused with iconic Girl Scout Cookies—help fund programs that build courage, confidence, and character in girls across our region.
Spots are limited! Apply today and show us what you can do when you put Dessert First.
Dessert First Participating Restaurants
Amy's Cake Pop Shop
Butler's Pantry
Cake Snob
Donut King
Serendipity Homemade Ice Cream
The Chase Park Plaza
The Cup
Vanilla Sugar Bake Shoppe
