Dear Scouting Families,
We’d like to share an update regarding local council contributions that will be used to compensate survivors.
Our Council’s Contribution:
As part of the Boy Scouts of America’s strategic financial restructuring plan to be released in the coming weeks, the specific contributions each local council will make to help fund the Trust for survivors will be filed with the Court. These figures were determined through a formulaic processing of information filed in the claims process and what local councils could meaningfully contribute while ensuring Scouting can continue in all areas. Our council participated in this process, and our contribution was determined to be $7,225,066.56.
The Pathway to Adventure Council is legally separate and distinct from the national organization. Our camps, properties, and local donations are controlled by and benefit our council. We share in the BSA’s commitment to equitably compensate survivors of past abuse. We are carefully reviewing how we can fund our contribution to the compensation Trust while ensuring that Scouting can continue to serve youth, families, and communities in Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana area for generations to come. Specifically, the steps we have taken to fund our contribution have the future of Scouting in our area in mind.
It is important to note that restricted donations can only be used for their designated purposes and are legally protected so that they are used as the donor specified. Local donations through Friends of Scouting (FOS) go straight to supporting Scouting in our communities today; these donations are used to maintain critical local operations.
The BSA’s Path Forward:
There is still much to be done to obtain approval from the Court to solicit survivors to vote for the BSA’s amended Plan of Reorganization. However, the BSA is wholeheartedly committed to working toward a global resolution. The BSA intends to seek confirmation of the Plan this fall and conclude its financial restructuring around the end of this year.
While this is an important step forward in the national organization’s financial restructuring, we also want to take a moment to recognize the exciting things happening in our council. There has never been a better time to be a part of Scouting. This fall, we look forward to welcoming new members to our programs and offering the experiences that make Scouting so valuable.
Thank you for your continued support of the Pathway to Adventure Council. If you have any other questions about the national organization’s financial restructuring, please visit www.bsarestructuring.org.
Sincerely,
