United Way Capital Area[Austin,Texas] to stop funding Boy Scouts

Austin [un]American [mis]Statesman ^ | 11/13/03 | Andrea Ball

[DrewsDad]

United Way Capital Area to stop funding Boy Scouts

76-year partnership ends over Scouts exclusion of gays

By Andrea Ball

AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF

Thursday, November 13, 2003

After a 76-year partnership, the United Way Capital Area and the Boy Scouts are parting ways because the Scouts organization excludes gays.

"Our value is that we raise money from the entire community," said Clarke Heidrick, chairman of the United Way board. "We need to allocate the money to agencies that serve the entire community."

Boy Scouts of America, Capital Area Council, will lose approximately $157,000 a year, a little more than 5 percent of its $2.9 million budget. The group will ask its supporters to make up that loss with additional contributions, said Bruce Walcutt, the organization's president.

"Frankly, the Boy Scouts are a resourceful bunch," he said. "That's what we're taught to be. We'll continue to keep our programs alive."

Under the terms of an agreement unanimously approved Wednesday by the United Way board, the Scouts will remain a partner agency until June 30, 2004 and will receive about $157,000. Then -- although it will no longer be affiliated with the United Way -- the group will receive another $157,000 for 2005 as transition funding, Heidrick said. Then funding will stop.

Both sides say the split is amicable. The Boy Scouts have been a United Way Capital Area partner since 1927.

"The Scouts have conducted themselves very honorably during this process," Heidrick said.

Wednesday's decision comes after more than two years of discussion.

In June 2000, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the Boy Scouts have the right to exclude gays.

That decision spurred more than 50 local United Ways to change their relationship with the Scouts.

Some immediately cut ties with the group. Some phased out funding.

Others started working with Learning for Life, a Boy Scout-affiliated organization that allows gays to participate in its programs.

Many have remained firm supporters of the Scouts, which provides educational programs focused on character, citizenship and personal fitness.

United Way of America, the parent organization to the 1,400 affiliates across the country, did not take a position on the issue.

"We're convinced that's a decision that needs to be made on the local level," said Philip Jones, spokesman for the United Way of America.

After the 2000 court ruling, United Way Capital Area -- which raises money for 44 health and human service organizations -- scrutinized requirements for its agencies.

In March 2002, the board adopted an inclusion policy requiring all partner agencies to serve people without regard to issues such as race, color, gender or sexual orientation.

Of the 44 groups, 43 were in compliance with the policy. But the Boy Scouts organization was in violation because it does not accept "avowed homosexuals," according to the Scout's literature.

United Way and Boy Scouts officials met several times, then agreed to a friendly divorce.

Donors -- who can use the United Way to donate to any 501(c)(3) nonprofit registered with the IRS -- will still be able to give to the Scouts through their workplace campaigns.

But the Scouts will not be entitled to money raised through the United Way's community investment fund, which totaled $4.1 million last year.

The Scouts received about $157,000 from that fund in 2002.

"It's a big deal," Walcutt said. "We have a lot of supporters in Central Texas and we're going to ask them to do more."

Randall Ellis, executive director of the Lesbian/Gay Rights Lobby of Texas, called the split a "bold step" for the United Way.

"It will go a long way to fostering tolerance and acceptance in Central Texas," he said.

Others say the United Way's decision smacks of political pressure that will hurt families.

"I think what it says about the United Way is that they are easily intimidated by a very politically active homosexual lobby that pushes a homosexual agenda," said Cathie Adams, president of the Texas Eagle Forum, a Dallas-based conservative group. "It's a travesty."

Heidrick said the United Way did not receive pressure to cut ties with the Boy Scouts.

The group cannot determine whether it has lost donations because of its affiliation with the Scouts, he said.

The Boy Scouts will remain a partner agency of the Georgetown Area United Way and the United Way of Hays County.

aball@statesman.com; 912-2506

[DrewsDad]

Time to defund the united way(in case you haven't already).

[DrewsDad]

Selective tolerance ping

[JoJo Gunn]

The United Way is a Leftist activist organization, just as the Red Cross has aligned themselves with the Red Crescent.

I don't care for the messages they're trying to force on me, and they won't get even the lint out of my pocket.

[cookcounty]

Take your money out of the United Way and give it to the Boy Scouts or the Salvation Army. If the other orgs need $$$, they can ask the Boy Scouts for a good turn.

[wvnavyvet]

There are people who will continue to contribute to the United Way but if they could be convinced to be very picky about where their donations go it would get a point across. Take time and review these all inclusive organizations. I have stopped contributing all together, instead my contribution go directly to the Boy Scouts and the Salvation Army. Other orgaizations have way too much overhead for my liking.

[onedoug]

At some duty stations when I was in the Army 1000 years ago, you either donated to the United Way for 100% unit participation, or found yourself on every crummy detail on post for as long as you were there.

Anyone know if such extortion still takes place?

[VOA]

bump

[mdittmar]

Support Scouting
Click to find your local council

[MIchaelTArchangel]

We need to see another headline: AUSTIN RESIDENTS STOP FUNDING UNITED WAY -- GIVE MONIES DIRECTLY TO BOY SCOUTS

[lafroste]

BREAKING NEWS...

Lafroste to Stop Funding United Way... Developing

(just in time for our annual pledge drive here at the [government] office, where you aren't really coerced, much, but just reminded that the governor really, really wants full participation....)

[Blood of Tyrants]

I defunded the United Way 13 years ago when I heard that the local president of this "charitable" organization was being paid $350,000 a year with another $100,000 worth of benefits.

[Roughneck]

I quit funding the United Way, oh, about 5 years ago..I see it hasn't done them too much harm.

Other folks have to do it too - and in a big way.

[Roughneck]

At some duty stations when I was in the Army 1000 years ago, you either donated to the United Way for 100% unit participation, or found yourself on every crummy detail on post for as long as you were there.


It does exist in the SCHOOL DISTRICTS. Same thing, they dont say you have to..but..well..giving is a good thing..

I dont know about the militray anymore..but NO government entity should be able to coerce their employees - it's time this outrage was put to a halt.

[zlala]

Oh there is so much to say about this decision!!

"The Scouts have conducted themselves very honorably during this process," Heidrick said. Gee, how do they think the Scouts would act? Being honorable is part of what Scouting is about. Too bad the United Way has no honor.

Heidrick said the United Way did not receive pressure to cut ties with the Boy Scouts. This speaks volumes about the agenda of the United Way.

The group cannot determine whether it has lost donations because of its affiliation with the Scouts, he said.I doubt they've lost much, if any money because of funding Scouting...but they want to cut them, so what else CAN they say?

Hopefully they'll lose tons of community funds now because of their decision. Sad to say they won't lose my $$ cuz I stoped giving to UW years ago and give directly to the BSA.

[zlala]

.

[MineralMan]

"At some duty stations when I was in the Army 1000 years ago, you either donated to the United Way for 100% unit participation, or found yourself on every crummy detail on post for as long as you were there.

Anyone know if such extortion still takes place?"

I dunno, but they were still doing it in the USAF at Ft. Meade, MD, in 1969. When I refused to donate there, on the grounds of the poverty of an E-4 at that time ($256/mo), I spent time in a Captain's office, followed by a bird Colonel's office, being told that I had to donate to make the unit's contribution 100%. I explained that I had no excess funds at the time, due to the low pay I received, and that I would not be donating.

I was threatened with a reduction in rank, a loss of my security clearance, and several other thing. I continued to refuse, and convinced several others to do the same.

My final punishment? None whatever. I engaged the good offices of the Judge Advocate's office, who explained in no uncertain terms to the Colonel that members of the USAF could _not_ be coerced to donate to any charity against their will and that any punishment of me would result in action being taken against the Colonel.

My guess is that such coercion no longer occurs.

[F.J. Mitchell]

The United Way is whining all over the country about how donations are down and blaming it on the aleged bad economy. Wonder if they will realize that they have been de-funded because they de-funded the BSA, when the economy peaks through the roof and the United Way is still sucking hind teet?

The United gay Way, has chosen to unite with the wrong agenda-may this stinking extortionist organization vanish from the earth.

[ColdSteelTalon]

I give nothing to the United Way mainly because they support Planned parenthood.

This is just another reason for me now.

[dandelion]

It's time to call them and tell them you will no longer fund the United Way - and that you are going to tell everyone else the same thing.

Phone: 512-472-6267
Fax: 512-482-8309
Volunteer Phone: 512-323-1898
Help Phone: 512-324-1899

http://www.uway-austin.org/

You may email them here:
OnlineGiving@unitedwaycapitalarea.org

AND here:
david@unitedwaycapitalarea.org.

You can also send them a letter (via their contributions address) to tell them you are no longer going to contribute to them.

United Way Capital Area
2000 E. MLK Jr. Blvd.
Austin, Texas 78702-1340

DO it -I guarantee you that the only way you will ever make a difference is if you let them know this is going to cost them BIG...

[RiflemanSharpe]

I stopped all donations to the united way several years ago for this reason.