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 
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
To learn more, please contact Shaheen Husain, Chief Development
Officer, at shusain@girlscoutsoc.org or
949/461-8838 (office).
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
Gifts That Pay You Income
Learn more about our Juliette Gordon Low Society Donors
Lissa “Flicker” Alfred
Lissa “Flicker” Alfred has a passion for sparking confidence in girls. Famous for her musical inspiration throughout the Girl Scout community, Flicker has extended her legacy by including both Girl Scouts of Orange County and Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles in her estate plans.
The impact of Flicker—whose camp name comes from the song Flicker of the Campfire—is felt across the nation and internationally. She has led Girl Scouts in song and sisterhood at camp, songfests, singalongs, and song shares, from Our Cabana in Mexico to PAX Lodge in the United Kingdom. With a guitar strapped to her hip, Flicker has created music and memories for Girl Scouts from Sangam in India to Our Chalet in Switzerland, and even a GSUSA Destinations Trip to the Galapagos Islands.
Flicker joined Girl Scouts of Orange County in college, working at Camp Scherman as a leader in aquatics, primitive camping, and guitar/singing programs. For over 50 years she has performed with troops and taught hundreds of Girl Scout Leaders at Southern California’s Song Share. In 2012, she sang at the Girl Scouts’ National Convention in Houston, TX and joined thousands of troops across the US at Girl Scouts’ 100th Anniversary events. At Girl Scouts’ 2015 National Convention in Salt Lake City, UT, she led song workshops and was the emcee and song leader for the Singing After Dark program. Flicker joined the Troubadour song leaders at Girl Scouts’ 2017 National Convention in Columbus, OH, performing in the Hall of Experiences & Singing After Dark workshops. She also joined the 2018 and 2019 Songfest Jamboree staff, teaching guitar to Girl Scouts of all age levels.
Now retired as a middle school teacher, Flicker is traveling the country, teaching songs and guitar to Girl Scouts to keep music and traditions alive and inspire upcoming generations to be their best. Says Flicker, “A teacher effects eternity. She never knows where her influence stops. I believe in Girl Power. Our girls gain so much through the Girl Scout program. That is why I do what I do and continue to give. I see the ripple effect of our work as leaders.”
In addition to teaching guitar and song workshops, Flicker serves as an event photographer for Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles. She is also the National Coordinator of the Friendship Knot Club, comprised of over 100 Girl Scout Leaders and girl members who send cards and friendship knots to Girl Scout families for both celebrations or members needing some Girl Scout TLC during family medical issues or end of life events.
To learn more about how you can join dedicated women like “Flicker” in carrying on the traditions and impact of Girl Scouts as a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, please contact Barbara Powers, Major Gifts Officer at Girl Scouts of Orange County, at bpowers@girlscoutsoc.org.
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
Ann A. Crane
Mohamed and Gulie Hamir
A Legacy of Giving
When Mohamed and Gulie Hamir came to the United States over 50 years ago, they dreamt of streets paved in gold and abundant opportunity. Over the years, they built an incredible life together, including prioritizing community involvement, an ethic ingrained in them by their mothers, women who were exemplars of strength and caring. Since Mohamed retired from a successful career in financial services and Gulie as a professional nurse, they now honor their families through philanthropic endeavors focused on supporting girls and women, most especially Girl Scouts.
The Hamirs’ involvement with Girl Scouts of Orange County over the past 13 years traverses nearly every aspect of the organization’s mission. From supporting robust STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) programming to entrepreneurship and outdoors opportunities, they are committed to seeing their legacy realized through the next generation of female leaders. They are especially driven to support the advancement of gender equity and the values of hard work and initiative underscored in Girl Scouts.
Fittingly, Gulie was a Girl Scout herself and she and Mohamed raised their daughter Zeena Dhalla (now a successful health and wellness entrepreneur) as a proud Girl Scout. The most profound validation of the power of Girl Scouts has come through the Hamirs’ granddaughter, Zaleeya. Adopted from an orphanage in Kolkata, India, she struggled with the social and emotional challenges common to adoptees who experienced trauma. After several very rough early years, Zaleeya joined Girl Scouts, with mom Zeena as a Troop Leader and dad Azeem Dhalla (now a member of the Girl Scouts of Orange County Board of Directors) an enthusiastic Troop Volunteer. “Within a year or two, Zaleeya became more outgoing; the change in her personality was unmistakable,” Mohamed recently said. “We saw clearly how Girl Scouts truly comes at just the right time in girls’ lives – the formative years when involvement can encourage healthy behaviors and offer support systems in a safe environment that promotes resiliency and well-being.”
That impact, and their genuine desire to give back to the country that gave so much to them, motivates the Hamirs to live a life of philanthropy. Earlier this year, they established an extraordinary endowment gift to Girl Scouts of Orange County. Inspired by the opportunities presented to him as an immigrant, Mohamed approached their charitable investment with a fresh and creative perspective. “If after one year in America, we could finance the purchase of a car, and within five years a house, can’t we also do the same to finance a legacy?” Therein was born their approach: Giving from a donor-advised fund and directly from their IRA account, the Hamirs glean tremendous tax benefits, and can structure a long-term giving plan with an organization, Girl Scouts of Orange County, that is close to their hearts. Their legacy is secured and lasting support for the local community is realized.
As Gulie has emphasized, the Hamir endowment will target under-represented girls and their families and support membership growth, two areas of critical importance for Girl Scouts of Orange County. The Hamirs are also founding members of Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Promise Circle of Giving, joining with other stakeholders to maximize their investment and advocacy for the lifechanging benefits of the Girl Scout Leadership Experience.
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.
Nancy and Scott Nygren
Driven by a lifelong passion to help girls “see what they can be,” former CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County (GSOC) Nancy Nygren and her husband Scott continue their quest to champion girl ambition through their estate pledge to Girl Scouts of Orange County’s Juliette Gordon Low Society.
Nancy attributes her love of adventure and being a lifelong learner to her days as a Girl Scout growing up in Florida. The experiences she enjoyed and skills she gained played a pivotal role in her career and leadership journey through the aerospace and nonprofit sectors. Throughout her life, Nancy has had a strong affinity for helping girls and women live their best life.
As CEO of Girl Scouts of Orange County from 2005 through 2017, Nancy saw firsthand the dramatic impact Girl Scouts has on girls’ lives. “Watching girls grow from Daisies to Ambassadors and take on amazing Bronze, Silver, and Gold Award projects; seeing them become wiser through financial literacy workshops and badges; and watching that ‘aha’ moment as girls discover STEM, has been immensely rewarding. Girl Scouts provides an incredible breadth of unique experiences that have a lifelong impact on girls as they become strong, successful, independent women,” says Nancy.
A “STEM Girl” herself, Nancy shares that one of her proudest moments is the 2017 opening of the Argyros Girl Scout Leadership Center in Newport Beach, a first-of-its-kind leadership venue where girls enjoy the waterfront surroundings while they explore careers, the role STEM plays in them, and learn to take action to create sustainable solutions to community issues through GSOC’s signature INSPIRE program.
For Nancy, enjoying retirement means remaining active and continuing to give back. She paints in watercolors, enjoys running and walking, and is currently writing a book, The Adventures of Jamocha, about her beloved chocolate Labrador. Nancy is also trying out volunteer activities, looking for something that speaks to her as Girl Scouts did. Her husband Scott has a passion for flying and, until recently, owned a Bonanza V-tail airplane. Today, he keeps busy golfing, practicing golf, and watching golf on TV, leading Scott to recently break 80, a very good thing! The two have been enjoying touring California and are looking forward to a five-day biking excursion in France this fall.
Scott and Nancy’s aspiration is that every girl experience the lifelong benefits that Girl Scouts provides. They joined the Juliette Gordon Low Society so that their last gift memorializes their commitment to ensure that Girl Scouts’ time-tested, research-backed programs are available for future generations of girls.
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.
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.
Ethel Watts
Ethel Watts was a trailblazer, visionary, and brightly shining star to all who knew her. Now, upon her passing, Ethel’s passion for learning and adventure – her light – will live on through a transformative legacy gift she left to Girl Scouts of Orange County as part of her estate.
With multiple degrees in physics and math, Ethel led a highly successful career researching atomic energy, analyzing inorganic crystalline materials, and working at Vandenberg Air Force Base, Houston Control Center, and Cape Canaveral. While Ethel did not have children of her own, she volunteered extensively in Girl Scouts’ Huntington Beach Service Unit. Friends fondly remember how much Ethel loved camping with troops, teaching girls how to make telescopes to explore the sky, and sharing her professional experiences to inspire their dreams.
Ethel’s generosity enables Girl Scouts of Orange County to launch a $1 million Camp Scherman Revitalization Campaign so other Girl Scout advocates can have a lasting impact on our awardwinning 700-acre camp in the San Jacinto mountains. Through the campaign, the camp will be revitalized with a new zipline, renovation of the Stahr Amphitheater, and, in an homage to Ethel’s love of space, an added telescope to nurture nighttime stargazing.
Girl Scouts of Orange County is eternally grateful to Ethel Watts for inspiring and mentoring so many Girl Scouts, and for the future her generosity helps to build.
To find more resources on planned giving instruments, please visit legacy.girlscouts.org.
