Girl Scouts of CT to receive ‘planned gifts’

Girl Scouts of Connecticut has announced that they will be the recipient of planned gifts as a result of the $1.2 million Movement-wide planned giving challenge initiative by Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder, according to a release. Both the national headquarters of Girl Scouts of the USA and 101 other Girl Scout councils across the country are the beneficiaries of planned gifts, calculated at more than $30 million, thanks to the planned giving challenge.

The Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder Girl Scout Movement-wide Planned Giving Challenge inspired Girl Scouts of Connecticut to maximize the impact of this generous gift, according to the release. Throughout 2018, Girl Scouts of Connecticut met the challenge by securing new planned gifts and educating its board and volunteers about planned giving. In total, Girl Scouts of Connecticut saw its planned gifts double from generous donors. Each of the 102 councils that met the challenge will receive a $10,000 planned gift from Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder and an additional $4,000 gift from Erik and Eva Andersen.

A Girl Scout alum who earned the organization’s highest award — the Girl Scout Gold Award — as a girl member, Dianne Belk is the founding chair of the Juliette Gordon Low Society, which celebrates those who have made a planned gift to Girl Scouts. As a volunteer, Dianne Belk has led the Juliette Gordon Low Society’s growth from 348 members in 2011 to almost 4,000 members in 2018. A planned gift is made through a donor’s will or estate plan. Donors who make a new planned gift commitment are welcomed by Girl Scouts to the Juliette Gordon Low Society at pinning ceremonies all over the United States and abroad. Over 600 new planned giving donors were pinned due to the challenge issued by Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder.

“As a farm girl from very limited means and with even fewer options, Girl Scouts was my ticket to exploring the world’s opportunities,” said Belk. “I owe so much of my success to 12 years in Girl Scouts and the impact that it had on my goals, values, and character. I am so grateful. That’s why my husband and I have decided to commit our resources to helping knock down barriers that young women face in achieving equality. There is no organization in the world that is better at preparing young women to become our leaders of tomorrow than Girl Scouts. We are so proud to partner with them.”

Through the Juliette Gordon Low Society, anyone can ensure Girl Scouts will have the tools to make the world a better place for generations to come. All gifts support every girl in every zip code having access to crucial, life-changing, girl-led programming that will launch her into a lifetime of leadership.

“Legacy giving is critical to the long-standing sustainability of our Mission,” said Mary Barneby, CEO Girl Scouts of Connecticut. “Thanks to the generosity of Dianne Belk and Lawrence Calder, Girl Scouts of the USA and Girl Scouts of Connecticut can plan to provide premier programming to girls in every zip code across the state for another 100 plus years to come.”

To learn more about Girl Scouts of Connecticut and how to give, visit gsofct.org. about community television with an Improv Comedy Workshop. Improvisational comedy is a fun and often hilarious group activity where – much like community access – no experience is necessary.

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The CTV192 team will guide participants through five improv exercises, beginning very simply and increasing in challenge. CTV-192 has been providing custom and advanced free training classes in video production for over 20 years. Programs on music, art, politics, news, weather and more can all be found on your local channel and are being produced by members of the local community. Call to find out more! Our next class begins in February: 203 304 4050.

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For more detailed information, call CTV-192 at 203-304-4050. Charter Communications’ Spectrum CTV-192 can be seen in the following Western Connecticut towns: Bethlehem, Bridgewater, Brookfield, Kent, Monroe, New Fairfield, New Milford, Newtown, Roxbury, Sherman, Southbury, Trumbull, Washington, and Woodbury. They also stream the channel Live at www.goctv192.com.

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