Legacy Giving
Take the James Burl Belk, Jr. Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada Outdoor Challenge!
Dianne Belk (Lifetime Girl Scout and founder of the national Juliette Gordon Low Society) has issued GSSN an exciting challenge. In honor and memory of her father, James Burl Belk, Jr., Dianne and her husband, Lawrence Calder, are thrilled to announce the five-year $250,000 James Burl Belk, Jr. Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada Outdoor Challenge grant to benefit registered GSSN Girl Scouts through camp and outdoor scholarship opportunities.
To trigger the match, GSSN must secure $250,000 in outdoor-designated planned gifts. To meet the James Burl Belk, Jr. Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada Outdoor Challenge, GSSN is seeking participation from volunteers, lifetime members, alumni, parents, staff, community supporters - and all those who love camping.
Who is James Burl Belk, Jr.? 
James Burl Belk, Jr.
January 21, 1922 – May 19, 1960
Born in Roundaway, Mississippi to James Burl Belk, Sr. and Mamie Ailene Buckner, he was the second child and the oldest son of his soon to be twelve brothers and sisters. He attended Linn school, leaving in 1940 to join the Civilian Conservation Corps, in hopes of helping his parents. He arrived on October 3, 1940, at Camp Wells, near Elko, Nevada in the Ruby Mountains. Eventually, this property was used a Girl Scout camp for many years.
During his time in the Civilian Conservation Corps in Nevada, he learned heavy equipment operations, construction techniques and other skills which he used for rest of his life.
Returning to Mississippi, he married Georgia Wiggers. The day after their marriage in 1941, Pearl Harbor was bombed and he was called to the US Army immediately. He served for three years until the end of the war.
Re-establishing his home in Mississippi, not far from his birthplace, he and Georgia were sharecroppers, as their parents and grandparents before them had been. They had three daughters, Mamie Elizabeth, Gloria Lynn, and Dianne.
Referring often to his time in Nevada, he spoke with respect of the beautiful mountains, the clear air and the friendly people.
He was well on his way toward improving his family’s life using his Nevada-learned skills, when he died in an accident at age 38.
His daughter, Dianne Belk, is a lifetime Girl Scout and the Founding Chair of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, formed by Girl Scouts of the USA to honor its founder and those who chose to remember Girl Scouts in their will and estate plans.
In honor of her father, Dianne and her husband, Lawrence Calder, have committed a $250,000 estate gift to be directed to camping experiences for the Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada when matching gifts are obtained.
Who can participate?
Who will my gift benefit?
How do I participate?
Where will my gift be recognized?
Let's get started!
Join the Juliette Gordon Low Society
The Juliette Gordon Low Society recognizes individuals who make a planned or deferred gift to Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada, assuring that Girl Scouting will be available to future generations of girls. You can translate your lifelong passion for Girl Scouts into a legacy that will build girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place for many years to come.
As a member of Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada's JGL Society, you will be invited to attend special recognition and educational events, receive the society newsletter, be recognized as a society member in select GSSN publications, access to digital resources, and receive a special membership pin.
GSSN Juliette Gordon Low Society Members
Thank you to all our generous donors!
Amber & Kyle Aiton Anonymous - 2 Erik and Eva Michelle Attaway Dianne Belk and *Cookie Bible Pam Boe Paula Cady Mary Caporale Christine Casey Denise Chavez
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Donna Childs Chris Coffing Chris Cox Karen Culp *Pam & Mike Czyz The Estate of Philip Dare Lisa Dernbach Lynda di Caro Cyndi Fehler Katherine Godbey Wendy K. Hamilton Amber Joiner & Kyle Davis Liz Keene Debbie Lambin Rachael Lambin Marian Lanius
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Steven and Valerie Lease Steven Marks Caroline Mathes James Mathes Carol Merideth Jean Merkelbach Ann Nelson Anita Nelson Julia Ratti Maureen Smercina D. Scott Thompson *Pat Tripple Pam Verhaegen Jo West Sheryl L. Westad Colleen Worlton Vicki N. Wright Kaitlin Young
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Here, Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada's CEO, Ann Nelson, is pinned during her induction ceremony into the Juliette Gordon Low Society by Dianne Belk. Also in attendance were Lawrence Calder and GSSN Board Chair, Colleen Worlton, a fellow member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society.
Make a planned gift to Girl Scouts
Making a planned gift to Girl Scouts can include naming Girl Scouts as the beneficiary of any of the following:
Will
Retirement plan
Charitable gift annuity
Living trust
Donor-advised fund
Life insurance policy
Charitable remainder trust
Charitable lead trust
Remainder gift of real estate
Any other gift that benefits Girl Scouts in the future
Seeking additional resources?
Visit legacy.girlscouts.org to learn more, and read the stories of wonderful Girl Scout legacy supporters who are dedicated to sustaining Girl Scouting for future generations of girls.
How to name Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada as a beneficiary in your will or estate plan:
- Complete your Legacy Giving Commitment Form
- Find sample language to name Girl Scouts of the Sierra Nevada as a beneficiary
*We recommend consulting with your attorney or financial advisor to amend your existing will or trust or establish a new one.
If you have already named us as the beneficiary of a planned gift, we welcome you as a JGL Society member. For more information on how you can include girls into your estate planning, please contact Karen Rudd at 775-322-0642 ext. 1225 or krudd@gssn.org.
As a Juliette Gordon Low Society member, you will be recognized as a member of the Society, receive invitations to special events hosted by Girl Scouts, get updates about the work of Girl Scouts, and know that your gift will impact girls for generations to come.
Create Your Legacy
Become a member of the Juliette Gordon Low Society by making a planned gift today.
GET STARTED
