Girls Inc. members celebrated their inaugural one-year scholarships to Young Chefs Academy by baking a special dessert — the favorite of philanthropist Virginia B. Toulmin — in her honor.

Girls Inc. members baked the dessert, a favorite of philanthropist Virginia Toulmin, in honor of their one-year scholarships to Young Chefs Academy

April 7 was the day the Virginia B. Toulmin Foundation presented its annual college scholarships for Girls Inc., to a group of eight girls facing financial difficulties. 

It also was National Coffee Cake Day, and coffee cake happened to be a dessert beloved by Sarasota philanthropist Virginia B. Toulmin during her lifetime.

The foundation partnered with Young Chefs Academy to offer something additional: one-year scholarships of $23,000 to the academy spread out for 10 girls, which kicked off with a coffee cake and coffee cupcake-making session.

The event featured a reading of an excerpt from the soon-to-be-published children's book "Virginia B. Goes to the Symphony," by its author Kevin Pease.

"We do a lot of health and nutrition classes with the girls, so this is a very good tie in with all of those classes that we do," said Angie Stringer, president and CEO of Girl's Inc. "We have a whole mind and body curriculum that we use to teach girls about health and wellness and nutrition as well."

"It feels like I'm special in a way, because not many people get to have that scholarship," said Mahogany, a third grader. "There are only, like, 10 kids, so I'm one of those 10 kids, so it makes me feel like I'm a part of something.

By Ian Swaby