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Leave a Legacy and Ensure the Future

The Geological Society of America is fortunate to have Geoff explains, “Beyond such direct and identifiable support
a long history of extraordinary people having the fore- for our careers, we both have benefited repeatedly and indirectly
sight to include the Society in their estate plans, pro- from literally dozens of annual and section meetings, field trips,
viding a firm foundation for GSA’s mission
papers we have read, talks we have given or heard, and

to continue into the future. In 1931, GSA received its myriad opportunities to network with old friends and

most generous bequest of nearly US$4 million from new colleagues through GSA events—none of which

R.A.F. Penrose, a mining geologist and entrepreneur occurs without support from past donors to the

who had been president of the Society the year prior to Foundation.

his death, among numerous other positions since being Joseph T. Pardee “In short, our careers were measurably advanced by
elected a member in 1889. Income from this fund the generosity of previous GSA members whom we
allowed GSA to purchase the land it now occupies in did not know. This alone motivates us to support the
Boulder, Colorado, USA, and continues to support GSA Foundation via a legacy gift. But, beyond that,
various GSA efforts. we both feel that it is incumbent upon us to assist

The Pardee Legacy Circle (formerly referred to as the Pardee future generations of students and early career geoscientists so

Coterie) is named after a later US$2.7 million bequest from that they may have careers as satisfying and as much fun as we

Joseph T. Pardee’s daughter’s estate and honors others who have have had. We feel it a privilege to share our good fortune so that

included GSA Foundation in their estate plans through bequests, our science can thrive.”

retirement plan designations, charitable trusts, or other deferred If you would like more information about making a lasting
gift arrangements. The Pardee bequest is the second largest in contribution to help ensure the future geoscience community,
GSA’s history; the Society is extremely appreciative of all contact me directly at +1-303-357-1011 or jhess@geosociety.org.
planned gifts since these initial, groundbreaking gifts that made

GSA what it is today.

A planned gift provides stability to the long-term success of
the GSA Foundation in supporting GSA programs. It enables an
emerging scientist to present research for the first time, employs
a scientist to work on federal lands, helps a student from an
underrepresented group to pursue a career in geology, and pro-
vides an author with sufficient resources to publish in a highest-
quality scientific journal. These are the kinds of programs, cen-
tral to GSA’s mission, that are sustained with legacy gifts.

Geoff Feiss (a GSA Foundation past president) and Nancy West Nancy West and Geoff Feiss in Rocky Mountain National
found it gratifying to include the GSA Foundation in their estate Park, Colorado, USA.
plans. When Nancy was a graduate student, she received a GSA
Research Grant to conduct the fieldwork for her M.S. thesis in the
Mohave Desert. Geoff benefited from the Penrose bequest as a
graduate student, allowing him to attend the very first Penrose
Conference in 1969, which guided his research for the next sev-
eral decades.

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