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CREATE HER STORY. THIS IS SUMMER MCKINNEY, THE 2025 AMERICAN GIRL DOLL OF THE YEAR. SHE’S FROM COLUMBIA, MARYLAND, AND AS YOU CAN TELL BY HER ACCESSORIES, ANIMALS ARE HER PASSION. SHE’S AN ENTREPRENEUR. SHE’S VERY INTERESTED IN LEARNING ABOUT ANIMALS, BUT ALSO HOW SHE CAN MAKE MONEY. EACH AMERICAN GIRL HAS A STORY. SUMMERS WAS WRITTEN BY CLAIRE HUTTON, WHO GREW UP IN HOWARD COUNTY. BECAUSE SUMMER VOLUNTEERS AT AN ANIMAL SHELTER, AMERICAN GIRL ASKED THE MARYLAND SPCA TO CONSULT, SAYING IN PART, OUR TEAM WAS HAPPY TO WORK WITH MARYLAND’S SPCA TO ENSURE SUMMER STORY WAS ROOTED IN AUTHENTICITY. WE REALLY HELPED SUMMER WITH HER JOB, MAKING SURE THAT WHEN SHE WAS INTRODUCING HERSELF TO A NEW DOG OR ANOTHER DOG WAS BEING INTRODUCED TO ONE OF THE DOGS THAT SHE WAS WALKING, THAT SHE ALWAYS HAD ADULT SUPERVISION, THAT SHE WASN’T WALKING TOO MANY DOGS AT THE SAME TIME. ONE OF THE OTHER THINGS I THOUGHT WAS PRETTY NEAT THAT WE WERE ABLE TO GUIDE THEM ON IS HER TREAT. MAKING BUSINESS, MAKING SURE THAT THE RECIPES WERE ACTUALLY THINGS THAT ANIMALS COULD EAT. AND WHILE SUMMER HAS A DOG AT HOME, IT’S AT THE SHELTER WHERE SHE LEARNS TO LOVE CATS. KATIE FLORY WITH THE MARYLAND SPCA SAYS THIS IS AN EXCITING OPPORTUNITY TO HELP PROVIDE KNOWLEDGE TO YOUNG PEOPLE ABOUT HOW TO PROPERLY CARE FOR ANIMALS TO CREATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ANIMAL LOVERS. SO TO BE A PART OF THIS, THE MARYLAND SPCA IS REALLY REACHING THEIR MISSION AND GETTING OUT THERE TO A MUCH BIGGER AUDIENCE. SO IF SUMMER ENDS UP INSPIRING YOUR KIDS TO WANT TO VOLUNTEER THE AGE TO DO SO HERE AT THE MARYLAND SPCA IS 17, BUT THEY DO HAVE PLENTY OF PROGRAMS FOR YOUNGER KIDS, AND YOU CAN FIND OUT MORE ON OUR WEBSITE H
2025 American Girl 'Girl of The Year' draws inspiration from Maryland SPCA
The new 2025 American Girl "Girl of The Year" happens to be from Maryland."Summer McKinny" is the 2025 American Girl of the Year, who's from Columbia, and as one can tell by her accessories, animals are her passion.Katie Flory, with the Maryland SPCA, helped come up with the concept for the doll."She's an entrepreneur. She's very interested in learning about animals, but also how she can make money," Flory told 11 News.Each American Girl has a story. Summer's was written by Clare Hutton, who grew up in Howard County, Maryland. Because Summer volunteers at an animal shelter, American Girl asked the Maryland SPCA to consult."Our team was happy to work with Maryland's SPCA to ensure Summer's story was rooted in authenticity," said Julie Parks, with American Girl."We really help Summer with her job, making sure that when she was introducing herself to a new dog, or another dog was being introduced to a dog that she was walking, that she had adult supervision, that she wasn't walking too many dogs at the same time," Flory told 11 News. "One of the other things that I thought was pretty neat that we were able to guide them on is her treat-making business, making sure that the recipes actually were things that animals could eat."Another part of her story is while Summer has a dog at home, it's at the shelter where she learns to love cats. Flory told sister station 11 News this is an exciting opportunity to help provide knowledge to young people about how to care for animals."To create the next generation of animal lovers, to be a part of this, the Maryland SPCA is really reaching their mission to get out there to a much bigger audience," Flory told 11 News.
The new 2025 American Girl "Girl of The Year" happens to be from Maryland.
"Summer McKinny" is the 2025 American Girl of the Year, who's from Columbia, and as one can tell by her accessories, animals are her passion.
Katie Flory, with the Maryland SPCA, helped come up with the concept for the doll.
"She's an entrepreneur. She's very interested in learning about animals, but also how she can make money," Flory told 11 News.
Each American Girl has a story. Summer's was written by Clare Hutton, who grew up in Howard County, Maryland. Because Summer volunteers at an animal shelter, American Girl asked the Maryland SPCA to consult.
"Our team was happy to work with Maryland's SPCA to ensure Summer's story was rooted in authenticity," said Julie Parks, with American Girl.
"We really help Summer with her job, making sure that when she was introducing herself to a new dog, or another dog was being introduced to a dog that she was walking, that she had adult supervision, that she wasn't walking too many dogs at the same time," Flory told 11 News. "One of the other things that I thought was pretty neat that we were able to guide them on is her treat-making business, making sure that the recipes actually were things that animals could eat."
Another part of her story is while Summer has a dog at home, it's at the shelter where she learns to love cats. Flory told sister station 11 News this is an exciting opportunity to help provide knowledge to young people about how to care for animals.
"To create the next generation of animal lovers, to be a part of this, the Maryland SPCA is really reaching their mission to get out there to a much bigger audience," Flory told 11 News.
English (US)