Progress magazine
cover story
Giving back: Bette Belle Smith donates a lifetime of community service
By Heidi Howell
Open
a local newspaper or attend a civic event these days, and chances are
you’ll see a familiar name: Bette Belle Smith. She didn’t plan to step
into the spotlight, it just happened. Decades of community
participation, from volunteering, activism and chairing committees to
fundraising and campaigning, have resulted in a legacy of distinguished
service from which we can all take a lesson.
Bette Belle raises
the bar for community involvement. Not only is she vice president of
business development and community relations for U.S. Bank in Modesto,
she participates in countless organizations. Over roughly six decades,
she’s donated thousands of hours to better our city and county. It’s
easy to see why she’s received numerous accolades.
For example,
in 2000, she represented California as the recipient of the state’s
Outstanding Older Worker of the Year award. Presented by then-Governor
Gray Davis, the award included a four-day trip to Washington, D.C. to
meet other state winners and visit with congressional and senate
leaders.
In January, the United Way named a building after Bette
Belle. Located on McHenry Avenue, The Bette Belle Smith Community
Services Building honors one of the organization’s most dedicated
volunteers. Bette Belle was associated with the United Way long before
it had the name. “I worked for them when they were the Community Chest
and the United Crusade,” she recalls. “It’s been probably 60 years I’ve
been involved with the United Way in some way or another. What a thrill
it was to have the building named after me,” she says. “It doesn’t
happen every day of the week, that’s for sure.”
Bette Belle has
fostered lasting relationships with citizens and leaders in many
community circles. In fact, it’s said that when someone needs to round
up volunteers, one call from Bette Belle can get the job done. “You
can’t live in a community for 85 years without knowing a few people,”
she says. “When you know a lot of people and what their interests are,
you can be sure you have the right person for the right request.”
When
comparing local philanthropic efforts from the past to today, Bette
Belle says it can be a challenge to enlist volunteers because so many
people are in the work force now. On the bright side, she says
businesses such as banks, credit unions and law firms are more involved
in community giving. “Look at Prime Shine for example, they have that
kind of community spirit. Same with Carl Boyett of Boyett Petroleum –
they just give and give and it makes you feel good.”
She is
saddened by the loss of funding for programs like Big Brothers and Big
Sisters, remarking, “It just makes us all work a little harder.” She’s
pleased to help raise funds for the Education Foundation, which supports
such programs as academic decathlons, Outdoor Education Camp, Mock
Trials, Science Olympiad, Junior Relays, Music Festival, Spelling Bees
and the Y.E.S. Company.
A lifelong Modesto resident and lover of
quality music, Bette Belle has supported the local symphony since her
brother played the clarinet as a teen 75 years ago. “We were one of the
earliest symphonies in California,” Bette Belle notes, adding that the
Modesto Symphony Orchestra is now proudly one of the oldest.
Bette
Belle took ballet lessons as a child, and later taught dance to other
children. Although her students performed for Lodges and Service Clubs,
Bette Belle hoped there would someday be a performing arts venue in
Modesto. Today, as a member of the fundraising arm of the Board of
Trustees for the Gallo Arts Center, Bette Belle is thrilled to be
involved in “such a needed and wonderful addition for our community.”
Blessed
with sound judgment, a keen mind and good health, Bette Belle utilized
her talents in her early years. She rolled bandages for the Red Cross,
worked in the Canteen and the former Hammond Army Hospital on Blue Gum
Avenue during World War II, spearheaded a lap robe-knitting campaign to
warm Vietnam War amputees, took a bus weekly (while at UCLA) to Watts to
teach songs and dances to underprivileged children and more.
What
inspired Bette Belle’s desire to serve the community? “I realized there
were a lot of people in need, and a lot of needs in the community
itself. You have to fundraise to keep these volunteer organizations
going,” she says. “I don’t think you can live in a place for so many
years without giving back.”
When asked what one thing she is most
proud of, Bette Belle responds, “I don’t think there’s any one thing
that I could zero in on. I’ve worked for so many wonderful people and so
many wonderful causes, that I think it’s just a miracle what you can do
if you just care enough,” she says. “Being involved in the community is
satisfying because you can help people. It makes you feel good. It’s a
heart thing. Winston Churchill said, ‘We make a living by what we get,
but we make a life by what we give.’”
>sidebar
Community Service and Civic Involvement, Bette Belle Smith
Current/recent memberships
4-H Sponsor Committee
50 Plus Club
AFS (American Field Service International) Intercultural Scholarship program (35 years)
Ag Pavilion Committee
C.A.I.R.E. (Child Abuse Interviews, Referrals, Exams) Foundation, Board
California State University, Stanislaus, Board for College of Arts, Letters & Science
California State University, Stanislaus, Board of Trustees
California Women for Agriculture
Education Foundation for Stanislaus County, Board, Fund Raising Chair, Vice Chair
Gallo Arts Center, Board of Trustees
Great Valley Museum of Natural History, Board of Directors
Interfaith Ministries, Board of Directors
International Festival, Parade Chair (1991-1997) and Board (1991-2005)
McHenry Museum Guild & Society
Modesto Chamber of Commerce, Membership Drive Co-Chair, 2004
Modesto Rotary International, Honorary Member
Modesto Symphony Orchestra, Board of Directors
Modesto Symphony Youth Orchestra, Board
Omega Nu
Republican Women
Salvation Army, Chair, Bell Ringing Function – Kettle Kick-Off, 1993-2004. In 2004, $150,000 was raised in five minutes!
Soroptimist International of Modesto, Honorary Member
Stanislaus Community Foundation, Secretary
Stanislaus County Citizens Against Drug Abuse (Red Ribbon Week)
United Way & Special Events Committee, Campaign Cabinet, 1999
United Way, Campaign Drive Chairman, 1997-1998
United Way, Women’s Initiative Committee
Past Community Committees
Chaired project to provide lab robes to amputees at Oak Knoll Hospital during Vietnam War – Republican Women
Chairman, Beautification Committee – City of Modesto (4 years)
Chairman, May clean-up month – City of Modesto
Chairman, Senior Citizens Section – City of Modesto Progress Greater Modesto
Charter Review Committee – City of Modesto
Modesto Culture Commission (8 years)
Stanislaus County Drug Abuse Coordinating Council (10 years)
Stanislaus County Grand Jury, 1987
Past Community Service Committees
Board of Directors – Friends of Music at Modesto Junior College
Board of Directors – Stanislaus County Fair (9 years)
Committee to obtain air conditioning for Modesto High School auditorium and for Modesto Performing Arts summer shows
MAAC – Modesto Arts Advisory Committee
Modesto High School Centennial Committee
Modesto Irrigation District – 100-Year Celebration
Muir Trail Girl Scouts (Board of Directors when Muir Trail was formed)
President
and Grand President of Omega Nu. Instituted Program to purchase
artificial aids for Crippled Adults in Stanislaus County
President, 50 Plus Club
President, McHenry Museum Guild
President, Modesto Junior College Foundation and MJC Alumni Association
President, Mother’s Club – Rainbow for Girls
PTA President – Enslen School
PTA President – Roosevelt Junior High School
PTA President, Band Boosters, Choir Boosters – Davis High School
Honors
“Bette Belle Smith” AFS (American Field Service International) Scholarship established in honor of 35 years of service
“Caring” Award – Hospice/VA
“Man of the Year,” – American Legion, 1993
ARC (Association for Retarded Citizens) Individual Award, 1989
Distinguished Alumni Award (Hall of Fame) – Modesto Junior College, 1997
Golden Deeds Award – Exchange Club, 1989
Grand Marshall – 4th of July Parade
Grand Marshall, City of Modesto – Christmas Parade of Lights, 2002
Holiday Overture Honoree – Modesto Symphony, 1994
Honorary Chair: Bravo! – Repertory Dance Theatre, 1992
Honorary Service Award – Girl Scouts, 1989
Liberty Bell Award – Stanislaus County Bar Association
Lifetime Achievement Award for Distinguished Public Service, Modesto Rotary Club, 2004
Loyalty Day Award – Veterans of Foreign Wars
Meritorious Award – 4-H, 1988
Mrs. Santa Claus (since 1961); still involved with this activity for:
• McHenry Museum
• Modesto Symphony – Candy Cane Breakfast
• Rotary Club
• Vintage Faire Mall
California Older Worker of the Year – Green Thumb, Inc. (awarded by Governor Gray Davis) 2000
One of 10 Outstanding Women in Stanislaus County – Women’s History Week
Outstanding
Community Volunteers of 2002 (with husband Jean) – Big 5 Celebration
benefiting “Community Housing and Shelter Service”
Outstanding Contribution and Services Award – California Parks and Recreation Society
Outstanding
Dedication to the Arts, Heritage, Culture & History &
International Involvement, 1988 – Multi-Cultural Center
Paul Harris Fellow – Modesto Sunrise Rotary
PTA Honorary Service Award – Enslen School, Roosevelt Junior High School
Redwood Center Honorees for service (with husband Jean) – Interfaith Ministries, 2004
Represented California as Older Worker for U.S., 2001
Service Award, International Festival
Thanks-For-Giving Award – Salvation Army, 1990
United Way Service Award – “Betty Belle Smith” Award (annual)
Volunteer of the Decade – United Way, 2000
Volunteer of the Year (awarded by Senator Dick Monteith), California Senate
Volunteer of the Year – National Society for Fund Raising Executives, 1999
Volunteer of the Year – United Cerebral Palsy, 1995
Walk America Chair, March of Dimes, 2002
Walk America, Honorary Chair, March of Dimes, 2003, 2004
Woman of the Year – Soroptimist
© HHWS for Modesto Chamber of Commerce
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