Barnegat Woman Praised By Girl Scouts Of The Jersey Shore

BARNEGAT, NJ — Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore will recognize nine community role models at its annual gala on Wednesday, including Bahiyyah Abdullah of Barnegat.

Abdullah was named a "Woman of Distinction" for the achievements in her 33-year career as a Girl Scouts professional. Abdullah has impacted the lives of countless girls and women in Monmouth and Ocean counties, according to Teri O’Connor, chairperson of the Girl Scouts volunteer board of directors and administrator for Monmouth County.

Abdullah is the chief mission officer for Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore and serves as president of the Toms River Area Branch of the NAACP. O’Connor said Abdullah is a tireless advocate for civil rights, social justice, children, arts and history. She volunteers for a host of national, state, regional and local organizations that support these efforts.

She was named Women’s Advocate of the Year by the Ocean County Women’s Commission in 2016. She is a mother and grandmother of three children and seven grandchildren, and widow of the late civil rights and Head Start activist, Saleem Abdullah.

Abdullah will be recognized alongside the other eight honorees at the nonprofit’s Women of Distinction & Community Partners Gala at Eagle Oaks Golf and Country Club in Farmingdale.

“Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore is thrilled to honor a group of remarkable role models, each who has made a positive impact in their field and on our community,” said O’Connor in a news release.

The annual gala is the nonprofit organization’s most significant fundraising event to generate support for its mission “to build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place,” noted Girl Scouts of the Jersey Shore’s CEO Eileen Higgins, who oversees the council comprised of nearly 9,000 girls and 4,000 adult volunteers across Monmouth and Ocean counties.

Proceeds from the event will fund the Girl Scouts’ scholarship program, which ensures that all area girls who want to be Girl Scouts can receive financial assistance to cover membership fees and uniforms. Donations also will support leadership programs and summer camp experiences to help girls thrive, Higgins added.

“Now more than ever, girls need opportunities to be engaged and to connect with each other after a long period of isolation, social distancing and online learning,” Higgins said. “We appreciate the community’s support to empower girls and help them achieve their fullest potential.”

Keep up to date with what's happening in your community by subscribing to your local Patch newsletter here.