For the past two and a half years, PTAC has been offering merit badge clinics focused on science, technology, engineer and math (STEM) in partnership with Chicago’s trading and financial firms. By the end of the summer this program will have served 402 Scouts and an estimated 497 merit badges will have been earned.

This summer, we set a goal to offer three weeks of programming. We wanted to create an opportunity for Scouts to earn a week’s worth of STEM-focused merit badges. In addition to our leveraging the continued support of founding partners like Advantage Futures, NFA, CME and GlenStar, we added WGN Channel 9, Nuveen, US Bank, NEX, John Lothian News, FourStar and Enova. We have expanded our program into Northwest Indiana with the help of NIPSCO and new partners are coming onboard at much faster pace.

The demand from our parents and leaders for more clinics has been touching. Sandy Pavlat, Scoutmaster for Troop 997 sent a note saying, “…These clinics have been a great resource for our Scouts this summer.”

To manage the high demand and short supply we announced the release of the clinics concert style; on June 1st registration opened. Every clinic has been booked to capacity weeks before the clinic.

On July 8, brothers Jabari and Marvin, had their Eagle Court of Honor. They are Scouts from the Pullman neighborhood and avid Trading Tech students. We witnessed them mature before our eyes. It warms our hearts that these boys are a shining example of how a program that started as a good idea can be instrumental in leading young men through their journey to Eagle. In the words of their Scoutmaster, “The Trading Tech program helps Scouts connect to counselors in areas like ours where most counselors simply don’t return calls to help kids advance.”

If you feel your organization may be interested in helping us leave a lifelong imprint on Scouts please contact Myriam Herrera at 224-310-5502 or Myriam.Herrera@Scouting.org. We have a proven, easy to follow process and we will hold your hand through it from beginning to end. By investing just one day, your organization will be rewarded with quality social media content, and an opportunity to change lives. We will also recognize you in front of local VIPs. We hope you will join us as we honor and celebrate our Trading Tech partners at the LaSalle Street Trading Tech Awards this November at the iconic Chicago Board of Trade Building.

On July 10, 2017, Pathway to Adventure Council hosted the 5th Annual Golf Classic at Kemper Lakes Golf Club. With the leadership of Wally Powers, Dave Sheppard, and Anna Villarreal the sold-out event, with over 140 people, made for a spectacular outing. We would like to sincerely thank our event sponsors and all who participated. The event was closed out with a surprise Eagle Scout Ceremony for our dear Scouting friend, Kyrie Agee. You may recall Kyrie’s story from previous editions of our newsletter. The meaning of Scouting was heightened during the surprise ceremony when Kyrie shared how the movement has shaped his life and given him strength through some hard moments in his youth. We are grateful that attendees supported this presentation and the meaning of sharing Scouting during the dinner program.

Please save the date for next year’s outing, July 23, 2018.

Between 1990 and 2010, the average stock return was about 6%. While there was a very substantial increase during 1990-2000 and decreases during 2002 and 2008, the total return over two decades was approximately 6%.

Longer holding periods have generally resulted in higher total returns. The total stock return for seven decades between 1945 and 2015 was about 10%. Returns for long periods of time have paralleled this amount.

Because many stocks have increased in value over time, you may hold stocks with substantial appreciation. If you're considering a major gift or end-of-year gift, a gift of public company stock to charity provides two major benefits. First, there is a charitable deduction for the value of the stock. Second, the charity does not pay tax on the sale of the stock so you bypass the capital gain.

Two fairly common reasons for making a substantial gift of stock are that you may have sold an appreciated asset with a large capital gain or you have good income. If you have a large gain or substantial income, you may want to offset that gain or income with a charitable deduction through a gift of stock. Because you receive both the charitable deduction and a bypass of capital gains tax, there is a double benefit for your gift of stock.

How to Make a Stock Gift
Most stock is held in an account at a brokerage firm. Relatively few people now wish to hold the actual certificates in their safety deposit box. If you hold actual certificates, you may mail the certificate and a signed stock power in separate envelopes to the charity.

Because most stock is held by the brokerage firm, the stock is transferred directly from the account at the brokerage firm to an account for the charity. For any gift more than $250, the charity will issue a receipt. With that receipt and the information on the stock, CPA Susan and CPA Tom will include IRS Form 8283 with the tax returns for Lisa and Bill. The gift of stock will produce a large deduction that will save huge income taxes this year.

Reference: http://bsalegacy.org/?pageID=34&docID=41&RID=66114&SLID=2349 

Questions? Contact: Anna Villareal at Anna.Villareal@Scouting.org

You are invited to the 95th Anniversary Wine and Brewery Tour benefiting Camp Betz and local Scouting! The tour starts on Saturday, August 12 at Blue Chip Casino in Michigan City IN. We will tour wineries: Vineyard 2121, Round Barn, and will stop in Bridgeman, MI near three breweries (Haymarket, Tapestry, and Transient). Cost is $95 and includes transportation on a chartered bus, two wine tasting with glasses, and dinner at Blue Chip Casino at the end of the day. Invite your friends!!

There are only 50 spots available for the event, click here to reserve yours!

There are rooms blocked out at Blue Chip Casino. Call and ask for the Boy Scouts - Pathway to Adventure Council block at 219-879-7711.

You can also donate to the event if you are unable to attend. All proceeds go to support improvements at Camp Betz. Please come out and have a great day celebrating and supporting camp!