United Way, Boy Scouts part ways in Chicago

Chicago Sun-Times ^ | 11/19/03 | Lucio Guerrero

[RonF]

The United Way in Chicago and the Chicago Boy Scouts council are parting ways after the charitable group slashed the scout's funding by more than 90 percent.

Leaders of the Chicago Area Council of the Boy Scouts of America said in a press release that the split was "amicable." However, gay rights groups say the split was the culmination of boycotts against the United Way in Chicago and relentless pressure.

"As the Scouts and other nonprofits struggle in a weak economy for limited dollars, so has the United Way," said Lewis B. Greenblatt, the local Boy Scouts board president. "The Chicago Area Council was reduced beyond a reason to continue with the giving program."

Since 2001, the Chicago Area Council has seen its share of United Way dollars dwindle. In fiscal year 2001, it received $464,188; in 2002, $462,347; and 2003, $302,898. This fiscal year the group is to receive $24,486 from the Chicago agency.

United Way in Chicago officials said the deep cut in the Scouts' funding was made after the agency changed how it handed out money.

"We have reformed our allocation process to be give more funding to the programs that have the most community impact or make the biggest difference," said Lyn Corbett Fitzgerald, a spokeswoman for the United Way in Chicago.

She said the decision to reduce the allocation had nothing to do with the stance the Boy Scouts of America has taken to exclude gays.

However, gay activist groups have been lobbying the United Way to drop funding of the Boy Scouts because of its anti-gay requirements. Many United Way chapters across the country already stopped sending money to local Boy Scouts.

"Our position was that the United Way and government agencies which see themselves as representing the best interest of the entire community should stay a million miles away from any private organization which actively discriminates against any minority," said Andy Thayer, co-founder of the Chicago Anti-Bashing Network.

The move by the Chicago Boy Scout group and the United Way in Chicago to part ways will not affect funding the Scouts get from other local United Way chapters. The United Way of Suburban Chicago, for example, will still contribute about $15,000 to the Chicago Area Council.

[RonF]

So, the UW says it's an issue of declining contributions and increasing demand, and the gay rights groups say that they did it.

As I pointed out in my last post on this, the CAC is in dire financial straits. They have already had to sell one camp (Hoover), and they are looking to sell their summer camp, Owassippee Scout Reservation, the oldest Scout camp in the country, where 1000's of scouts go camping every summer.

[steplock]

United Way ---

They BAN the Boy Scouts of America

They GROVEL before the muslim murder training camps in Minn. Can't do enough for them.

[Cobra64]

The UW reminds me of the Federal Government. 80% of their revenue go to third grade mentality employees and the execs. If 20% went to where it was designated, it wouyld be a miracle. I stopped UW contributions 28 years ago. My dollars go to our Church. We buy the food for less fortunate and give it to them personally. We know that they are not selling the food back to the market. Our kids actually checked this out, since there are so many scam artist these days. Of course, Stainman and the Beast win the duplicate Awards of Scam.

[First_Salute]

Boy Scouts of America, Chicago Area Council (homepage)

Boy Scouts of America Response to 60 Minutes --- posted at Free Republic, April 1, 2001, by fleur-de-lis.

 

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[eleni121]

We have long since stopped giving the UW money.

What about the muslim training camps in Minnesota?

[First_Salute]

Boy Scouts of America, National Council (homepage)

 

[Orangedog]

The company I work for has been pimping for the UW for a couple of months now. The response from the rank and file has been less than encouraging for their campaign.

[Myrddin]

When United Way pulled funding from the Boy Scouts in San Diego, I pulled funding of United Way from my payroll deduction plan. I just write a check to Friends of Scouting each year. Absolutely ZERO for United Way.

[demkicker]

I keep wondering who in the hell donates to the United Way. I seriously doubt that I know one person who does. Whenever the subject comes up, I dis them good....

[steplock]

Muslim Camps ....

Oops... IOWA - Not Minn (this time)

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/search?s=muslim+camp&ok=Search&q=quick&m=any&o=score&SX=3fbc0843750bc08f63d4ff228d72db7a613f9a3d

[First_Salute]

Bump.

[Revel]

In the midst of all the stupid Geico insurance adds that have been running. People should not forget that Geico has made the same kind of attack on the boy scouts. No decent American should buy insurance from them.

[Dog Gone]

Giving to the United Way is an IQ test. Are you smart enough to send the money directly to the charities you support, or are you so stupid that you want to send it through a middleman who skims a sizeable chunk.

It's a racket.

On top of that, it's a leftwing, politically correct racket.

I was once foolish enough to give every year to the United Way. They will never get another cent from me.

[concentric circles]

[simarilian]

My company is based in Kah-Lee-Fornia and uses policies similar to the United Way there. They have specified that company matching will mot be allowed for groups that descriminate. I asked who was on their list and I found that only Boy Scouts qualified for them as a descriminatory organization.

I zeroed my contribution to their Charitable gving campaign there and since. I give through my Church and to the Friends of Scouting campaign run by BSA. Send your dollars directly to F.O.S. and avoid the United Way middle man.
http://www.scouting.org/nav/enter.jsp?c=ss

[oceanview]

my company now has a website for payroll deduction with an extensive database of charities, so I dumped the united way in a flash and now give to the boy scouts and the reagan library.

[dhs12345]

It is a scam. After the charges of corruption a few years back I stopped donating to the UW.

Besides, it always bothered me how much of the drive at work was high pressure. UW money was lining the pocket of some crook in CA.

Then there is the issue of the Boy Scouts...last but not least. I was wondering when the two would part ways.

[simarilian]

United Way donations have gone steadily down since they started their campaign against scouts.

Now United Way is a collection of local chapters and not all chapters treat scouts badly. Look up your local chapters. Depending on the local UW Concil they may or may not support scouting. And depending on your companies association with the UW your company nay or may not support scouts.

[Squantos]

Cut the middle mans throat...to hell with United Socialist Way........Take your money directly to the Scout Troop of your choice, I do !

Stay Safe !