Sometimes it takes one blouse and a woman with a will of iron to make an extraordinary difference.
Gretchen Scott began supporting Elizabeth’s Hope in honor of her young neighbor and family friend, Elizabeth Minter, who was diagnosed with and incurable brain tumor which eventually killed her.
Gretchen designed two special cotton blouses for the cause, ultimately selling thousands and donating 100% of the proceeds to support pediatric brain tumor research at Weill Cornell Medical.
What began as an effort to help one child and her family grew into something much larger. Elizabeth’s Hope build support for the pediatric brain tumor research program at Weill Cornell Medicine which later became the Children’s Brain Tumor Project Foundation. This Foundation's mission is the mission to advance research and treatment for children with rare and difficult-to-treat brain tumors.
In recognition of her longstanding support, Gretchen will be honored by the Children’s Brain Tumor Project Foundation at its annual No Laughing Matter Gala at the New York Athletic Club in the Fall 2026.
The River Community Clinic created to provide free healthcare to the uninsured throughout the Thousand Islands region.
Her land..... her people.......
Gretchen established the clinic in memory of her father, Dr. George Sturtz, a pediatrician who dedicated his life to caring for others. This clinic provides primary and preventive care, chronic disease management, vaccinations, care coordination and assistance connecting patients with longer-term healthcare resources.
Hibiscus Children’s Center provides a safe home and critical support for children and teens who have experienced abuse, neglect or abandonment.
Hibiscus Village is made of eight homes which create a close-knit environment where young people receive mental health care, educational support, life-skills training and career preparation designed to help them build stable, independent futures.
Gretchen Scott Designs supports Hibiscus through its annual Blue Ribbon Luncheon & Fashion Show, where Gretchen has served as a featured keynote speaker and returned year after year in support of the organization’s mission. Most recently, she joined the grand finale of the fashion show, closing the runway alongside the final model, dressed as the bride.
Georgie’s Scholars was created in honor of Gretchen’s father, George Sturtz, an accomplished physician, scientist and scholar who devoted much of his life to caring for children throughout Northern New York. He founded the North Country Children’s Clinic, reflecting a lifelong commitment to service, education and his community.
Gretchen continued that legacy at St. Lawrence University, her alma mater, by creating a scholarship for students from the North Country. Georgie’s Scholars provides financial support to students pursuing their education at St. Lawrence and helps make opportunities that might otherwise be out of reach possible.
To fund the program, Gretchen created an athletic collection inspired by the stained glass of the university’s historic Herring-Cole Hall.
Every October, our in-store Think Pink Campaign raises thousands of dollars through the sale of our pink items. Gretchen is a two-time cancer survivor so she knows firsthand how important research, treatment and support can be for patients and their families.
Funds raised through Think Pink help support cancer research, transportation to treatment, lodging for patients who must travel for care and other resources provided by the American Cancer Society.
Think Pink is our way of turning a personal fight into something larger, using our stores, our customers and our community to help support others in theirs.
Gretchen’s commitment began during a visit to a Maasai village in Kenya, where she learned that educational opportunities were often prioritized for boys while girls were left behind. Determined to help change that, she began sponsoring the education of Maasai girls through boarding school, with the goal of supporting them through college and, where possible, graduate school.
Working closely with her safari guide, Jackson, who oversees the program locally, Gretchen has been able to follow the girls’ progress firsthand. They are thriving academically and looking toward futures in nursing, aviation, journalism and beyond. One student, Happiness, finished in the top 5% of her class at a nationally ranked high school.
What began with a few students has become a long-term commitment to giving young women greater access to education, opportunity and independence.
