Juliette Gordon Low Society

The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.

– Juliette Gordon Low, Founder, Girl Scouts of the USA

The Juliette Gordon Low Society is a very special group of friends who share their legacy to create a brighter future by investing in girls, who will change the world.

You become part of this distinguished group when you leave a gift in your will, trust, or other account for Girl Scouts of Orange County.

Benefits for Members of the Juliette Gordon Low Society

Recognition as a member of the Society in our Annual Report, on our Donor Wall, and on the Girl Scouts of the USA (GSUSA) Planned Giving webpage
A special pinning ceremony, welcoming you into the Society
Invitations to Girl Scout hosted special events, both locally and with GSUSA
Updates about the work of Girl Scouts, nationally and in your community
Enjoyment and fulfillment in knowing your gift will help keep Girl Scouting, the preeminent leadership development experience for girls, alive for future generations

Planned gifts make an important and substantial difference in our council’s income, and often are game-changing in program delivery, facility upgrades, and reaching new girls. An estate gift is transformational, sharing with others the value you place on giving all girls the opportunity to become the best version of themselves.

There are many ways through which you can make a planned gift.

View our Juliette Gordon Low Society Members to date.

Examples of Planned Giving

Your will or trust
Beneficiary designation
Gifts that reduce your taxes, such as real estate, life insurance, securities, or savings bonds
Gifts that pay you income, such as a charitable gift annuity
Gifts that make an impact now, such as a donor advised fund, IRA Charitable Rollover, securities, real estate, property, cash, or tribute/memorial gift.

To learn more, please contact Barbara Powers, VP of Fund Development, at bpowers@girlscoutsoc.org or 949/461-8814 (office) or 949/525-8775 (cell).

The easiest way to ensure that your love and legacy of Girl Scouts lives on is to include Girl Scouts of Orange County in your will or trust or as a beneficiary of your assets.

Tips for Drawing Up a Bequest: The following language may help you and your attorney when drawing up a bequest that meets your needs.

“I give to Girl Scouts of Orange County, a nonprofit corporation currently located at 9500 Toledo Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618, or its successor thereto, ______________* [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose.”

* If you are interested in supporting a specific project or program, it is best to discuss your plans with our planned giving professionals before completing your bequest language to confirm Girl Scouts can meet your wishes.

Please note: The policies of Girl Scouts of the USA do not allow Girl Scouts or its representatives to serve as personal representative, executor, trustee, or witness for a will or trust.

Legal name: Girl Scouts Orange County
Address: 9500 Toledo Way, Suite 100, Irvine, CA 92618

Federal Tax ID number: 95-2023244

We encourage you to consult an estate-planning attorney before deciding about your estate plan.

Learn more about our Juliette Gordon Low Society Donors

Ann A. Crane: With a heart of gold and a talent in culinary arts, Ann A. Crane is whipping up inspiration daily as a Juliette Gordon Low Society Member! Ann, a life-long Girl Scout, earned the First Class Award, and is now recognized as a Gold Award Girl Scout!

A huge believer in Girl Scouts and the Gold Award program, Ann has served as a Board Member, Committee Member on multiple committees, and is a current Gold Award Trainer and Interviewer. Ann makes time to help girls gain leadership skills and earn their Gold Award, providing mentorship and guidance on their service journey. Over her years serving, Ann has received the Thanks I and Thanks II Awards, as well as the Volunteer of Excellence award.

"I feel a real commitment to help all girls rise, take risks, grow and become leaders in the world. Girl Scouts of Orange County provides that opportunity for our girls here in the OC, and I am honored to support their efforts to create our future leaders."

Ann advocates for all girls and women, not only through Girl Scouts, but through past service on the board for Human Options to break the cycle of domestic violence. Professionally, Ann teaches Culinary Arts and Hospitality at the Orange County School of the Arts, lending her passion to help youth find their passion and place in the field of hospitality.

"Girl Scout camp played a huge role in my life. And while those memories and experiences are not quite as crystal clear, the feeling of contentment, campfire singing, being in nature, working with my peers and looking up to the older women who became my role models is still there. I stepped away from one group for decades, but was brought back in recently by a friend, and it was as though I had never left. Sure, we're grayer and have more wrinkles, but we are the same warm-hearted supportive, caring women we were back then. We're retired or retiring, and still making time for Girl Scouts. Still giving back to the camp we loved, we are creating new memories with the younger girls and older women who will follow us."

In her business career, Ann has been a Girl Scout camp cook, line cook, manager and vice president of restaurant operations. In purchasing Meyerhof’s Catering, Ann found that she thrived as a small business owner. She wore many hats and was intimately involved in sales, recipe development, marketing, staff training, customer relations and more. After selling Meyerhof’s in 2012, she took a year off, and then decided to give back by teaching Culinary and Hospitality at the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA).

Matching food and beverage, coming up with fun things to do with food, and talking about all of it -- well, those are her passions! Ann also leads the way through philanthropy and volunteering, and paired up with mixologist Joe G. to entertain Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Promise Circle and Juliette Gordon Low Society Members (she is a member of both groups) at a March 2021 virtual event. Ann created home-made marshmallows, Mexican Hot Chocolate Bombs, and some fun recipes to pair with Girl Scout cookie inspired cocktails created by Joe G. It was like having our own Girl Scout Food Network show with goodies delivered to guests.

Ann is open to new ideas and willing to share everything. Well - everything except the recipe to her Chocolate Cookie Monsters.

To join Ann in investing in girls who will change the world, click here to discover how you can become a Juliette Gordon Low Society member by including Girl Scouts of Orange County in your philanthropic plans.
Sharon Z Barry: The founder of Girl Scouts, Juliette Gordon Low, long ago claimed that, “ The work of today is the history of tomorrow, and we are its makers.” Without a doubt, one of those makers is our own Sharon Z. Barry, whom we are recognizing this year for 60 years of extraordinary service to Girl Scouts of Orange County.

Sharon was born in the Philippines and grew up in both the Philippines and Cuba with her family, where her father worked for International Harvester Company. When she came to the United States in 1938, Sharon joined Girl Scouts and went on to earn its highest award for girls, the First Class Award (now called the Girl Scout Gold Award). The lifelong friendships and leadership skills Sharon learned in Girl Scouts gave her the courage and confidence to dream big and live her best life. So when Sharon’s daughter joined Girl Scouts, of course Sharon stepped up to be a Troop Leader. Like her mom, Sharon’s daughter also earned Girl Scouts’ highest award.

Sharon has achieved numerous accolades through the years. She was recognized with the esteemed Thanks Badge in 1992 and Thanks II Badge in 1998, and has also been the recipient of the Outstanding Volunteer, Gold Owl Award and Gold Key Award. Sharon has held volunteer roles as a Service Unit Leader in Huntington Beach, Service Unit Manager, and ran the Holiday Craft Workshop for 24 years and the Backyard Cooking Event for nine years – both of which were a big hit. Among her many fond memories of Girl Scouts, Sharon shares – “My favorite part of my volunteer experience has been the opportunities I’ve had to inspire other women to help change girls’ lives through the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.”

As a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, Sharon will leave a continued legacy of her passion for Girl Scouts through an estate gift. Sharon invites you to join her and many other change-makers in demonstrating your commitment to building resilient girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place, by including Girl Scouts of Orange County in your will or trust. To learn about the many ways you can make a planned gift, please reach out to Barbara Powers, VP of Fund Development, at bpowers@girlscoutsoc.org or 949-525-8775.

Congratulations Sharon on 60 amazing years of service to Girl Scouts of Orange County! On behalf of our nearly 33,000 members of Girls Scouts of County, we applaud your countless contributions to Girl Scouting through the years and your relentless commitment to preparing girls for a lifetime of leadership
Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder: When Dianne Belk was 5 years old, her rural Mississippi family couldn’t afford the $1 annual dues for a Girl Scout membership. She and her mother came up with a plan to sell the eggs from one of their chickens to pay her dues.

As her Girl Scout participation grew, so did the expenses. Dianne recalls saying to her mother, “Mama, I need another chicken!” Dianne went on to earn the Gold Award – the highest award in Girl Scouts – and she became a Girl Scout for life.

Dianne notes, “My husband, Lawrence Calder, and I have lived, worked, and volunteered in many councils. As Girl Scout donors, we had been making annual gifts, buying cookies, and attending annual events. When we considered our wills and estate documents, we realized that the question for us as long time donor and supporters, wasn’t – Why would we leave a legacy gift to Girl Scouts? The question was simply – Why wouldn’t we?’”

In 2012, Dianne was named the Founding Chair of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, which honors those who chose to remember Girl Scouts in their wills and estate plans. “When Lawrence and I decided to leave a gift in our wills to Girl Scouts, we learned that most Girl Scout councils were not actively promoting planned giving as a way for annual donors, volunteers and alums to show support of Girl Scouts. Since then, we have been eager to spread the word to let all our supporters know that they, too, can leave a meaningful gift to Girl Scouts.” Under her leadership, membership in the society has grown from 342 to over 4700 nationwide.

Dianne and Lawrence frequently advocate for planned giving throughout the Girl Scout Movement – both virtually and at councils and conventions. They are often asked why and in response, Dianne shares the impact that Girl Scouts had on her life; “As a farm girl from very limited means and even fewer options, Girl Scouts was my ticket to exploring the world’s opportunities. One memorable exploration was a trip down the Mississippi River on an old steamboat with 500 Girl Scouts from the Mississippi/Arkansas/Tennessee area. So many “firsts”—all of them made even more special by the camaraderie with Girl Scout sisters. I was forever changed.”

Memories like these remind Dianne that she owes much of her success in life to her 12 years in Girl Scouts and its impact on her goals, values, and character.

In 2017, this concept of giving back and leaving a legacy for future generations turned into a thoughtful and inspiring plan with the announcement of the Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder Girl Scout Movement-wide Planned Giving Challenge. This ground-breaking challenge inspired 834 new planned gifts that benefit Girl Scouts across the country, with a total impact exceeding $30 million. Dianne and Lawrence made irrevocable gifts to each of the 102 councils that met the challenge.

In 2019, in addition to naming Dianne an Honorary Trustee, Girl Scouts of the USA Board of Directors created a new and prestigious Visionary Award to honor forward-thinking individuals who have engaged with Girl Scout donors, volunteers, and staff in new and profoundly meaningful ways, resulting in significantly strengthening the Girl Scout Movement. Girl Scouts National President presented the inaugural Visionary Award to during the 2020 National Council Session.

“Dianne’s vision and the impact of the decades of her extraordinary service and dedication to the Girl Scout mission inspired the creation of this award. To honor her legacy, the award will be named the ‘Dianne Belk Visionary Award.’”

Dianne’s message to Girl Scout supporters all over the world is: “My husband and I invite all Girl Scout supporters to join us in the Juliette Gordon Low Society as donors to this vital and demonstrably effective organization. And when you do, we encourage you to tell your council or Girl Scouts of the USA about your intent so we can thank you and honor you!”
Molly Jolly: In 2017, Dianne Belk, founding chair of Girl Scouts’ Juliette Gordon Low Society, and Lawrence Calder challenged participants at Girl Scouts’ National Convention in Columbus, Ohio to join them as Juliette Gordon Low Society members (those who commit to leaving a legacy by including Girl Scouts in their estate plan). Molly Jolly, Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Board Chair and proud alum who has earned her Girl Scout Gold Award, the highest award a Girl Scout can earn, answered the call and joined that day.

“It was an easy decision,” shared Molly. “I am a proud Girl Scout alum, and I believe my spirit and character were profoundly shaped by the experiences I received by growing up as a Girl Scout. I learned about leadership, teamwork, and decision making-- and developed respect for myself and others, my community, and my country. I particularly enjoyed earning badges. I took pride in every one I earned. They were a visible reminder of my accomplishments. And while my initial goal was to proudly display a fully decorated sash, I quickly discovered that Girl Scouts had a far bigger impact on my life. I developed lifelong leadership skills, like goal setting and critical thinking.”

“Because of Girl Scouts, I learned I could do anything and be anything -- but I had to be willing to do the work and take risks. When I found myself scared to speak in front of a group or climb that mountain, my troop and my leaders gave me the support I needed to try. I am forever indebted to my troop leaders, Mrs. Nevers and my Mother, who kept me engaged and inspired through Girl Scouts.”

By making a gift to Girl Scouts through the Juliette Gordon Low Society, Molly is a champion to girls, just like her Mom and Mrs. Nevers were to her. “I know I am leaving a legacy by investing in girls, who will change the world.”

Today, Molly serves as the Chair of Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Board of Directors and professionally as Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration for Angels Baseball. She was able to combine her education in accounting and business with her passion for sports to achieve her dream job. And while the path to her current career was not easy, Girl Scouts gave her the courage, confidence, and resiliency to achieve any goal she set for herself.

“I am deeply grateful to Girl Scouts for giving me so many opportunities to build lifelong leadership skills. If Girl Scouts made a difference in your life, like it did mine, I hope you will review your estate plans and the legacy you choose to leave. By becoming a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, I know my support will help build our future female leaders and ensure that every girl, regardless of her circumstances, has the opportunity to dream big and do bigger.”

Molly was recently profiled in the September issue of Orange Coast Magazine, among 35 Kickass Women in O.C.
Jill Patterson: Juliette Gordon Low Society Spotlight – Jill Patterson

What does the world need now? Ask Girl Scouts of Orange County volunteer Jill Patterson, and she will tell you – Girl Scouts!

"I believe deeply in the Girl Scout movement, one that offers all girls opportunities to learn new skills, try new activities, and give back to the community. In new leader orientations, I stress that the Girl Scout Law is not just words. It is a model to live by for girls and their leaders. Girl Scouts make the world a better place for everyone.”

Jill believes in Girl Scouts so much that she has included Girl Scouts of Orange County in her bequest plans, making her a member of Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Juliette Gordon Low Society.

“I was never a Girl Scout, but I felt it was important for my daughter to be involved in an organization that focused on character, service, and opportunity, and registered her as soon as a troop was available. When my daughter was in third grade, I became a troop leader and continued as leader and co-leader until all the girls graduated high school. It was an incredible learning experience, and I am so proud of what my girls accomplished.”

One of Jill’s best memories was being a delegate for the 2017 National Girl Scout Convention in Columbus, Ohio. She was thrilled to see Girl Scout government in action as delegates debated and voted on policies. “The Hall of Experiences was incredible, and knowing that the conference was girl-planned and girl-run, with one of the girls being from Girl Scouts of Orange County, was exhilarating. Additionally, one of the National Gold Award Girl Scouts that year was a Girl Scout from Orange County whom I knew!”

Jill’s service spans many areas, from serving as the Brea Service Unit (SU) Manager for 10 years, being a SU Level Consultant, SU Fall Product Sales Manager for both Brea and La Habra, and volunteering at GSOC’s Brea Day Camp since 2001. She has been a Council trainer for New Leader Orientation since 2004 and has trained hundreds of new leaders.

Jill loves being with the girls and currently serves on the STEM Expo, Hiking, and Day of Service Committees. “I love taking girls on hikes and giving them the opportunity to try something new. I can hardly wait to take them out hiking again! Along with a great team, we just offered Brownie Girl Scouts a pottery workshop where they earned the Potter Badge. I am very proud of how quickly GSOC pivoted to offer virtual programs during this COVID-19 pandemic time.”

Girl Scouts of Orange County deeply appreciates Jill’s long-standing commitment and has honored Jill with the Girl Scout Spotlight Award, Honor Award, Thanks I Badge, and OneOC Spirit of Volunteerism Award. Thank you Jill for your passion and dedication to sharing the Girl Scout mission with others.

To learn more about how you can leave your legacy as a Girl Scout advocate, please contact Barbara Powers, VP of Fund Development at bpowers@girlscoutsoc.org or call 949-525-8775.
Nella Webster O'Grady: Innovative, authentic, philanthropic, and visionary. A member of Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Board of Directors since 2014, Nella’s strategic and fiduciary contributions have been nothing short of remarkable. Her support has spanned many roles, including Chair of the Friends of the Girl Scout Trust, major donor to the Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center, Committee Chair and Former Honoree of Celebrate Leadership, and member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society. Nella’s support extends beyond Girl Scouts to many nonprofits across Orange County, which led the Association of Fundraising Professional’s National Philanthropy Day to recognize her as its esteemed Outstanding Philanthropist in 2020.

Nella’s passion for Girl Scouts began with her mother, who was her troop leader in Panama and Guam, where she grew up. Nella saw firsthand how Girl Scouts helped girls develop self-esteem and leadership skills. Her father too had a huge impact on her life. During the Vietnam War, she recalls him hooking up a Ham radio to help soldiers at the naval hospital in Guam reach their loved ones.

“My parents were not wealthy, but through their actions I learned it was important to share what you have with those who don’t,” says Nella. “That’s why I am so proud to support Girl Scouts for the long-term with a planned gift.”

In addition to her philanthropic work, Nella balances life as a wife, mother, grandmother, and friend to many—all roles she cares for deeply