We Own Adventure

Scouting News for the DC Metro Area

Endowment

The Chris Lantos Waterfront

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The waterfront at Camp Bowman-Goshen Scout Reservation was named in memory of Boy Scout Chris Lantos in 2014.

Chris was born on September 29, 2000. He was an avid Boy Scout camper who visited Goshen three consecutive summers in 2010, 2011 and 2012.

He loved exploring nature, swimming in the lake and roasting smores by the campfire with his Scout buddies in the evenings.

In 2012 Chris was diagnosed with leukemia and passed away in 2013.

In his memory, his parents supported the Boy Scouts and named the waterfront at Goshen Scout Reservation after Chris. They also established the Chris Lantos Foundation to help kids with cancer to benefit other youth experiencing childhood Leukemia. (ChrisLantosFoundation.org)

This is a great example of how to create a legacy within Scouting for someone you love or yourself in the future so that Scouts for many generations can continue to have amazing experiences like Chris.

For more information about creating your Legacy, please contact Jenna Welle at Jenna.Welle@scouting.org.

2019 Spring Endowment Celebration

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National Capital Area Council, Boy Scouts of America welcomed nearly 50 recipients of the James E. West Fellowship Award on June 1, 2019, for their 2018 contribution at the annual re-dedication of The Alice S. Marriott Patio and The Robert and Dee Leggett Endowment Garden. The audience listened intently as Scouts exhibited their public speaking abilities earned through public speaking merit badges with finesse some adults would be envious of!

Craig Poland, Lieutenant General Rice, Forrest Horton

The keynote speaker was Eagle Scout, Lieutenant General L. Scott Rice, Lieutenant General Rice is a long time Scouter having served in his sons’ troop together with his wife Nancy. He spoke of the importance of Scouting and the continuity Scouting allowed his family as they traveled throughout his military career.

NCAC is proud to recognize those who contribute at the James E West level over three consecutive years, NCAC Fellows are setting an example of giving that goes above and beyond. NCAC Fellows receive a special council shoulder patch and a council necktie/scarf. The newest honorees are:

Kenneth Feng (left), Julia O’Brien, Aasgeir Gangsaas (not pictured)
Hugh & Cindy Redd

It was an exciting honor and privilege to welcome past Council president Hugh and his lovely wife Cindy to the Second Century Society. The Second Century Society recognizes outright gifts of $25,000 or more payable over five years, or deferred gifts of $100,000 or more, to a local council, BSA foundation, BSA high adventure base, or any BSA entity for operating, capital, or endowment needs.

John Mosby Russell

This year we added an additional award to specifically recognize planned giving efforts in the National Capital Area Council. The first recipient of this award is our most senior and active Eagle Scout in National Capital Area Council John Mosby Russell, thank you John Mosby Russell from over 57,000 Scouts in the National Capital Area Council for choosing to leaving a legacy. You too can make a big impact with a future gift, watch for our next article, How to Make a Big Impact with a Future Gift.

Reflections on a Scouting Legacy

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Our outgoing Scout Executive Les Baron helped grow Scouting in many ways, but one of his strongest legacies is in his work to grow our Council’s endowment. In January 2014 our Council was awarded a matching grant from the Cecil and Irene Hylton Foundation, $2.5M of which was earmarked for our endowment fund. Les immediately took the precaution of meeting with the Endowment Team over blueberry pancakes to lay out our plan of attack and to mobilize members – his inspiration and experience were everywhere and he always kept a steady hand on the helm!

Fast forward 4 ½ years. By April of this year Les had already led us to achieve several milestones – the endowment matching grant was completed 8 months early; the endowment fund more than doubled, reaching $13M; over 170 Camperships and 400 Scoutreach Scholarships were awarded in each of the past three years; and over $160K was earmarked for top-priority camp maintenance from endowment fund interest…oh, yes, and a debt-free Council!

Les’ impact reaches far beyond donors and checks – he taught us that Endowment isn’t just fundraising, but maintaining genuine long term relationships with all our Supporters–with Scouts, Scouters, parents, colleagues, professionals and friends. He knows that 1,520 Eagle Scout Awards earned annually make a powerful force for citizenship and leadership in our communities, and that Family Scouting today puts our Nation in capable hands tomorrow. Les understands that making Scouts “Prepared. For Life” with sound values, moral compasses, and training to make ethical decisions is the best investment we can ever make in our youth!

Across his career in Scouting, Les built his solid Legacy for future generations and we know we are better citizens because of his leadership! Thanks, Les, for showing us how to make the perfect cast, to lead those clay pigeons and to keep our priorities straight!

Godspeed, Les and Kim!

2018 Spring Endowment Celebration and Donor Recognition

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Our four youth speakers share the moment.

Our Council’s financial destiny is dependent on the legacy of a strong Endowment program and management of those funds. On May 19, National Capital Area Council acknowledged our many Endowment donors who support our Council’s long-term investment accounts and to recognize all endowment and major gift donors. NCAC proudly honored 92 James E. West recipients, 14 NCAC Fellows and 5 Second Century recipients. Thanks to them, our Endowment provided 173 camperships, sponsored 478 Out Reach youth and several camp projects.

The morning began with a welcoming reception, then an inspirational program featuring four of our local Scouts who make a difference daily in our Council! Our keynote Speaker was National Outstanding Eagle Scout recipient and President of Dean & Robert Kramer School of Law at George Washington University Law School, Dr. Blake D. Morant. Dr. Morant shared his many life stories of how Scouting helped to develop his character and impacted his career. The festivities concluded with our youth speakers cutting our Eagle cake with a Ceremonial Navy Sword.

Troop 7369 from Chantilly, VA present the colors.

To learn how you can make a difference and build your Scouting Legacy contact Sr. Development Director Geoffrey Thomas ( 301-214-9110 , Geoffrey.Thomas@Scouting.org) or Endowment Chair Forrest Horton (703-919-4636,  Forrest.Horton@Verizon.net).