The Boy Scouts of America Calcasieu Area Council is discontinuing its partnership with United Way Southwest Louisiana after the organization reduced its annual financial allocation to the Scouts by 70 percent. Now, the Council can raise funding year-round without restrictions, said Council President Tom Price.

The Council’s executive board decided unanimously to be removed as an agency, effective immediately. The reduction in funding would have begun in July.

“All donations to the Council will provide unrestricted funding for the traditional scouting program and Camp Edgewood,” Price said Monday.

In June, the local Boy Scouts Council was allocated $32,549 from United Way of Southwest Louisiana — a funding reduction of $88,451 for 2013. Last year, the group received $121,000, or 19.8 percent, of its $611,000 annual operating budget. The Boy Scouts would have received almost $41,000 because United Way allows for designations by donors. The group would have gotten the higher of the two numbers.

In 2000, the national initiative of the United Way was to modify its procedures for fund distribution. The model, called the Community Impact Business Model, is based on funding programs that achieve “measurable results,” concentrating on assisting programs that provide opportunities for at-risk children and adults. This year, the local chapter of the United Way adopted this model.

The funding from United Way going to the local Boy Scouts was being used for overhead and not the at-risk population, as defined by United Way. When defining “at-risk,” United Way “looks at indicators of potential barriers relating to education, income and health,” the local United Way documented.

“While the United Way of Southwest Louisiana is disappointed that the local Boy Scouts are discontinuing their partnership with the United Way, we wish them all the best and success,” Raymond Steiner, United Way chairman of the Board of Directors, said in a statement. “We will be happy to work with them in the future should they decide to develop programs for families unable to participate in scouting due to financial constraints.”

“The Council wishes to recognize the importance of United Way, which provides vital financial support through public donations to many worthwhile partner agencies in our community,” Price said.

The Calcasieu Area Boy Scouts will now be totally dependent on public donations. Just like United Way, the Council is a nonprofit organization and all donations are tax deductible. The public can support traditional scouting directly by mailing support to: Calcasieu Council, 304 Dr. Michael DeBakey Dr., Lake Charles, LA 70601; by calling the Council office at 436-3376 to make a donation by credit card; or by setting up an automatic payroll deduction donation with employers.

“On behalf of our Scouts, the Council wishes to thank everyone in SWLA for their steadfast support,” Price said. “Boy Scouts have been an important part of the development of youth into leaders in our community for more than 100 years and with your help will continue as such for many more.”

(mgnonline.com)