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There are three societies including the
Friends of Scouting program affiliated with the Boy Scouts
of America in which any individual (Scouters and non-Scouters) can participate in to support the Boy
Scouts of America program. Heritage Society
 The Heritage Society has been established by the Bay-Lakes Council,
Boy Scouts of America, to recognize those who believe in preserving the
tradition and values of Scouting, as well as perpetuating its future for
generations to come.
The Heritage Society is a program for individuals that include Scouting in their
Estate Planning or make an outright gift to the Endowment Fund of the Bay-Lakes
Council, Boy Scouts of America.
James E. West Fellowship
 James E. West was the first chief Scout Executive of the Boy Scouts
of America, and he served in that position for more than three decades. The West Fellowship Award is available for gifts of $1,000 and up in cash or
marketable securities to the council endowment fund. The gift must be in
addition to--and not replace or diminish--the donor's annual Friends of Scouting
support. Many individuals and corporations make these gifts either on
behalf of someone else--such as in honor of an Eagle Scout, Silver Beaver
recipient, a retirement, a special accomplishment, or anniversary--or in memory
of a special individual. If an institution is truly "the lengthened shadow
of one man," it is more than fitting that the Boy Scouts of America honor James
E. West's significant contributions to Scouting in such a significant way.
1910 Society
 Founded
in 1910, the Boy Scouts of America has grown into some thing larger and more
significant than anyone anticipated. We honor that special date by
presenting the 1910 Society award to donors who make gifts of $25,000 or more to
their council endowments. These gifts can be in the form of cash,
securities, land, five-year pledges, or other property suitable for a council
endowment fund or easily converted to cash. There are four levels of
recognition in the 1910 Society that honor four very special individuals who
shaped modern-day Scouting.
1) Earnest Thomas Seton, nationally known artist and naturalist, author of
the first official American Scout handbook and many other books important to
Scouting;
Seton Level membership: $25,000 minimum gift
2) Daniel Carter Beard, first chairman of the National Court of Honor,
national Scout commissioner, and author of many well-known books and stories for
youth;
Beard Level membership: $100,000 minimum gift
3) Theodore Roosevelt, first Chief Scout Citizen, first Vice President of
the BSA, and President of the United States;
Roosevelt Level membership: $500,000 minimum gift
4) Waite Phillips, one of the BSA's first benefactors, and donor to the
BSA of almost 130,000 acres of land in New Mexico which became Philmont Scout
Ranch;
Phillips Level membership:
$1,000,000 minimum gift
The Founders Circle
The newest level of endowment recognition, the Founders Circle, is
intended to recognize deferred gifts designated for Council endowment funds. With deferred giving (also called planned giving) so widely and effectively used
by so many donors, the BSA wants to recognize the importance of such major
gifts. Donors are recognized for gift commitments with a minimum value of
$100,000. Unlike the other endowment recognition awards, the donor may
qualify for membership with gifts made through:
- Charitable bequests in a will or a codicil
- Charitable trusts, such as unitrusts, annuity trusts, and lead trusts
- BSA Gift Annuities or BSA Pooled Income Fund Gifts
- Life insurance/retirement plan designations
- Other deferred gifts approved by the local council
As with the 1910 Society, there are four levels of membership within the
Founders Circle. They are:
Bronze--$100,000 minimum gift commitment
Silver--$250,000 minimum gift commitment
Gold--$500,000 minimum gift commitment
Platinum--$1,000,000 minimum gift commitment
The early founders of the BSA had the vision and commitment to make Scouting the
number one youth organization in the world. In that spirit, we honor the
modern-day visionaries who qualify for the Founders Circle in their
commitment to perpetuate the visions and beliefs of those founders.
For more information on how you can participate in one of these endowment
recognition programs, contact the Bay-Lakes council at (920) 734-5705. |
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