Girl Scouts of Greater South Texas is deeply saddened to learn of the passing of one of our local Girl Scouts, 16-year-old Ambassador, Elizabeth "Izzy" Drane on February 19th, 2022.
Elizabeth was a proud Girl Scout member within the Victoria Service Area who started her girl scouting journey as a Daisy and continues to leave a big impact on her community.
Elizabeth had a passion for animals and a determination to help them any chance she got. That same passion fueled her to spearhead a community dog park initiative and Gold Award project, Riverside Bark. She gained recognition in Victoria in 2021 for her proposal to build a public dog park and had been working with city officials to make that project a reality before her sudden passing. Elizabeth had Marfan syndrome, but it is unclear yet whether that was the cause of death. Marfan syndrome is a rare genetic disorder that affects connective tissues and can sometimes have severe complications involving the heart.
Now, her family, fellow troop members, and community want to take on her Gold Award project and see that it is done in her memory.
Elizabeth on her Gold Award statement: "I am building a dog park in Victoria to achieve the highest ranking award in Girl Scouts, the Gold Award. Not only am I trying to reach this goal, but I also want to show the city my love for animals. My drive to build this park comes from my grief of losing my beloved dog Bosco from Parvo, but also for my dog Leyna who is still here. I want to grant the people of Victoria with a way to remember their deceased animals and/or by honoring the ones that are still here. You can do this by purchasing a standard four by eight inch brick that will be engraved to honor your pet of choice. The bricks will then be placed leading up to the park to build a memorial pathway."
A celebration of life service for Elizabeth on March 5th, 2022 at about 10:30am at Faith Family Church in Victoria, Texas. If you would like to contribute to the Riverside Bark project or make a donation you may do so by visiting the following link: Brick -By-Brick or by contacting your local Victoria Service Center staff.
